Set up national space programme or risk UK being left behind, MPs warn

National space programme would help UK take more leading roles in ESA missions and spur technological breakthroughs, says Commons committee

The UK must set up a national space programme to help spur the scientific and technological breakthroughs that will be needed on future missions into the cosmos, MPs say.

Many European states, such as France, Germany and Italy, have well-established, home-grown space programmes that are used to build up national facilities and expertise in key areas of space exploration.