Britain’s failed attempt to send satellites into orbit was a “disaster” and MPs are being urged to redirect funding to hospitals, with the country now seen as “toxic” for future launches.
The claims came from executives from Space Forge, the Welsh firm which lost a satellite when Virgin Orbit’s Start Me Up mission failed to reach orbit. They said a “seismic change” is needed for the UK to be appealing for space missions.
Speaking to Parliament's Science and Technology Committee, Patrick McCall, a non-executive director at Space Forge, said: “The Civil Aviation Authority is taking a different approach to risk, and a bit to process and timing as well. But I think unless there is, without wanting to be too dramatic, a seismic change in that approach, the UK is not going to be competitive from a launch perspective.”
“I think the conclusion I’ve reached is right now it’s not a good use of money, because our regulatory framework is not competitive.”
He added that the UK ought to consider spending the money it was investing in launch capability on other areas, such as hospitals.
Lengthy delays by the CAA, the UK space regulator, as well as the launch failure, had left Space Forge six months behind its competition in the race to be the first company to bring a satellite back down to Earth, when it had been six months ahead, the Science and Technology Committee heard.
But the CAA said changes could be made but safety was "not negotiable".
Melissa Quinn, head of Spaceport Cornwall, told the committee the fact they had "got to space" for the first time ever from a "small regional airport" in Cornwall was "inspirational".
She added that they were "licensed and ready" for a second launch.
But Joshua Western, chief executive of Space Forge, complained of a lack of engagement with UK authorities.
"Quite frankly it costs us more to licence our satellite for launch than it did to launch it," he pointed out.