British space policy gets revamp

[Rick]

UK space policy faces a major revamp with civil servants being moved out of London and stripped of some of their responsibilities.

The British National Space Centre (BNSC) was set up to co-ordinate civil space activities across government.

The BBC has learned that staff will be moved to Swindon to sit with the agencies that fund UK space science.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7347561.stm

[Rick]

Europe should give up on sending men and women into space and concentrate on unmanned projects, according to one of the world's leading astronomers.

The future lies in using advanced robotics, miniaturisation and fabrication, said Lord Martin Rees, the president of the Royal Society.

Europe "should try and get a world lead in unmanned exploration", he said.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7349610.stm