A major international space technology facility should be set up at Harwell in Oxfordshire to focus on issues such as climate change and robotic exploration, according to a new strategy for UK involvement in space. The plans just released by the British National Space Centre also include a national programme to support development of new technologies in a sector that is estimated to contribute ￡7bn a year to the national economy. The UK civil space strategy, which covers the period from 2008 to 2012 'and beyond', was developed following a public consultation held during 2007. As well as the national programme and Harwell facility, it promises continued UK involvement in Earth observation, space science and telecoms, and closer involvement in international space exploration initiatives to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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