{"id":94619,"date":"2018-08-08T08:42:12","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T08:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=c525f82a468da54927212db7ac41f6c6"},"modified":"2018-08-08T08:42:12","modified_gmt":"2018-08-08T08:42:12","slug":"speech-first-space-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=94619","title":{"rendered":"Speech: First Space Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Thank you for that kind introduction, Mark [Roberts].<\/p>\n

I am delighted to welcome you to the First Defence Space Conference, jointly organised by the Air Power Association and the Ministry of Defence.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to start with an invitation:<\/p>\n

Look west at about ten to nine tonight.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s clear \u2026 and if you\u2019ve got very good eyes \u2026 you might just make out a small point of light, making its way steadily across the evening sky.<\/p>\n

500 miles up, heading south over the mid-Atlantic, is the satellite Prospero.<\/p>\n

Built by British craftsmen at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 launched by a British Black Arrow rocket back in 1971 \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 its systems de-activated and its radio signals not heard for nearly 15 years \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 but still up there, gamely orbiting the earth every hour and a half at 17,000 miles an hour.<\/p>\n

A museum piece? A time capsule? Just an anonymous piece of space debris from the age of Apollo?<\/p>\n

No. I see Prospero as an inspiration \u2013 not just reminding us of this country\u2019s space heritage, but pointing the way to a bright future.<\/p>\n

Conference Overview<\/h2>\n

We have a proud tradition of expertise and innovation in space technology.<\/p>\n

Our space community may be small in number, but it is perfectly-formed and exceptionally well-connected.<\/p>\n

I am very pleased to see so many of you here today.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Conference will highlight why and how we are strengthening our approach to space capabilities and operations.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019ll be stressing the centrality of our partnerships with the UK Space Agency, with our international allies, and with the industry.<\/p>\n

Because as space technology takes an ever more central place in all our lives and activities, it becomes increasingly important to Defence and Security.<\/p>\n

At the same time, we face new hazards \u2026 new threats to civil and military satellites, and other vital space services.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to look at those areas in turn.<\/p>\n

Military Importance of Space<\/h2>\n

The first thing to bear in mind is that space isn\u2019t just about what happens above the stratosphere.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about what happens down here.<\/p>\n

We rely on space capabilities and services for very many of our Defence functions.<\/p>\n

They provide critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision navigation, and timing.<\/p>\n

Without them, our Armed Forces\u2019 co-ordination and communication would be much more difficult.<\/p>\n

In some circumstances, it might be impossible.<\/p>\n

So over the last year we\u2019ve expanded our thinking at MOD.<\/p>\n

Advanced space capability is essential to support all Defence environments.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we designated it as a Critical National Infrastructure in 2015.<\/p>\n

And why space has joined air, land, sea and cyber to form the five domains which now inform all UK Joint Force policy.<\/p>\n

Commercial Importance<\/h2>\n

Of course, space is also a vital part of the economy \u2013 an industry worth \u00a314 billion a year.<\/p>\n

We build a quarter of the world\u2019s large communications satellites.<\/p>\n

Our expertise in smaller satellites is unrivalled, with the likes of Surrey Satellites, Clyde Space, and Oxford Space Systems building about 40% of the global total.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re also leading the world in wider space technology.<\/p>\n

Reaction Engines, for example, are unlocking the future of hypersonic flight with the revolutionary Sabre propulsion system.<\/p>\n

And the UK\u2019s Daedalus experiment \u2013 which we\u2019re helping to fund via the Chief Scientific Advisor\u2019s investment into the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory \u2013 is pushing the boundaries of what\u2019s possible in space sustainability.<\/p>\n

Daedalus is exploring \u201cde-orbit sails\u201d, giving satellites a controlled descent into the Earth\u2019s atmosphere at the end of their operational lives.<\/p>\n

The pace of change in affordable space technologies is quickening \u2026 and we have to harness that for Defence.<\/p>\n

Threats<\/h2>\n

So we\u2019ve got a thriving space sector, at the cutting edge of a technology which is becoming more central to progress and prosperity with every passing day.<\/p>\n

But that technology is potentially very vulnerable.<\/p>\n

The UK remains fully committed to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which declares space to be the province of all mankind – free for exploration and use by all nations.<\/p>\n

While that\u2019s a noble sentiment, we have to recognise that the world has moved on.<\/p>\n

Back then, beaming a flickering TV picture across the Atlantic was a rare event \u2013 a marvel.<\/p>\n

Now space-based technology is everywhere, underpinning many aspects of our daily life.<\/p>\n

If it were seriously compromised, it wouldn\u2019t just affect the military.<\/p>\n

We all rely on satellites for communications, navigation, and meteorology.<\/p>\n

That means everything from your daily weather forecast or the SatNav in your car \u2026 to the emergency services\u2019 ability to respond when we most need them.<\/p>\n

We\u2019d all experience delays, shortages and bottlenecks \u2026 enormous social and economic damage could be possible.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, our ability to monitor and react to threats would suffer \u2026 severely affecting our ability to react to humanitarian crises, weather events, terrorist attacks, breaches of arms control agreements or expanding drug cultivation.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the threat environment is very different.<\/p>\n

The era of the Treaty was the era of Gemini, Vostok and the bipolar Cold War.<\/p>\n

Things are more complicated now.<\/p>\n

The international environment is more fluid \u2026 rogue states are more ready to challenge the rules-based international order \u2026 and non-state actors are increasingly gaining access to the sort of high tech equipment which was once the monopoly of NATO and the Warsaw Pact.<\/p>\n

Space is becoming much more accessible, with cheaper satellites put into orbit by commercial suppliers using greatly improved launch technology.<\/p>\n

But at the same time, space is a more threatening environment.<\/p>\n

Back in 2007, China tested a satellite killer.<\/p>\n

Not only did that show the physical vulnerability of our space hardware to attack \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 it sent thousands of pieces of debris spinning through the orbital environment, endangering billions of pounds of equipment from many countries, including the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

The danger also comes from cyber hackers \u2026 and those who seek to disrupt the satellite signals we depend on with cheap devices bought on the internet.<\/p>\n

We are responding in a comprehensive and deliberate manner.<\/p>\n

As I mentioned, we are now treating space as a key operational domain.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re working to fully understand the risks \u2013 from accidents and natural hazards in space, to a deliberate attack by organised groups or another state.<\/p>\n

We must be able and willing protect and defend our space assets and infrastructure alongside our allies and partners.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re actively looking at our own space capability and the scope for new international partnerships, as we approach Brexit in March 2019.<\/p>\n

Our Approach<\/h2>\n

To stay ahead in the space race, we\u2019re taking a three-fold approach.<\/p>\n

Partnership<\/h2>\n

First it\u2019s about partnership – internationally, at home and across Government, and with the private sector.<\/p>\n

All our key allies are seeking to develop their space thinking and investment, and many are increasing their investment in defence and civil space programmes.<\/p>\n

We are actively working through NATO to raise the profile of space technology in Defence and Security, and ensuring we\u2019re at the forefront of international space Science &Technology activities.<\/p>\n

At home, our close co-operation with the UK Space Agency and the industry is vital.<\/p>\n

Graham Turnock will be speaking to you later.<\/p>\n

While I won\u2019t steal his thunder, I will mention their excellent work towards a Civil Space Strategy, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of the latest space developments worldwide.<\/p>\n

When it comes to partnership, I should add that we\u2019re keen to remain a part of the Galileo project in which we were instrumental from the start.<\/p>\n

The threats that Galileo is designed to counter are shared by all of Europe.<\/p>\n

So it makes no sense for the Commission to exclude us from this programme \u2013 especially when many of its key modules and software were developed and built by UK experts.<\/p>\n

By denying us the level of participation in Galileo we need to meet our mutual security requirements \u2013 which is well beyond simply having permission to use the secure signal \u2013 the Commission risk setting the programme back a number of years.<\/p>\n

It would no doubt also increase its cost.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t want that to happen.<\/p>\n

We want to work closely with our European partners on security, so we\u2019re still in discussion about the programme\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

But we\u2019re also making sure we\u2019re not limiting our own opportunities.<\/p>\n

That includes looking at the possibility of an independent encrypted satellite navigation service, and the MOD is strongly supporting the Task Force led by the UK Space Agency, to look at the alternatives.<\/p>\n

Investment<\/h2>\n

The second pillar of our approach is investment in technology and skills.<\/p>\n

As Greg Clark announced last November, the Government is putting \u00a350 million into the development of spaceports under the UKSA\u2019s LaunchUK programme \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 accessing a global market for launching small satellites worth \u00a310 billion over the next decade.<\/p>\n

\u00a399 million has been awarded to RAL Space from the Government\u2019s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to develop the National Satellite Test Facility.<\/p>\n

By 2020, that will provide a world class set of facilities for the assembly, integration and testing of space payloads including a large satellite test chamber.<\/p>\n

This will enable UK companies to develop \u201cnext generation\u201d launch and testing technologies for constructing satellites and delivering payloads into orbit \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 as well as giving them the tools to bid competitively for international contracts, ensuring the UK remains a world-leader in the space technologies market for decades to come.<\/p>\n

\u00a310 million has gone into PRIMUS to develop a small satellite constellation.<\/p>\n

And the Government has put \u00a3.4.5 million into the launch and operation of Surrey Satellites\u2019s Carbonite-2, which has given our military access to sovereign full-motion colour video from space for the first time.<\/p>\n

This is serious investment.<\/p>\n

MOD Space Strategy<\/h2>\n

We know this is a huge market – and it\u2019s getting bigger by the day as new applications of technology find new commercial uses.<\/p>\n

In addition, the United States and other nations are now actively looking for commercial space partners.<\/p>\n

And that brings me to the third part of our approach \u2013 seizing opportunity.<\/p>\n

With its heritage and expertise, the UK\u2019s industry is well placed to grow rapidly.<\/p>\n

Our aim is to grow the UK\u2019s share of the global space market from 6.5% to 10% \u2026 generating \u00a340 billion a year for by 2030.<\/p>\n

So we\u2019re determined to fire up the thrusters for military space capability by publishing our first ever Defence Space Strategy in the summer.<\/p>\n

The 2016 Queen\u2019s Speech committed the Government to making space a priority.<\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve shown you, we\u2019re now delivering on that commitment through investment and partnership, uniting experts from across government and the private sector.<\/p>\n

The Strategy will bring that work together as a vision for the future, and other speakers today and tomorrow will say more about the key elements of it.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re opening up the enticing prospect of Britain regaining the ability to launch satellites into orbit \u2013 something I know is close to many of your hearts.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

On that note, I\u2019d like to leave you with a final thought.<\/p>\n

Earlier I mentioned Prospero – the last satellite launched by the UK \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 a successful venture whose results can still be seen in the night sky, nearly half a century later.<\/p>\n

That was what we could do back then.<\/p>\n

Today we not only have enormous technical nous – we have strong bonds with partner nations across the world.<\/p>\n

What could we do tomorrow?<\/p>\n

In a few decades\u2019 time, I don\u2019t doubt they\u2019ll be many more sparkling points of light in the night sky \u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 to which we can proudly point and say \u201cMade in Britain\u201d.<\/p>\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Speech delivered by the Minister for Defence Procurement, Guto Bebb MP at the first Defence Space Conference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94619"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=94619"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94619\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=94619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=94619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=94619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}