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MPs warn UK security is at ‘serious risk’ without reliable satellite access

A cross-party group of MPs said the UK government’s failure to secure access to satellite navigation systems needed for defense and critical infrastructure risked endangering national security. family.

The House Science and Technology Committee on Friday criticized the government for not developing “resilient” alternative position, navigation and time (PNT) systems following the loss of full access to the EU’s Galileo, which The UK helped fund and build, because of Brexit.

This makes the UK dependent on the US-controlled Global Positioning System for important purposes. But access could be blocked in the future or GPS could fail, the MPs said, putting national security at “serious risk”.

In a wide-ranging report, the committee called the government’s overall approach to space strategy “disjointed and unclear”. Other criticisms include: delays in licensing satellite launches from the UK; not publish a Plan B if the country does not participate in the EU’s Copernicus earth observation program; and abolished the National Space Council established in 2020.

Committee Chairman Greg Clark said that while the UK’s space and satellite industry is thriving with a turnover of £16 billion a year, “the government’s uncertain and fragmentary approach is not realizing it.” potential of the industry”.

He added: “There is a need for better intergovernmental coordination to reflect that the space sector is not only economically important but also central to national defense, security and foreign relations. of Great Britain”.

MPs said a number of government agencies are working on options for “secure and flexible access to PNTs” but no strategy has been published yet. They expressed doubts about whether the constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit was developed by OneWeb – in which UK bought $500 million shares in 2020 – can provide PNT services as the government hopes.

“There are many technical issues surrounding the use of low-Earth orbit satellites for PNT signals,” the report said. Ambiguity also remains about the development schedule for full PNT services from OneWeb and whether such services can be provided in an appropriate manner for sovereign military and infrastructure purposes. national importance or not.

Because the loss of vital satellite signals would be devastating to electricity distribution, financial transactions, transport and defense, the committee urged the government to shift responsibility for developing the PNT strategy from the Department of Business. , Energy and Industrial Strategy to National Security. Adviser.

With three spaceports being set up in the UK – one in Cornwall and two in the north of Scotland – “there is a palpable excitement surrounding the UK’s first satellite launch, which This will lead the UK into a new space era,” Clark said.

Unfortunately, he added, regulatory delays meant this didn’t happen in the summer of 2022 as planned. The latest unofficial estimate is that Virgin Orbit will make its first launch from Spaceport Cornwall later this month or in early December.

Clark called on the government to “pay urgent attention” to the licensing process “to ensure there are no further delays . . . and the UK continues to attract satellite launches of global importance.” .

The committee said the main problem was Civil Aviation Department lack of sufficient resources to carry out the very complex process of issuing the various permits required to launch the spacecraft.

“Of the CAA’s 1,200 employees, only 35 are working on spaceflight regulation,” Clark said.

A government spokesman said: “Thanks to our continued support, the UK is now home to one of the most innovative and exciting space sectors in the world, with Space Strategy Our country brings milestones as Cornwall soon hosted the first small satellite launch from European soil. “



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