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Briton one step closer to walking on the moon with Nasa and UK Space Agency deal

The statement of intent paves the way for UK commercial satellite communication and navigation services to be used by future Nasa missions.

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Nasa and the UK Space Agency have signed an agreement that potentially brings a Briton one step closer to walking on the moon.

The statement of intent “essentially” paves the way for the UK to send an astronaut on a lunar mission.

Signed on the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Apollo 11 mission, the agreement opens the door for UK commercial satellite communication and navigation services to be used by future Nasa missions to the moon.

The agreement was announced in a speech from Science Minister Chris Skidmore at the Policy Exchange in London on Embracing the New Space Age.

Asked whether it meant the UK was one step closer to putting someone on the moon, Mr Skidmore said: “Essentially, yes.”

He added that he did not want to offer false optimism when the first priorities “are around earth observation, Copernicus (EU Earth observation programme), around maintaining stability of financing around our existing programmes and working towards Tim Peake getting back up for that second mission on the international space station”.

National Museum of Scotland space exhibition
Astronaut Tim Peake (Jane Barlow/PA)

“The spokes that come off it allow for future participation, so I think an important announcement which will help pave the way for future engagement.”

The UK Space Agency said it recognises the scientific benefits of missions to the moon and the important role the growing commercial space sector will play in providing services on the lunar surface and in orbit.

The statement of intent on lunar research and exploration highlights the common interests of the UK and US in space, and the role that both nations can play in addressing major scientific questions.

Mr Skidmore said further lunar missions could set out a basis for further space travel.

He explained: “The question that ESA are very interested in is to what extent you use the moon as a basis for obviously going further out on to Mars for the future.

“Obviously there are other areas of the moon to explore that haven’t yet been investigated.”

Science Minister, Chris Skidmore
Science Minister Chris Skidmore (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Mr Skidmore said this represents the first time the two agencies have worked together in this way.

Graham Turnock, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “International collaboration is at the heart of space exploration and we want to work with partners around the world to deliver incredible science, develop innovative technologies and explore the solar system.

“The UK Space Agency and Nasa are already working on missions such as the Mars InSight lander, but there is so much more we can achieve together in the new space age.”

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