All eyes may be on the progress of Elon Musk’s rockets across the pond, but the UK space industry is also making progress in the race to explore the universe. The country is hoping to have its first successful rocket launch this year, with Rocket Factory Augsburg granted permission to blast off from the SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland.
This will be a game-changer for the UK’s space industry, and could help the country strengthen its position as a key player in the global space race.
Great Interest in Space in the UK
The latest news will spark delight in people around the UK, as there’s a widespread interest in space travel here. That’s highlighted by how prevalent space is in the mainstream entertainment industry, with some of the most popular content centring on the great expanse beyond our planet.
Many people still want to try the Starburst slot, for instance, as it has been one of the most popular titles in the iGaming market for more than a decade. The space-themed offering from NetEnt was released in 2013, but it’s still up there with the most played slots in the industry. That’s impressive, as the iGaming market moves forward rapidly and new upgrades to games often make older ones obsolete.
On top of that, various sci-fi shows have been attracting a lot of interest from people in Britain recently. Shows like Foundation and For All Mankind have been lauded by The Guardian, and highlight how viewers can’t get enough of content that involves space adventure.
Launch Set to be Landmark Event for UK Space Industry
It’s amazing to think that, while the USA has sent more than 4500 satellites into orbit, the UK hasn’t fired up a single rocket from its soil. That’s why this planned launch is such a landmark event for the UK. If it’s a success, it could be the first of many.
According to a piece in Skyrora, there are likely to be countless benefits to the UK sending its own rockets up into space. The main advantage is that it will lead to economic growth, as the UK won’t have to depend on other countries as much for space-related services. It will open up loads of new jobs, as well as opportunities for research and development.
What Other Recent Space Developments Are There in the UK?
There have been a few other exciting developments involving the space industry in the UK over the last few years. For example, Rolls-Royce recently announced that it’s exploring the use of micro nuclear reactors to power space missions. This will be in collaboration with the UK Space Agency.
The UK Space Agency has also signed off on some agreements with Axiom Space to provide more opportunities for British astronauts to participate in future space missions, meaning there’s a greater chance that people from the country can pursue their dreams of getting out of the earth’s atmosphere.
It’s set to be an exciting year for the UK, as the country will finally establish itself as a key player in the space race.
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