During Plenary today William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) asked the if the Welsh Assembly Government will bring forward a debate on the contribution Wales makes to space exploration and satellite technologies and how this Assembly will support Welsh universities and industries to remain at the leading edge of future UK space agency projects.
“The UK Government has today announced the establishment of a UK Space Agency. It is vital that Wales continues to lead the way in the research and development of space sciences”.
“I sponsored the visit of Prof Colin Pillinger to the National Assembly; Prof Pillinger studied at Swansea University and worked at NASA during the Apollo moon landing missions, was responsible for the Beagle 2 Mars mission”.
“Although there is a public perception that Beagle 2 was a failed mission, wider recognition should be given to the fact that it pioneered vital developments in analytical equipment that allow wide benefits in medical diagnostics. It also stimulated scientific research and academic study; together will increased public interest in space technologies and innovative research”.
“Wales and the UK lead the world in the manufacture of small satellites, potentially securing 10% of the world’s space industry and creating 100,000 high-skill/high-value jobs”.
“Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities have gained a world-wide reputation; we must ensure that these, and other organisations within Wales must remain at the leading edge of the developing these innovative technologies arising from space sciences”.
