Former Brexit minister and MP, David Jones, has criticised the EU for threatening to kick Britain off the Galileo satellite programme after Brexit, in spite its £1bn contribution.
Notwithstanding advanced plans for a rocket by new company, Skyrora, to launch a satellite, this will effectively leave the UK Ôout of spaceÕ.
In 1960 the Conservative government cancelled the mid-range Blue Streak rocket, and in 1971 cancelled the smaller Black Arrow rocket although it had successfully launched Prospero, a 100kg satellite, into orbit.
It had been Ôkept aliveÕ by PM Wilson through the 1960s in the expectation of becoming a big contender for space work in the future.
The demise of Black Arrow has been shrouded in mystery, but this booklet resulting from exhaustive research, reveals the truth Ð for PM Edward Heath, Black Arrow was a bargaining chip to get President Pompidou to remove FranceÕs veto over joining the Common Market and leaving the French Ariane programme without its British rival.