>>An interesting opinion on the possibility of having a UK astrounat, after all.
>>http://www.bizbuzzmedia.com/blogs/flight_international/archive/2007/01/11/6275.aspx
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>????
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>The British astronaut, Dr Nicholas Patrick, much feted and doing the media rounds in Britain at the mo, has just come back from the ISS and he holds the world record for EVA
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>http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2099965.ece
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>Interestingly, I recently discovered that the UK used to have its own space and rocketry dev. centre, on the Isle of Wight:
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>"...not only did Black Knight accomplish its mission, but its successor, Black Arrow launched the British satellite 'Prospero' into space. But funding for the space project was withdrawn in favour of developing Concorde, the legendary supersonic plane."
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>At least 3 launches were made, from Australia, and at least one satellite is still in orbit.
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>http://www.bbc.co.uk/coast/programmes2/01-dover-wight.shtml
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>At one point we were ahead of the USA and USSR in R&D.
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>Shame really!

Yes

Blue Streak provided the basis for a European launcher for a while. As a child interested in spaceflight I found the UKs complete lack of interest and participation very sad.