Letter to The Editor – Space

Dear Editor

Have we lost our way

What has happened to our country when we have been world leaders in science, technology and engineering – how quickly such innovations are forgotten such as the De Havilland Comet, the world’s first commercial jet airliner!

   It is a very sobering thought that India’s recent Lunar Mission cost £59 million, but when compared to the current cost of £26 billion for a 3.2 GW potentially hazardous nuclear fission plant at Hinkley Point, it is chicken feed. Recognise also that a modern efficient CCGT gas-fired power station with a capacity of 2.2 GW will cost in the region of £1 billion. How many readers appreciate there are now over 5000 artificial satellites in space (not forgetting the International Space Station), of which there are over 3,000 commercial satellites – remember we have had television from space for over 30 years – thus it truly begs the question as why we are not generating electricity from orbit now that launch costs have come down.

   How many readers are aware that Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket has now retired after 27 years fruitful service by launching dozens of commercial satellites? Indeed, Ariane 5 once dominated the worlds launch business until the appearance of the Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket which is capable of LOWER launch costs partly due to the reusable Falcon 9 rocket.

   You have to wonder what so-called experts are advising Government, especially our scientific, technological and engineering ignorant and inept Cabinet. Do they not know and understand that a 2 GW Orbital Power Station will cost in the region of £18 billion. To put this in context such a station could easily power the whole of Wales and at a stroke render all Welsh terrestrial generation redundant – this not science fiction anymore and the UK could become a world leader in Orbital Power Stations – if only we had leaders with vision and backbone, and most importantly genuine advisors with modern technical know-how. It appears the Neanderthals are taking over with their weather dependent wind totems and ground based sun-worshipping attempts at energy salvation.

Dave Haskell

Brithdir

Cardigan

SA43 1ER

Tel: 01239 614671