I wrote this back in January, having helped with the protest at Newquay Airport on the most bitterly cold and wet day of the winter. The Virgin Space launch failed, since when the company itself has gone into liquidation with nearly 100 job losses. So be it. But then and now, no-one has discussed the military and nuclear components of this initiative. The militarisation of space, its drive towards space wars and self-destructive pollution, remains very real and very ill-considered.

Plymouth Herald January 2023

I oppose the Newquay Space Port! Monday night’s launch included at least two pairs of military satellites predicted to be placed in space from “Cosmic Girl” (as if a rocket has a gender!). The military component was hardly mentioned by the Media in its haste to glorify UK rocket launches.  Launching military hardware from Cornwall is the latest step in a new era of expansion into space by the military with the UK wholeheartedly joining a space arms race which will inevitably lead to greater risk of instability and conflict.

And it is Branson’s Virgin transnational predatory corporation that is profiting from the misspending of our taxes, just as it does from our privatised health service and education. Whilst the cost-of-living crisis is causing distress to millions of us, our taxes are passed to private companies and shareholders to pocket billions of pounds from death and destruction. 

Space is rapidly becoming a key domain for military operations as modern wars rely heavily on space-based assets for command and control,  surveillance,  intelligence gathering, missile warning and supporting forces deployed overseas. Satellites also enable communications links for military and security forces, including communications needed to remotely fly armed drones.

Over the past two years we have seen the setting up of the UK Space Command, the government publication of the Defence Space Strategy outlining how the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will “protect the UK’s national interests in space” and the announcement of a portfolio of new military programmes to develop space assets and infrastructure.   

MoD ministers have openly stated that they now determine space to be a war fighting domain and a cash-cow for private military companies.

Rather than this military expansion into space the UK should be upholding the Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967, which recognises that space is a ‘global commons’ to be used for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all countries and humankind. The billions should be used to fund nurses pay and public welfare services.

There needs to be proper and detailed research undertaken into the environmental impact of a UK space programme. Space is a region of wonder and inspiration. It continues to challenge and inspire many people who wish to explore and discover. However, a growing number of space activities are now focussing on commercial exploitation and warfighting. This must change.

Tony Staunton

Plymouth CND