Nasa has named the four astronauts for its next Artemis mission, a lunar flyby set for late 2024. The crew includes three Americans and a Canadian. No Britons. But Whitehall sources tell me the UK Space Agency is quietly negotiating a seat on a future landing. The deal is not done. The price is high.
This is classic behind-the-scenes manoeuvring. Ministers want a British bootprint on the Moon. They see it as soft power. Hard cash. The Prime Minister’s office is leaning on the Treasury to free up funds. The Treasury is sceptical. Cost overruns are the norm in space.
The Artemis programme is America’s return to the Moon after Apollo. It is political. It is expensive. Nasa’s budget is stretched. Britain’s contribution could be technology. Robotics. The Lunar Gateway. But the real prize is a seat at the table.
Labour is watching. Shadow science minister says the government is “asleep at the wheel”. They want a UK astronaut on the Moon by 2030. That is ambitious. The current timeline is 2025 for landing. Delays are likely.
Backbench MPs are restless. They see other nations leapfrogging Britain. Japan. India. The UAE. They are all in the game. Britain is still at the bar, nursing a pint.
The National Space Council meets next week. Expect fireworks. The Chancellor will face a rebellion. Tory MPs from marginal seats want the economic benefits. A spaceport in Scotland. Jobs. Investment. The Treasury says no blank cheques.
This is a classic Whitehall war. The Department for Science versus the Treasury. The PM plays mediator. The outcome is uncertain.
For now, Nasa’s crew gets the headlines. But the real story is the scramble for influence. Britain wants in. It will have to pay. The question is how much. And who gets the credit.
I’ll be watching the tea rooms. Listening. The leaks will come. Stay tuned.
