Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Tordoff (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Tuesday, 21 July 2009.

European Space Programme

Question: My Lords, as a former member of your Lordships’ Science and Technology Committee which undertook a study into space technology many years ago, I ask the Minister whether he agrees that there are dangers in sending people into space. It may be glamorous but it can be very polluting. The decision of your Lordships’ Select Committee was that unmanned space experiments were far more valuable than sending people into space.

Answer: My Lords, I disagree with the noble Lord in that I believe that the benefits which accrue to mankind from manned space exploration outweigh the potential drawbacks. I recognise the risks—they are taken very seriously—but I believe that the way in which the world has remembered what happened 40 years ago yesterday brings into focus the real importance to the human race in continuing exploration into space. I hope that we participate fully in the plans regarding landing a man on Mars.

Secondary information