Next year, UK spaceports will become capable of hosting space launches from the UK for the first time. The development is part of an ambitious plan to make the UK a meaningful actor in space, both in military and civilian spheres, and allow British industry to exploit new space-related technologies for smaller, cheaper and more effective satellites. To make this happen, the government earlier this year created the UK Space Command to defend British interests and guarantee secure communications in space: it also introduced the legal framework necessary to allow launches from British soil. But is Britain ready for the challenge? | 
