Will Brexit ground the UK's space industry? Lords committee investigates

The discussion will focus on the UK's participation in EU space programmes, investment in the UK space sector, the Government's commitment to the space sector, and the impact of Brexit on access to talent in the sector.

Taking part in the roundtable event will be:

• Andrew Stroomer, Business Development Director Space, Airbus Defence and Space
• Richard Peckham, UK Strategy & Business Development Director, Airbus Defence and Space, and Chair, UKspace
• Dr Lucy Berthoud, Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Bristol and Chair of Space Universities Network
• Stuart Martin, CEO and Executive Director, Satellite Applications Catapult
• Professor Sir Martin Sweeting OBE, Executive Chairman, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
• Dr Chris Mutlow, Director, RAL Space
• Professor John Zarnecki, President, Royal Astronomical Society and Emeritus Professor of Space Science, The Open University
• Philip Davies, Chair of the Space Specialist Group at the Royal Aeronautical Society
• Professor Alan Smith, Director Space Domain, University College London
• Professor John Remedios, National Centre for Earth Observation

Questions are likely to include:

• Would post-Brexit UK participation in ESA-EU space programmes – such as Galileo – be of mutual benefit to the UK and the EU?
• To what extent are UK firms already being excluded from contracts for ESA-EU space programmes?
• What actions should the Government take to support the UK space sector post-Brexit and beyond?
• Are the Government's planned investments in the UK space sector enough to mitigate the potential negative implications of Brexit?
• Is there any evidence that uncertainty over Brexit is impacting investment decisions taken by companies in the space sector?
• Could Brexit have significant implications for access to talent in the UK space sector?

The session will start at 10:10am on Thursday 15 March in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.