The UK Space Agency has awarded £3.65M to help UK scientists prepare for three new space missions designed to unlock the secrets of the Sun; seek out distant planets that could harbour life; and search for dark energy – the elusive constituent thought to make up 74% of the mass-energy in the Universe.
The missions – Euclid, PLATO and Solar Orbiter - are part of ESA’s Cosmic Vision programme and have been selected from more than 50 original ideas to go forward for detailed technical and cost assessments. In June 2011, ESA will decide which two of the three missions to build and launch between 2017 and 2020. The UK Space Agency helps fund the European Space Agency’s highly successful series of space science missions – which include Mars Express and the Herschel space telescope - through its subscription to the ESA club.
Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said: “We are committed to supporting Britain's thriving space industry, and this money will help to ensure that UK scientists working on these ambitious projects maintain our country's position as leaders in space science within Europe. These exciting missions will help unlock some of the greatest mysteries of our Universe, and have huge potential in furthering our knowledge of space science.”
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Source: www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk