Britain urged to finance new Mars mission

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 30, 2005

Britain has the ability to finance, develop and launch its own mission to find life on Mars, a conference of Yorkshire business and academic figures heard this week.

Britain has the ability to finance, develop and launch its own mission to find life on Mars, a conference of Yorkshire business and academic figures heard this week.

Prof Colin Pillinger, who led the inspirational Beagle2 mission to land a probe on the red planet, was speaking at the latest Yorkshire Science and Technology Network (YSTN) event.

He said British industry and the Government could finance a mission - which he estimated would cost GBP 200 million - but decision-makers would have to "be brave" and get behind it.

Prof Pillinger told the event, held at Hellaby Hall Hotel near Rotherham, he was currently negotiating with the European Space Agency to seek support for a second mission in 2011.

The academic said thousands of future scientists would be inspired by a new mission and even gave a computer-generated preview of his new concept Mars lander - a 4x4 vehicle to drill into rocks and look for volcanic activity on the plant.

He said: "If we want to continue to inspire people, then we have to keep stories like Beagle alive".

"But if you don't take some risks then you don't inspire anyone".

YSTN was launched earlier this year by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward to improve links between academics and the business world and raise levels of innovation.

Businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region spend about GBP 357 million a year on research and development - just 2.7% of the entire UK spend.

In contrast, the region's nine universities spend almost GBP 340 million on research - 7.7% of the UK share.

Dr Ceri Williams, Senior Science and Innovation manager at Yorkshire Forward, said: "We heard how the Beagle2 mission collaborated with industry sponsors to make an incredible journey".

"While most of our region's businesses might not be looking for life on Mars, they are looking for ways of getting ahead of their competitors".

"I know that some good contacts were made between businesses and university staff at the event - hopefully together, they can launch their own innovative missions".

Dick Joseph, Head of Strategy and Government relations at Tunstall Group, market leaders in community alarms and telecare, based near Selby, was one of the delegates.

He said: "As market leaders, we need continuous innovation to maintain that world leading position".

"We have been developing links with a number of the region's universities".

"We benefit from the expertise and they build on their own centres of excellence - it is a mutually supportive relationship".

Dr Charles Barton, of the Department of Physics at the University of York, was one of about 20 academics at the event and welcomed the chance to meet business figures.

He said: "If you are working in your own field - mine being nuclear physics - you have a closed world view".

"The opportunities to mix with people in industry can bring different skills and expertise together".

The next YSTN event is scheduled for 13th September and will look at the support available to businesses and academics who want to collaborate on research and development projects.