To infinity and beyond: New hi-tech £40m space centre will help Britain to conquer the final frontier

That is why space is part of our growth review launched at the Budget.

ISIC provides excellent facilities for the private sector and academia to work together, encouraging them to develop new space applications and supporting the £10million National Space Technology Programme.’

ISIC’s mission will initially encompass three activities: understanding and countering climate change, security in space and analysing data generated by Earth Observation satellites.

Astronomer Dr Ian Griffin, director of Science Oxford, highlighted the expertise of British space scientists, and added that ISIC will help to keep the nation at the forefront of space exploration.