On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 11:23:36 -0500, Michael Gallagher
wrote:

Well, if Britain wants to be a space faring power in its own right
instead of just a cog in the ESA machine,

No chance, when apart from the one brief government funded rocket
project, then they have faced the fact that we are not having out own
space program any time soon.

they'd damn well better plan a whole pack of Beagles.

That is a different factor.

Although the UK has been terrible at funding rocket development and
support, unlike our EU neighbours, we have been excellent in funding
the probe technology that rides upon those same rockets.

Huygens, Beagle II and a lot of former work with NASA I recall.

Writing it off over afternoon tea is not the way to go.

The UK just likes to get the best value for our space funding, when
there is not much science return in paying to launch rockets.

If the UK has better experts concerning space probes than the other EU
counties is hard to say, but we sure have better experience.

Cardman
http://www.cardman.com
http://www.cardman.co.uk