Space Environments – A Brief History September 2011: UK Space Agency commissions ‘Microgravity working group,’ primarily charged with examining the scientific + economic potential of: a) microgravity (and space-analogue) research in general and b) UK membership of ELIPS October 2011: First meeting of the working group. Change of name to ‘Space Environments Working Group’ agreed – encompasses use of all space and space-analogue conditions, not just microgravity June 2012: Inaugural ‘UK Space Environments Conference’ Held in conjunction with UK Space Biomedicine Conference >70 delegates Formation of Space Environments consortium agreed in principle September 2012: full business case for UK subscription to ELIPS is submitted to DBIS and Treasury for scrutiny November 2012: ESA Council of Ministers, Naples: UK Minister for Science and Universities takes decision to join ELIPS for the first time. Also makes decision to commit 20M€ to ISS exploitation programme. January 2013: SEWG formally established as an advisory group, reporting to the Space Exploration Advisory Committee (formerly known as Aurora Advisory Committee)

The UK Space Environments Working Group (SEWG) Terms of Reference (abridged): Advise UK Space Agency on all matters concerning ELIPS exploitation, and any other routes to such research (i.e. non-ESA, bilateral arrangements.) Undertake tasks aimed at forming a more coherent SE ‘community’ Review progress and set targets for exploitation of ELIPS membership Membership: Representatives from across the scientific spectrum, covering (as far as is practical) all disciplines in the ELIPS programme – not necessarily ‘space experts’, but experts in their fields with experience of space-based experiments Current Membership Charles Cockell (Chair; Edinburgh) Kai Bongs (Birmingham) Jeremy Curtis (UKSA) Helen Fraser (OU) Sue Horne (UKSA) Andy Mullis (Leeds) Tim Peake (ESA) Peter Taylor (UCL) Andrew Kuh (Secretary; UKSA)

Space Environments Communities  Astrochemistry  Astrobiology  Fundamental physics  Materials Science  Space Biomedicine  Space biology and physiology  Commercial spaceflight In fact, any science and technology that can use the environment of space and its facilities!

The Space Environments community must become self-sustaining, not driven by a government advisory committee! Seize the opportunity, assume control and play a role in establishing the community of space scientists and engineers that plays a role in taking the UK into space.