The Welsh Government detailed plans last week to create a national space plan that would bring an estimated £2 billion into the country’s economy.
The space plan is the result of five years of collaboration between the Welsh Government and Aerospace Wales.
In this vision for the future, sites in Llanbedr – where a Spaceflight Academy has been established with plans to begin flight training within 18 months – and Aberporth, are both set to receive funding to improve facilities.
The ambitious plans include launching Wales’ first satellite into orbit this year, and within four years’ time it’s hoped that there will be one satellite a week leaving Earth using Welsh technology and orbital capabilities.
This blue-sky thinking is certainly to be welcomed, and the potential for economic growth seems huge.
Since 2010, space has proven to be one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors, trebling in size and it now employs 42,000 people and generates an income of £14.8 billion each year.
If Wales can corner a piece of that market, then the jobs and investment will be welcome in this region of Britain that has suffered too long and too much from being ignored by both Westminster and Cardiff.
While everyone would welcome these plans to open the next frontier to Welsh towns, Welsh people and Welsh facilities, we also need to remind those dreaming of space should keep their feet firmly planted on the ground.
Maybe that £2 billion includes improving the infrastructure across mid and north Wales? Let’s hope that sometime before then, the Welsh Government might find just £14 million to complete the bypass it cancelled in November for Llanbedr.
Space plans are fine. The reality on the ground is far different. It’s all too easy to imagine a space launch delayed because rockets are stuck on poor roads, or there’s miscommunication because of poor broadband.
Cardiff, we have a problem...