No Military In Space - Public Perceptions of the Space Industry — Topline Results

The majority of British people think that Space should be a neutral place with no military uses and believe the US is more interested in the military potential of space than putting a person on Mars, according to new research conducted by MORI. It also shows support for the missions such as Beagle 2 and finding life on other planets.

The polling was commissioned for a new Demos report on the future of the British space programme called Masters of the Universe, published on 3 March and supported by a unique consortium of UK space industry partners. They were: EADS Astrium; British National Space Centre; Met Office; Natural Environment Research Council; Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council; Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; Science Museum, and UK Industrial Space Committee.

The poll of the British public shows that:

• two-thirds (67%) agree that space should be neutral with no military uses
• 68% agree that the US is more interested in the military potential of space than putting a person on Mars
• 70% agree that space is exciting (44% agreeing strongly)
• the same proportion (70%) agree that space encourages young people to become scientists and engineers
• 50% agree that Britain should play a leading role in the space industry
• 75% believe that finding life somewhere else in the universe would be an important discovery for mankind
• almost three-quarters (72%) thought Beagle 2 was interesting and worth attempting
• two thirds (66%) agree it is important that Britain should try again with new missions

Technical details

MORI interviewed a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Great British adults aged 16+ between 6-10 February 2004. Interviews were carried out over the telephone. No incentives were offered to respondents. Data were weighted to match known population profile.

• MORI interviewed a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 16+
• Interviews were carried out over the Telephone using RDD (Random Digit Dialling). No incentives were offered to respondents
• All interviews were conducted between 6 and 10 February 2004
• Data were weighted to match known population profile
• Where figures do not sum to 100 percent, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple codes or the exclusion of 'Don't know'
• * represents a figure greater than zero but less than 0.5%

Q1 I am going to read our some statements. For each one, can you tell me whether you agree or disagree with the statement. Is that strongly or just tend to agree/ disagree?

Base: All

Q2 Which of the following non-military space activities do you think the UK is currently involved in? Q3 And which of the following non-military space activities do you think the UK should be involved in?

Base: All

Q4 And can you tell me whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the military use of space? Is that strongly or just tend to agree/ disagree?

Base: All

Q5 George W Bush recently announced a new US space programme whose long-term aim was to put a human on Mars. He seemed to emphasise the human desire to explore when he said: "We do not know where this journey will end, yet we know this: human beings are headed into the cosmos." I am going to read out some statements about this US space programme. For each one, can you tell me whether you agree or disagree with the statement. Is that strongly or just tend to agree/ disagree?

Base: All

Q6 You may have heard of Beagle 2, which was a British mission to send a small spacecraft to Mars to search for signs of life. Scientists have been unable to make contact with the craft. I am going to read out some statements about Beagle 2 and about finding life on other planets. For each one, can you tell me whether you agree or disagree with the statement.

Base: All

Q7 The British government spends about £3 on civil space activities per year per person. In comparison, the US government spends around £30 per person, the French government spends around £15 per person and the Belgian Government about £10 per person. Do you think the amount spent by the British Government is too much, too little or about right?

Base: All

Q8 At the moment, the British government is considering joining the rest of Europe in a new space exploration programme called Aurora. This would involve exploring the Moon and Mars with robot probes, searching for past or present life and eventually sending European astronauts to Mars. It could involve working with other countries like the US and China. British space scientists believe that it is a good idea for Britain to join Aurora and that if we joined now we could play a leading role. Joining would cost the equivalent of 50p per year per person on top of the £3 currently spent on space by the British Government. Bearing this in mind, do you agree or disagree with the following statements. Is that strongly or just tend to?

Base: All