The UK's ability to lead space missions in future is in jeopardy because of Brexit, leading space scientists have told peers. Ten of the top aeronautics and astronomy experts in the country presented a bleak outlook for an industry worth £14bn when they were quizzed by the House of Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee. They said that even if the UK stays in the European Space Agency (ESA), which is not an EU organisation, the loss of freedom of movement for scientists and equipment could still impact heavily on the industry. At present the UK is a European leader in space science research and development, the scientists said. Professor John Zarnecki, president of the Royal Astronomical Society and emeritus professor of space science at the Open University, said: "In the UK, we have been incredibly successful in exploiting these opportunities - whether it's landing on a comet, as in Rosetta... there are many examples of great success. "We do that with 30% of our funding coming from the EU... without which we just wouldn't be able to play the leading role in these organisations. We feel that we are facing a cliff edge. :: Spaceport would bring opportunities for Britain "If we look ahead, for the next generation of missions, we will lose our leading position." The UK pays into the ESA budget directly and into the European Research Council (ERC) through the EU, which then both fund the development of space technology. But the supply of funds from both are in doubt when the UK leaves the EU, the scientists said. Professor Alan Smith, director of Space Domain, University College London, said that the EU has considerable input into the ESA and, because of Brexit, the UK's involvement in some of its programmes was "in jeopardy". Another of the experts, RAL Space's director Dr Chris Mutlow, said among a particular class of the ESA's missions - the Explorer missions - the UK had a very good record of being chosen to take the lead. He said: "We are seeing there are these Brexit clauses appearing and we are being squeezed out of things in practice. "That will mean that our influence, which pays dividends for us, will disappear. "If you look back historically across the explorer missions, the successful candidate missions have all been led out of the UK and this is something that will become increasingly difficult." Andrew Stroomer, of Airbus, said the firm employs 3,000 people on building satellites for TV and other purposes but its work for the EU's navigational system Galileo was already being affected because of Brexit. He said: "Our team is the incumbent for something called the Ground Control System for Galileo. In Portsmouth we are producing the software that controls the satellites in orbit. "We are currently engaged in a tender for the next phase of this Ground Control and due to the Brexit environment, we don't believe its possible to sustain the lead from the UK for that activity." Professor John Remedios, of the National Centre for Earth Observation, added: "We are already thinking about the next generation of sentinel satellites. At least two or three of the mission, in fact the candidate missions, have substantial if not leading UK investment. "We are the people being asked if they are worth doing. If we are not able to do that, we are disadvantaged, both in the ERC but also in ESA, so we are very concerned about that." The evidence to peers on Thursday morning comes after dreams of a spaceport for Britain moved a step closer after the Space Industry Bill was given Royal Assent. In a recent speech in Munich, the Prime Minister said she intended to "keep open all the options which will enable the UK and the EU to collaborate in the most effective way possible" on space technologies. She said: "The UK hosts much of Europe's cutting edge capabilities on space and we have played a leading role, for example, in the development of the Galileo programme. "We are keen for this to continue as part of our new partnership, but, as is the case more widely, we need to get the right agreements concluded which will allow the UK and its businesses to take part on a fair and open basis."
A panel of leading scientists have warned that the prospect of independence is threatening the UK 's ability to play a leading role in space missions . Speaking to the House of Commons ' EU Internal Market Sub - Committee , the aeronautics and astronomy experts expressed concern that the loss of freedom of movement for scientists across borders following independence would have a detrimental effect on the sector . The source of post - Brexit public funding for projects is also in question , casting yet more clouds over the industry .