Admittedly, this is – excuse the pun – “out there”. It’s not the first thing on people’s minds when they think of Welsh independence, or even the present economy. The powers and freedom independence bring shouldn’t be stuck in a box of being exclusively about the economy, culture or social justice.
“Regulation of outer space activities” is one of the miscellaneous reserved matters in the Wales Act 2017. It’s yet one more “minor” area Wales would take responsibility for upon independence. There are opportunities here – independence or not – and events the other side of the Atlantic are making it possible.
If – at some point in the future – Wales does develop a space policy, we’re going to need more scientists and engineers coming through schools. You can do that through the curriculum, or you can also do it via extra-curricular activities like competition for amateur rockets, astronomy or space engineering solutions in schools and colleges – like this recent example.
I’ve since covered the make up of any Welsh Defence Forces, though I’m unlikely to return to it. Although the European Space Agency doesn’t currently have its own manned spaceflight programme, it does have an astronaut corps, and runs joint projects with NASA.
I don’t think it would be too outragous that “the best of the best” from Welsh military or academia – who have the potential (physically and mentally) – be put forward as candidates for astronaut training. It’ll only be one or two people a decade, but why not?
As I’ve hopefully demonstrated, the opportunities independence could bring aren’t confined to material concerns. The sky isn’t the limit.
