Tim Peake goes into space: The chart that shows the UK space industry is taking off

The value of the space sector in the UK has grown from £6.5 billion in 2007 to £11.8 billion in 2014

(Getty Images)

The Soyuz Space capsule carrying astronaut Major Tim Peake has launched towards the International Space Station on Tuesday in the ultimate symbol of how fast the UK’s space industry is growing.

Peake’s six month mission has sparked interest across the country and put the space race back on the agenda.

The launch follows the government’s decision to ringfence science spending and the commitment of the UK Space Agency to grow the British space industry to £40 billion and 10 per cent of the global market.

The value of the space sector in the UK has grown from £6.5 billion in 2007 to £11.8 billion in 2014. It currently employs nearly 35,000 skilled workers, with current government ambitions for the sector to grow to £40 billion by 2030 and a further 100,000 jobs.

This is a big step up from 1991, when British astronaut Helen Sharman travelled to the Russian station Mir without UK government support.

“Historically we haven’t been a major player in space programmes, this policy will change that because, in the words of my hero Mr Spock, to do anything else would be highly illogical,” business secretary Sajid Javid said.

According to Angus Horner, Director of Harwell Campus, the UK’s gateway to space and leading satellite application centre, Tim Peake’s journey into outer space is a personal triumph for a British pioneer and an opportunity to celebrate the UK’s growing space sector.

“Research into space innovation has emerged as a major industry in this country and will create employment and drive economic growth in years to come,” Mr Horner said.

The impact should be seen on Earth too. Many products benefiting space mission also have applications closer to home and are as diverse as ocean-mapping system to bed bug detection, according to Angus Horner.

“UK scientists have shown that thinking big and taking on enormous challenges can continue to deliver benefits far beyond what we set out to achieve,” he said.