The failure of the mission is considered a heavy blow to Britain's military space programs, showcasing the UK's weakness in launching satellites. Had the mission been successful, the UK would have been one of only nine countries that could launch craft into Earth's orbit.
Meanwhile, anti-war campaigners expressed outrage over the failed efforts of the British government, saying London should be focused on resolving the UK's cost-of-living crisis and social injustices, which have led to months-long protests and strikes across the country.
"Space is the new frontier for military escalation and spending with no real public scrutiny or accountability," said Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) General Secretary Kate Hudson. "Billions of pounds are being spent on this new arms race which could instead be invested in helping to solve the current cost of living crisis."
Drone Wars UK Director Chris Cole denounced a "space arms race which will inevitably lead to greater risk of instability and conflict."
Critics argue that rather than engaging in the military expansion into space, the British government should be upholding and abiding by the Outer Space Treaty, ratified in 1967, which recognizes space as a "global commons" to be used for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all countries and humankind. The multilateral treaty, which was negotiated and drafted under the auspices of the United Nations and forms the basis of international space law, aims to prevent military and commercial exploitation of space and the damage it would cause.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/01/11/696112/UK-first-space-launch-of-military-satellites-fails
