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Reach for the Stars to Boost Britain's Space Industry

Orbex, a UK‑based rocket developer once valued at $220 million, entered administration after the government withdrew a planned funding round despite earlier £26 million support. The collapse underscores the repeated failure of state‑led investment in Britain’s nascent space sector. Meanwhile, the global space industry now generates roughly £500 billion a year, driven by giants like SpaceX and Blue Origin. The article argues the UK should abandon the traditional subsidy model and adopt tax breaks and lighter regulation to attract private space entrepreneurs.