Brits in Space: UK Considers Astronaut Funding

Science Minister Ian Pearson said space was "increasingly important" and worth £7bn to the British economy.

The British National Space Centre (BNSC) said in the publication UK Civil Space Strategy: "In 1986 the UK chose not to participate in human space missions.

"The publication of the Global Exploration Strategy provides a suitable point to review this decision."

The BNSC will study the options, taking into account the scientific, technological and economic costs and benefits, and report to Innovation Secretary John Denham.

Mr Pearson said: "This strategy sets out measures to increase the UK's share of this growing international sector."

The review is expected to take between six and 12 months.

The UK has historically opted out of manned space exploration, and spent its limited space budget on detailed scientific missions involving robotic probes.

Meanwhile, in another development, Nasa is due to give its formal backing in a report to a British-led £100m mission to the Moon.

The US space agency has described the MoonLITE mission to send a small probe to the Moon in 2013 as "inspirational"