The first British-trained astronauts have been selected for Nasa's Artemis programme, marking a milestone for UK space ambitions and raising questions about the economic return on investment for the taxpayer. Rosemary Coogan, a 32-year-old from London, and John McFall, a 39-year-old from Scotland, are among the latest recruits for the Moon mission, which aims to land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2025. Both trained at the European Space Agency's centre in Cologne, but their British ties have been hailed by Downing Street as evidence of the UK's 'world-leading space sector'.
But for those in the North East, where shipbuilders and engineering firms once dominated the skyline, the news is a reminder of a different kind of industry: one that pays well but reaches far beyond the reach of most high streets. The space industry employs around 47,000 people in the UK, with hubs in Harwell, Oxfordshire, and Glasgow. Yet regional inequality persists. The average space-sector salary is £55,000, nearly double the national median wage of £28,000. For a warehouse worker in Sunderland or a care assistant in Newcastle, a ticket to the Moon might feel as distant as the Moon itself.
McFall, a former Paralympian who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident, said he hoped the Artemis programme would inspire young people with disabilities. Coogan, an astrophysicist, stressed the need for diversity in the astronaut corps. Both will support lunar surface operations and deep space exploration. But the real test for the UK government is how it translates space glory into kitchen-table gains. The Artemis programme is expected to cost £20 billion, with the UK contributing approximately £1.2 billion. Critics question whether this money could have been better spent on pothole repairs or school roofs.
The government argues that the space industry boosts Britain's innovation and exports. The sector grew by 5.1% in 2022, outpacing the broader economy. Yet the benefits are concentrated. Over 80% of UK space jobs are in the South East, London, and Scotland. The North East, with its pockets of deep deprivation, accounts for just 3%. The government's 'levelling up' agenda promised to spread prosperity. But for the Artemis announcement to mean something more than a headline, it must be part of a broader plan to seed space-related jobs and contracts in left-behind communities.
Union leaders are watching closely. The Prospect union, which represents aerospace workers, said the sector offers 'high-skilled, well-paid jobs' but warned that without sustained investment in training and apprenticeships, the UK risks becoming a junior partner. A recent report by the Trade Union Congress found that the UK has one of the lowest rates of employer-provided training in the OECD. For young people in towns like Barrow-in-Furness or Doncaster, the space programme will remain a distant spectacle unless they can see a path from the classroom to the control room.
McFall and Coogan are the first of a new generation of British astronauts. They will carry the Union Jack on their suits. But the real measure of success will be whether their journey to the Moon lifts the fortunes of those who remain on the ground. Until then, the Artemis programme is a triumph of aspiration. The challenge for the UK is to ensure it is also a triumph of opportunity.
