Posted: Fri, Dec 11, 2009, 6:39 AM ET (1139 GMT)
The British government announced Thursday that it will create a national space agency, a long-term goal of space industry advocates in the UK. Lord Drayson, British Science and Innovation Minister, announced the creation of the "bureaucracy busting agency" at a conference Thursday. The agency, whose name has not been announced, will bring together elements of six government departments as well as other organizations. It will replace the existing British National Space Centre, a cross-government organization that coordinates UK civil space activities but does not have the power and influence of a full-fledged agency.

Related Links:

•  BBC article
•  The Guardian article
•  The Telegraph article
•  Press Association article
•  BNSC press release