50 years of the UK in space

From swirling star formations deep in the cosmos, to sat-nav in cars and the daily weather forecast, the UK has played an significant role in space exploration and technology over the past 50 years. And it is big business - with the UK space industry worth more than £9bn a year.

Take a colourful look at how it all started - and where it is now heading - with the acting chief executive of the UK Space Agency, David Parker.

To see the enhanced content on this page, you need to have JavaScript enabled and Adobe Flash installed.

Click bottom right for image information. All images subject to copyright.

Music by Focus Music. Slideshow by Paul Kerley. Publication date 29 December 2012.

Related:

UK Space Agency

European Space Agency

Nasa

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.

More audio slideshows:

Treasures at the Natural History Museum

Skyscrapers - past, present and future

Ansel Adams and American nature