This is the BBC.

In this edition of the bottom line, we're discussing the UK space industry, what it does,

how it makes money, and how it spends it.

Hello, welcome to the programme.

No industry better captures the tendency for nations to dream, or sometimes fantasise, than space.

Big nations like to plant a metaphorical flag somewhere in the Earth's orbit or beyond as

a statement of economic and technological ambition.

Sometimes it's hard to see why countries, even quite poor ones, would burn so much fuel

and cash in the race to explore space.

But Britain has been a quiet and unflashy success in space.

Our industry has got on with practical functions like making satellites

and the really brainy stuff in advanced research and design.

The government, for its part, is enthusiastic about the

space industry and wants the UK to have its own space port for commercial flights and satellite missions.

So, what are we up to? Is it a business, or are we being seduced by the glamour of space travel?

And does it have a future? I have three players in the British space industry.

With me, let us meet them.

And first up is Mark Thomas, chief executive of reaction engines.

Now, Mark, this is an intriguing company.

Just tell us basically what you do.

So reaction engines is a UK-based company,

and we're involved in design and developing the

...