> The entire UK space industry has been a downer for the last 50 years

True for launches but we have a lot of innovation in satellite design and manufacture. E.g. ion drives used in Earth orbit and for planetary missions [0] and [1]

[0] https://www.qinetiq.com/en/blogs/postcards-from-space-ion-th...

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey_Satellite_Technology#Sa...

The only country ever to gain satellite launch capability and lose it again.

One launch. Then packed it up and left.

There was one highlight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJdrlWR-yFM