This is why I am so excited about commercial man-rated launch vehicles and their manned spacecraft as well as Bigelow’s space habitats. Countries such as Britain will not have to spend their scarce space research euros on launchers and space stations, they will be able to dive straight into performing science on board the space habitats. They should be able to afford to do their own missions without partnering with other space agencies or the fear of being a junior partner.

More science faster and from a wider variety of countries, companies, and universities. I expect the pace of manned space exploration to really pick up in the next decade, even before the expensive SLS can start its mission (whatever that may turn out to be).