Howling:UK had no spaceships in 29th century?

Much of the plotline of "The Beast Below" revolves around the notion that by the 29th century AD, when Earth is under threat from solar flares, the United Kingdom has no access to space vehicles with which to escape the planet, which is why they enslave the Star Whale. Why would this be, it doesn't make much sense. The Earth Empire was still in force then, and would last until near the end of the 30th century. The stories "The Mutants" and "Terror of the Vervoids" are both set in the 2900s, and both portray space travel as being in abundance. 82.2.136.93 14:36, August 18, 2011 (UTC)