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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Britain should rethink its opposition to involvement in human space exploration because there are scientific benefits to be gained from exploring the Moon and Mars, a panel of experts said on Tuesday.

Successive British governments have decided against taking part in human space flights but the report by the Royal Astronomical Society said space exploration will improve understanding of the origins and history of the solar system.

It will also answer questions about how life began on Earth, the long-term future of our planet and the feasibility of life elsewhere.

"There seems to be a scientific case for humans going to the Moon and on to Mars," Dr John Dudeney, deputy director of the British Antarctic Survey told a news conference.

He was part of a three-person independent panel that looked into the scientific reasons for space travel and the feasibility of British involvement.

They concluded in the report that it would be difficult to conceive that Britain, one of the world's leading economies, would not take part in the European Space Agency Aurora exploration program -- a long-term plan for robotic and human exploration of the solar system.

The experts added that there seem to be no fundamental technological barriers to sending humans to the Moon or Mars.

"We find that profound scientific questions relating to the history of the solar system and the existence of life beyond Earth can best -- perhaps only -- be achieved by human exploration on the Moon or Mars, supported by appropriate automated systems," they said in the report.

Robots will play an important role in the space programs but human involvement will also be essential.

"Autonomous robots alone will be unable to realize those scientific goals in the foreseeable future," said Professor Frank Close, of Exeter College at Oxford University.

Ken Pounds, an emeritus professor of space physics at the University of Leicester, said it may not happen for another 10-15 years but he believes several nations will be involved in human space flights to the Moon and beyond.

The cost of British participation would be about 150 million pounds a year, which would have to be sustained for 20 years at least.

"We're talking about an overall commitment of 3 billion pounds," he added.

The experts said British involvement would have educational, commercial and political benefits and provide inspiration for future generations.

"The wider educational, social and political benefits add justification to the substantial expenditure that full UK participation in an international program of human space exploration will require," said Dudeney.