Policy paper

National space strategy

Updated 1 February 2022

Credit: NASA

Foreword from the Prime Minister

I was barely 5 years old when Neil Armstrong shuffled down the Eagle’s ladder and left the first human footprint on the surface of the moon. Yet I still vividly recall my family and I not only being transfixed by NASA’s grainy black and white footage, but also excited by what the scenes we were witnessing meant for us all.

The possibilities that now lay ahead, the ambitions that would be let slip, the breakthroughs we could look forward to. And of course being 5 years old it made me want to be an astronaut myself. Such is the unique power of space, turbocharging both our technology and our imaginations.

Yet for all the UK’s prowess behind the scenes – Armstrong’s journey would never have happened without the engineering know-how of a chap from Anglesey named Tecwyn Roberts – we have for too long failed to properly embrace the opportunities that the space industry offers.

And so the home of Bell Burnell, Hawking and Payne-Gaposchkin, a country that has done so much to expand and enhance humanity’s understanding of the cosmos, has remained largely earthbound. When it comes to getting off the ground we contribute to the work of others rather than taking the lead ourselves.

This strategy is about changing that. About tapping our vast pools of talent and enthusiasm, putting the UK firmly in the front rank of the global space industry, and harnessing the technology of space to solve problems and improve public services back down on Earth.

It’s a plan that will level up the UK by bringing opportunity to every part of it, with satellites being propelled into orbit from as far afield as Cornwall and Sutherland as soon as next year. A plan that will create more jobs by putting rocket boosters the size of a Saturn V’s F1 under British space businesses. And a plan that will see us take a leading role on the international stage, Global Britain becoming Galactic Britain as we work with other nations to pursue exciting missions and with the UN to set the standards that will ensure space is used responsibly and safely.

The days of the UK space industry idling on the launch pad are over – this government has the Right Stuff, and this strategy marks the start of the countdown.

The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister

Foreword from the Secretaries of State

Space is inspiring; the whole world gathered to watch humanity take its first steps on the Moon in 1969 and every child has looked up in wonder at the stars. But perhaps fewer of us realise just how essential space is to every aspect of our modern daily life. Every time we use our smartphones to navigate, every time we take a flight, every time we check the weather forecast – we are using space.

The Space Race of the 20th Century transformed and advanced our technology, our society, and our understanding of our place in the universe. The coming decades will do this again. New technologies and cheaper access to space will let us further explore the Earth and the solar system, deliver new ubiquitous services like space-enabled internet, and make new scientific discoveries in zero-gravity.

We entered this first Space Race during an era of great power competition, with the US and Soviet Union vying for dominance. Today the nature of global power is shifting again as we move towards a more intensely competitive world. Space was once only the preserve of superpowers but increased commercial use of space will trigger a new wave of competition. Governments around the world will use a range of methods to compete, and this could include technologies intended to disrupt and deny others’ use of this domain. Any miscalculation could present a real risk to our wellbeing and security. We must act to prevent this.

We will empower British companies to capitalise on new opportunities, with the UK providing a comprehensive end-to-end offer for space businesses to start and grow, including launches into orbit from British spaceports from 2022. Space will help us fight climate change, with satellites providing an extraordinary insight into our climate and environment. And researchers and innovators will use space in new and exciting ways, improving the way we live and work. The UK must be in the vanguard of this next phase of space innovation.

The UK can look back on a proud history of activity in space. From our first satellite Ariel 1 in 1962 and the launch of the Black Arrow rocket in 1971, to today’s construction of the Rosalind Franklin rover which will go to Mars as part of a major international mission, we have always brought to bear British skills, expertise, and ingenuity. To build on this foundation and seize this moment in history, our UK-wide Space Strategy sets out our vision and ambition for the UK space sector. It sets out how we will build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, creating the right conditions for space businesses to start, grow, innovate, and thrive, while giving them the confidence to do so. We will demonstrate leadership internationally, ensuring that space remains safe and sustainable as we enter the next exciting phase of exploration, and we will take steps to ensure that we can protect and defend the UK.

The Prime Minister has called for the UK to become a meaningful actor in space, and for the first time this strategy brings together our civil and defence activities into one integrated approach to achieve this ambition. Our partners in the space ecosystem will be vital to delivering this strategy, and we have asked the UK Space Agency and UK Space Command to work together to deliver on these goals. We will work alongside our research sector, expert institutions, agencies and across the whole of government to do this. But most importantly this strategy sends a signal to businesses and innovators across the UK and further afield to take advantage of this moment of opportunity, and to come together and work with government to deliver on the strength of the UK’s ambitions.

The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence

The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy

Executive summary

Space plays a critical role in our daily lives. Satellites orbiting the Earth from only 160 kilometres above our heads keep us connected with our friends, families, and colleagues. They support our present and future security and prosperity, enabling us to navigate the oceans, keep our troops safe, monitor the climate and forecast the weather. And the space sector is a vital part of the UK’s economy, worth over £16.4 billion per year and employing over 45,000 people in diverse and exciting roles as scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators.^{[footnote 1]}

Space presents significant opportunities; the global space economy is projected to grow from an estimated £270 billion in 2019 to £490 billion by 2030^{[footnote 2]}. Constellations of satellites are being launched to deliver worldwide services. New state and commercial space stations are being planned and built. And space tourism operators are flying their first customers into space. However, as the opportunities have grown, so too have the threats; our potential adversaries are developing capabilities that will put our people, equipment and information networks at risk and make it harder to protect the UK. Space is changing, the UK must respond.

This first ever National Space Strategy brings together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation, and diplomacy to pursue a bold national vision. This strategy identifies 5 goals and the activities that government, academia and industry will need to take to achieve them.

The UK’s vision

We will build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, and the UK will grow as a space nation. We will protect and defend the UK’s interests in space, shape the space environment and use space to help solve challenges at home and overseas. Through cutting edge research, we will inspire the next generation and sustain the UK’s competitive edge in space science and technology.

The UK’s goals

• Grow and level up our space economy
• Promote the values of Global Britain
• Lead pioneering scientific discovery and inspire the nation
• Protect and defend our national interests in and through space
• Use space to deliver for UK citizens and the world

How we will achieve the goals

• Unlocking growth in the space sector
• Collaborating internationally
• Growing the UK as a science and technology superpower
• Developing resilient space capabilities and services

The 10 point plan

Immediate key interventions in the highest impact opportunities and the critical cross-cutting enablers.

The UK has built a thriving space economy with end-to-end support for space enterprises. We have a renowned science and technology sector, a strong talent pipeline, and leading satellite manufacturing and operations capabilities. Highly innovative British companies have built mature global supply chains. And from 2022 the first launches into space from the UK will take place. On the ground, British scientists and businesses have the skills and technologies to interpret and use the data we get from space, providing modern and innovative services to us all. And our broader strengths, from our modern regulatory regime to world-class financial and legal services, make the UK a fantastic place to start, invest in, and grow a space business.

The UK excels in the manufacture of satellites, spacecraft, highly complex payloads, end-to-end satellite service delivery, satellite communications, and high-end navigation systems. We have ambitious plans to build new leadership in high growth areas, such as Earth Observation, navigation applications and services, and satellite broadband. And we will work to establish early leadership in potential and emerging markets such as in-orbit servicing, space travel and habitation, and active debris removal.

We will take action to unlock growth in the UK space sector, using government to unleash the potential of our industry, entrepreneurs, and innovators. This will include:

• ensuring innovative space businesses can access private finance through space-oriented venture capital funds, such as Seraphim Space Investment Trust, supported by the British Business Bank
• leading the world in modern space regulation, and building new space trading partnerships with the world, building on the success of the UK-Australia ‘space bridge’

We will collaborate internationally with our partners and allies to achieve our goals, including:

• maintaining our role in the European Space Agency whilst building new and enhanced bilateral relationships with countries such as the United States
• working at the UN to deliver leadership on a safe, sustainable, and secure space environment, in particular to deliver a new resolution on space threats

We will grow the UK as a science and technology superpower, participating in the most exciting research opportunities. This will include:

• returning samples from Mars to the Earth for the first time and monitoring the sun for space weather events like solar flares
• collaborating on the NASA-led Artemis programme to return humans to the Moon

We will upgrade the UK’s space capabilities, that are crucial to so many of our civil and defence functions. This will include:

• delivering the UK’s first Defence Space Portfolio, investing £5 billion over 10 years in the military’s satellite communications and £1.4 billion in new technologies and capabilities
• becoming the first country to launch a rocket into orbit from Europe in 2022 with the aim of becoming a leader in commercial small-satellite launch

Part 1: Context – Space today and tomorrow

Growing and changing uses of space

Today, all nations depend on space for their prosperity and security.

Space sector in the UK

Space technologies underpin over £360 billion per year in UK economic activity

£16.4 billion per year, size of the space sector in 2018 to 2019

The Skynet Constellation of satellites helping keep the UK safe for 50+ years

Sector supports over 45,000 jobs across the country

Total employment 45,086

Space is a vital part of the UK’s economy. Satellites and space activities deliver navigation, weather forecasting, power grid monitoring, financial transactions, and better public services. Satellites also support television services to millions of UK households as well as other digital communications. The UK space sector is growing faster than the rest of the UK economy, and the average worker in the space sector is 2.6 times more productive than in other sectors.^{[footnote 3]} It is worth over £16.4 billion per year, employs over 45,000 people, and satellites underpin £360 billion per year of wider economic activity.^{[footnote 4]}

Space technologies and services also support the UK’s ambition to be a science and technology superpower. Earth Observation satellites increase our understanding of our own planet whilst telescopes, laboratories, and rovers expand our understanding of the universe. The technologies we develop and knowledge we gain through space support our wellbeing, provide services for our everyday lives, and help us support other countries and meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.^{[footnote 5]} We use satellites to monitor and map crops to enable more productive agriculture to sustainably feed a growing global population. And countries with capable space systems can lead the way in tackling challenges that face the entire globe, such as the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

Space is vital to the UK’s security and resilience. It is fundamental to the UK’s strategic advantage and the successful conduct of military operations. Space capabilities form the backbone of secure global communications, navigation, and intelligence-gathering activities. From the first warning of imminent attacks, tracking of potentially hostile activity, to missile warning systems, space systems underpin the capabilities that keep us safe and competitive. Space is defined as part of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). CNI also relies on a wide range of resilient space technologies including Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services and we have committed to making these services more resilient for both CNI users and our wider economy.

Space remains a tool for global influence and diplomacy, just as it was during the first Space Race in the 20th Century. Human spaceflight and space exploration demonstrate the power and ingenuity of spacefaring nations. Activity in space is essential to the transmission of culture and information and can help provide disaster relief where conventional infrastructure is thin on the ground or destroyed.

The space sector is undergoing a rapid, transformative change

The cost and complexity of acting in space has fallen dramatically. Miniaturisation, digitisation, reusability, regulatory reform, and increased private capital have reduced the barriers to space, allowing more countries and commercial players to enter a field once available only to a select few. New Space^{[footnote 6]} and the commercialisation of space presents a significant opportunity: the global space economy is projected to grow from an estimated £270 billion in 2019 to £490 billion by 2030.^{[footnote 7]} This growth will be fuelled by unprecedented demand for data and connectivity on Earth, new markets for satellite-enabled services and huge leaps in technological innovation.

UK civil expenditure on space has increased from £300 million in 2014 to £700 million in 2019, and the UK space sector has seen consistently high growth rates.^{[footnote 8]} However, other nations have invested proportionally more and the UK lags behind our international peers. As a result, whilst the UK sector has continued grow, it is not currently increasing its share of the global space economy.

But this will not hold the UK back. This strategy sets out how we can become a highly agile space nation and make a generational leap forward in space technologies and capabilities unencumbered by the cost of maintaining older, outdated technologies. The government will act to put the UK space sector in a position to fully capitalise and lead in the new space markets of the future, as well as the established and growing space markets of today.

Space is becoming more congested and contested

The way that space is used is also changing. Constellations of thousands of satellites are being launched to deliver worldwide services. New state and commercial space stations are being planned and built. Space tourism operators are flying their first customers on suborbital spaceflights and robotic servicing spacecraft are extending the lives of older satellites and clearing space debris.

There are millions of pieces of potentially harmful debris from decades of activity orbiting in space. As the space above us gets busier, it becomes harder to track objects with confidence and to avoid accidental collisions. With greater reliance on infrastructure in orbit, natural threats such as severe space weather begin to pose greater risk of disruption to our daily lives.

Our potential adversaries are developing capabilities that will put our people, equipment and information networks at risk and make it harder to protect the UK. They are developing a range of methods to do this, from jamming and cyber-attacks, through to anti-satellite missiles that can cause permanent damage, including the creation of long-lasting debris. As the Integrated Review made clear, this is happening in an era of intensifying constant competition across all domains, which increases the risk of escalation and miscalculation.^{[footnote 9]}

As our dependence on space grows, we need to protect and defend the UK’s interests

The UK is working with our allies and other defence space operators to establish a safe and secure space domain. Our sovereign Skynet satellites provide assured communications for UK defence and NATO allies, while our commitment to augment space surveillance will strengthen our capability further. However, the UK is not keeping pace with the threat as adversaries invest more in space capabilities.

Commercial products are increasingly sophisticated, and our economy is more reliant upon space technologies. In the unlikely event the UK were deprived of access to global navigation satellite systems, for example, the impact on our economy could be as high as £5.2 billion lost in just 5 days.^{[footnote 10]} With this growing reliance on space technologies comes the risk that foreign investment or aggression by hostile actors will deprive us of their use. Government must act to secure space assets critical to the UK, while ensuring sensitive UK information does not come under the control of hostile state actors who wish to undermine our national security and that of our allies.

UK strengths and opportunities

The UK has an end-to-end offer for space enterprises. We have a renowned science and technology sector, a strong talent pipeline, and a leading satellite manufacturing and operations capability. We benefit from a highly integrated and mature global supply chain of innovative and established companies and a new launch capability from 2022, as well as growing downstream skills and services in data use and exploitation. We are a growing leader in ancillary services, from a modern regulatory regime to private finance and insurance with the City of London providing an unparalleled global financial services centre.

We have many areas of strength, drawing on our holistic offer for the space economy, with the UK being an excellent place to do business. The UK is well placed to leverage those strengths to build leadership in high growth opportunity areas in the coming years. The growth of the sector will be driven by the dynamism, entrepreneurialism, expertise and curiosity of the UK’s world-leading space companies and scientists. Government’s role is to help identify the opportunities the UK is best positioned to pursue and then to empower the sector to thrive. It should provide support only where it is needed and where only government can intervene.

To build a strong, diverse, and resilient sector, we must focus on removing barriers and increasing support on the areas of highest opportunity. This means sustaining our current competitive strengths, developing leadership in high growth areas, and laying the foundations for leadership in emerging sectors.

1. Sustaining our current competitive strengths

The UK has existing areas of deep commercial and technical expertise which we will continue to support and develop. The UK excels in the manufacture of spacecraft and highly complex payloads, with particular strength in small satellites. We are a leader in the ground-based manufacture and services for high-end navigation systems and satellite communications, as well as broadband for mobility applications (including maritime, aeronautical and land mobile). We also have thriving professional services that support the space sector, in particular IT, consultancy, insurance, and legal services.

Growing existing strengths

• Manufacture of spacecraft and complex payloads
• Communications and high-end navigation terminals
• Mobility broadband services
• Professional supporting services

2. Developing leadership in high growth areas

Over the next 5 to 10 years, the UK has the potential to establish global leadership in some of the largest and fastest growing markets in the space sector. Owing to our strengths in analytics, artificial intelligence, and app development, we see key opportunities in markets that use data from space to build services and applications for Earth Observation, Navigation, and Space Domain Awareness. We will also further develop leadership in satellite broadband operations, building on our recent investment in OneWeb.

Leadership in high growth areas

• Earth Observation applications and services
• Navigation applications and services
• Space Domain Awareness
• Satellite broadband

3. Laying the foundations for leadership in emerging sectors

In the coming decades, emerging technologies and applications will generate whole new markets. In-orbit servicing will extend the economic life of satellites; active debris removal will be increasingly required to keep orbits safe; in-space manufacturing will be enabled by advances in robotics and 3D printing. And further into the future, space travel and habitation, energy production and the utilisation of space resources could become significant commercial markets.

We are already building capabilities in some of these sectors, where clear technological possibilities and market needs already exist, and we are demonstrating technologies in others. But we can go further. The government will act to put the UK space sector in a position to fully capitalise on the nascent opportunities of the future. The potential economic and societal benefits are huge, even if the risks and uncertainties appear high today.

Emerging sectors

• In-orbit servicing
• Active debris removal
• In-space manufacturing
• Space travel and habitation
• Space-based energy
• In-situ space resource utilisation

Increasing time for market to reach full scale.

Part 2: UK vision and goals

This will be the most exciting decade in space since humans walked on the Moon, with opportunities and challenges in equal measure.

Following the government’s Integrated Review and Build Back Better plan,^{[footnote 11]} this Space Strategy brings together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation, and diplomacy to pursue a bold national vision:

We will build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, and the UK will grow as a space nation. We will protect and defend UK interests in space, shape the space environment and use space to help solve challenges at home and overseas. Through cutting edge research, we will inspire the next generation and sustain the UK’s competitive edge in space science and technology.

Goals

This strategy defines 5 goals that the UK will achieve in and through space, which will guide government focus in the coming years as we work towards our vision.

Goal 1: Grow and level up our space economy

We will make the UK one of the most attractive countries for space-sector businesses of all sizes and for talent to grow and thrive. We will back business to develop new commercial opportunities, from those areas in which the UK already excels to fast growing markets and exciting future possibilities. We will create a national space ecosystem spreading employment across the UK, boosting exports, attracting talent and investment, and further integrating space data and technologies into daily life.

Goal 2: Promote the values of Global Britain

We will support an open and stable international order through our engagement on space. We will demonstrate global leadership and drive discussions on space safety, security, and sustainability and hold other nations to account for their actions in space. We will promote responsible behaviours and work to avoid miscalculation, escalation, and conflict. With the UK’s partners, we will modernise the guidelines governing the peaceful and responsible use of space, to keep pace with new technologies and create opportunities for science and industry.

Goal 3: Lead pioneering scientific discovery and inspire the nation

We will support research that protects our planet and nation, allows us to live healthier and richer lives and answers the biggest questions about our place in the universe. British-built technologies and new missions for UK astronauts will ultimately help people to live and work in space. We will support our space sector to deliver one million engagement activities a year with young people across the UK, inspiring the next generations of space scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. This will help to build and sustain our strategic advantage through science and technology, as set out in the Integrated Review.

Goal 4: Protect and defend our national interests in and through space

We will strengthen our security and enhance our resilience at home and overseas. Through increased autonomy and more diverse collaboration we will know what is happening in space and maintain our freedom to respond to threats and deter hostile behaviour. We will ensure that space fully supports our overall approach to defence, including integrating defence operations across the 5 domains^{[footnote 12]}. We will also ensure our Critical National Infrastructure can rely on a wide range of resilient space technologies including Position, Navigation and Timings services. We will develop ambitious capabilities to improve our resilience and ensure we are fully able to protect UK interests, and those of our allies, in and through space, while maximising our freedom to operate. We will enhance our ability to prevent the transfer of sensitive UK technologies for use in hostile space programmes.

Goal 5: Use space to deliver for UK citizens and the world

We will use space to tackle global challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss, and deliver better services to the public such as modernising our transport system, supporting our NHS, and protecting our borders. We will support businesses to develop the new technologies and infrastructure to deliver these services through better government procurement, with clearer requirements, a more joined up approach to civil and defence needs, and easier routes for firms to offer their expertise. We will also use space to help deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals, putting the UK at the forefront of meeting the needs of our planet and its people.

Government will work with British companies, researchers, innovators, and our partners and allies across the world to transform the UK’s space sector and achieve these goals.

Part 3: How the UK will achieve our goals

Achieving the UK’s goals in space will require coordinated action from government. However, public investment alone will not be sufficient. The UK will require a significant increase in private sector investment in space activities, and the full combined efforts of every participant in the UK space economy, from businesses to innovators, entrepreneurs, and space scientists. As the sector grows, develops, and matures over time, government will redefine our partnership with industry, changing from a primary funder to an influential customer. We will understand the barriers to growth and work with industry to reduce and remove them.

We will set the conditions for a competitive space sector and encourage a broad range of space companies to get involved. The sector will benefit from partnership with government, as well as advances in science and technology from academia, the entrepreneurialism of British businesses, stronger skills and education, and stronger and more diverse relationships with partners and allies across the world. Working together, we can ensure that the sector generates jobs, income, and intellectual property in the UK, contributing to sustained economic growth and benefits for our citizens.

The space ecosystem is highly interconnected. Systems and structures across our economy and across the world affect how we can achieve the goals of the strategy, from the regulatory environment and skills to international cooperation, science, and technical capability. We will achieve our goals by acting across 4 pillars:

1. Unlocking growth in the space sector
2. Collaborating internationally
3. Growing the UK as a science and technology superpower
4. Developing resilient space capabilities and services

Pillar 1: Unlocking growth in the UK space sector

We have a range of tools at our disposal to enable the space sector to sustain current advantage and grow leadership in opportunity areas and to level up our economy, as well as supporting the other goals for space and facilitating wider government objectives to unleash innovation and achieve Net Zero by 2050 (supporting the Plan for Growth, Innovation Strategy^{[footnote 13]} and the forthcoming Net Zero Strategy). We will make full use of this toolkit, depending on where the need is, and in those areas where only government can deliver the support required.

Government will take a whole-ecosystem approach through the interventions detailed in this strategy, conscious of the interdependence between different parts of the value chain. We will also support businesses across their growth lifecycle, recognising that the needs of researchers and start-ups are distinct from established players.

The interventions below are aligned with the approach of the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy that highlighted the importance of Defence in embracing the growing space innovation environment and enabling wider sector growth aspirations.^{[footnote 14]}

Space strategy goal

Grow and level-up our space economy.

Sector opportunities

• Current strengths
• High growth areas
• Emerging sectors

Enabling intervention areas

• Build trade
• Whole UK ecosystem
• Dynamic regulation
• Unleash innovation
• Nurture talent
• Improved procurement
• Access to finance

1. Building trading partnerships

We cannot build a successful sector based on domestic demand and domestic capability alone. Government will enable the UK space sector to form and maintain global trading partnerships and deliver investment in our capabilities.

As an independent trading nation, we are taking our place on the global stage, championing the benefits of free trade, lowering market barriers, and building new and exciting international partnerships. We will pursue pioneering new trade arrangements and seek to include innovative provisions for space in the UK’s future Free Trade Agreements, building on the UK-Australia Space Bridge announced in 2021.^{[footnote 15]}

Initiatives such as the Space Sector Export Academy are supporting UK innovators to become not only exporters but global market leaders.^{[footnote 16]} Through trade missions, we will showcase the capabilities of domestic suppliers to key overseas markets. And the UK will also work to build new ‘Space Bridge’ agreements with international partners, to remove specific barriers to trade and foster mutual prosperity.

Our strengths as a scientific, academic, and financial leader make the UK an ideal place to invest in or grow a business. The National Security and Investment Act 2021 gives greater certainty and confidence to investors in the space sector and beyond, through a framework which ensures the UK will remain a leading investment destination but also protects companies and organisations operating here from technology appropriation or unfavourable foreign acquisition.

2. Building a whole-UK space ecosystem

The space sector delivers economic growth alongside high-skill, high-innovation jobs across the whole of the UK. However, the balance of investment and jobs remains heavily located in certain regions. We will level up our space sector and ensure that the space economy works for everyone across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

We will work across government and with local partners, the Devolved Administrations and their Enterprise Agencies, and our world leading universities to encourage more space businesses to start, grow and connect with partners in industry and the science and technology base. The Devolved Administrations are considering how they can use their powers and partner with local business, industry, and academic organisations to grow their space sectors alongside this UK-wide national strategy.

We will support businesses in forming and developing clusters based on areas of local excellence, and identifiable domestic and international market opportunities, connecting these clusters nationally to form a networked ecosystem. We will work with business incubation centres to deliver targeted space business acceleration, foster collaboration to deliver national prosperity, and contribute to levelling-up. Some of the UK’s existing clusters of activity are shown in the diagram below.

We are supporting sector growth across the UK

Name	Location	Type
Belfast	Belfast	Centre of space activity
Goonhilly Earth Station	Goonhilly Downs	Centre of space activity
Harwell Space Cluster	Oxfordshire	Centre of space activity
North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence	County Durham	Centre of space activity
Prestwick Spaceport	Ayrshire	Proposed spaceport
SaxaVord Spaceport	Shetland Islands	Proposed spaceport
Scotland’s Central Belt	Glasgow, Edinburgh, Central Scotland	Centre of space activity
South Coast Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence	Portsmouth	Centre of space activity
South West Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence	Exeter, Falmouth & Plymouth	Centre of space activity
Space Hub Sutherland	Sutherland	Proposed spaceport
Space Park Leicester	Leicester	Centre of space activity
Spaceport 1	North Uist	Proposed spaceport
Spaceport Cornwall	Newquay	Proposed spaceport
Spaceport Machrihanish	Argyll	Proposed spaceport
Spaceport Snowdonia	Snowdonia	Proposed spaceport
Westcott Venture Park	Aylesbury	Centre of space activity

3. Leading the world in modern space regulation

The UK is leading the world in modern regulation of space activities, in line with the ambitions of the Integrated Review. The Space Industry Act 2018 delivered a new global benchmark in space launch, while our UKSA cyber-security toolkit has provided exemplary guidance on the security of commercial space systems. New Space Industry Regulations enacted this year have propelled the development of commercial spaceflight technologies, from rockets to space planes. Government has created a new UK Space Regulator in the Civil Aviation Authority, which is regulating these emerging technologies.

We will continue to work together with industry and internationally to ensure the UK has the safest and most effective regulation of space activities. We will continually improve safety standards, implement relevant consents, and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of our space activities. Given the growing importance of world-class digital connectivity, a key strategic priority is to reinforce our position as an attractive location for the next generation of satellite broadband services. Therefore, we will work with Ofcom and through the International Telecommunications Union and European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations to ensure that the allocation, regulation, and licensing of frequency spectrum meets the needs of all UK space sectors and technologies across both civil and defence.

As part of our approach to international collaboration, the UK will work with partners and allies, and in fora such as the United Nations, to modernise the international guidelines governing our peaceful use of space, in line with our values. This will ensure they support UK space activities, keep pace with new technologies, ensure a sustainable space environment is maintained and support science and industry.

4. Unleashing innovation in the space sector

The government is overseeing the fastest ever rise in public funding for research and development, and space is benefitting from this step-change increase in investment. Legislation has been introduced to establish an Advanced Research and Invention Agency. We are developing research and development (R&D) infrastructure such as the National Satellite Test Facility in Harwell and have opened a new National Space Propulsion Test Facility in Westcott, which will help space business test payloads and propulsion engines in the UK. Building on the success of the pathfinder National Space Innovation Programme^{[footnote 17]}, which co-funded the development of new products and services both in earth observation data to tackle climate change challenges and in ubiquitous telecoms provision, we will enable the development of innovative space-enabled products, services and technologies, through offering co-funding to industry, academia, and research organisations.

This year, government has published a UK Innovation Strategy.^{[footnote 18]} This sets out where government will take the lead to achieve our overarching goal of becoming a global hub for innovation by 2035:

1. Unleashing business – We will fuel businesses who want to innovate
2. People – We will create the most exciting place for innovation talent
3. Institutions and places – We will ensure our Research, Development, and Innovation institutions serve the needs of businesses and places across the UK
4. Missions and technologies – We will stimulate innovation in to tackle societal and global challenges and drive capability in key technologies

The Satellite Applications Catapult will continue to bridge the gap between the UK’s world-class research communities and UK businesses, helping organisations realise the potential of space technologies and satellite-based services. It will continue to provide facilities, technology demonstrators, tools, and data platforms for organisations to access. The Knowledge Transfer Network will help businesses in space and across the economy to connect and collaborate with partners, suppliers, customers, and the research community.

Space technology and applications help UK industries achieve net zero emissions and a more sustainable future. Cutting-edge innovations use real-time satellite data to reduce carbon emissions in shipping, and space-based solar power systems offer a potential zero carbon energy source. We will support our rapidly expanding space sector to integrate net zero thinking into its growth, monitor its environmental impact and encourage low-carbon and sustainable development.

To benefit from the thriving innovative space ecosystem in the UK, we will adopt a whole-of-government approach to maximise the value of innovation funding and exploit synergies across civil and defence research. Through closer collaboration across the various government and commercial interests in space technologies, we will adopt an applied research approach to create options for potential technological development. We will do this through existing UKSA development pipelines, the Defence Space Portfolio and implementing the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, and through collaboration with industry.^{[footnote 19]}

The Defence Space Portfolio

The UK’s prioritised defence ambitions within the space domain will be delivered through the establishment of a balanced Defence Space Portfolio. It will integrate current and planned capability management activities, combining existing core programmes with exciting new initiatives to ensure the UK has capabilities to support defence operations in the modern age. Defence is investing around £5 billion over the next decade to enhance our satellite communication capabilities (Skynet) and a further £1.4 billion in the acquisition and development of new technologies in Space Domain Awareness, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Command and Control and other new capabilities for protect and defend activities. In doing so we will pull through advanced technologies and innovations into the hands of the user. This investment will play a part in stimulating innovation, commercialisation, and growth across the wider sector. Defence will utilise elements of the Defence Space Portfolio funding to further support space science and technology (which includes R&D), alongside existing funding. Further detail on the Defence Space Portfolio will be in the Defence Space Strategy.

5. Nurturing talent

A skilled and diverse workforce is vital to the success of space businesses and the growth of the sector, and careers in space offer exciting and rewarding jobs for thousands. The UK has a growing pipeline of home-grown talent supported by British universities and companies. This is supported by the UK’s new immigration system which prioritises the best talent from around the world through visas such as the Innovator Visa and the fast-track Global Talent Visa.

As in other sectors, the space sector needs its workforce to upskill and retrain over time as the sector innovates and technology progresses. We are reforming the skills system so that it better meets the needs of employers and the economy. We will survey wider training needs and provisions regularly against the requirements of both civil and defence space communities. Guided by the Space Skills Advisory Panel, we will work with employers, training providers and local partners to improve access to quality training. This will be based on assessments of the skills and knowledge currently most in demand amongst all employers, as well as those needed to support future needs. This does not just mean vital technical skills, but also the business and management skills which help turn science and technology into commercial advantage. The Defence Space Strategy will provide further detail on how we intend to address future defence training provision.

The government’s Plan for Jobs^{[footnote 20]} is helping businesses to recruit the right people and develop the skills they need to grow, but that is only part of the solution. We will continue to work in partnership with employers to help more young people gain access to work placements and to build on existing apprenticeship offers.

Our investment in game-changing science and exploration missions will also inspire the next generation, as well as furthering our understanding of the universe and our own planet and providing benefits to our communities. We will connect inspirational figures from today’s space workforce with students and young people.

6. Using government procurement to best effect

Space-enabled services hold vast potential to help government serve the citizens of the UK, from town planning, border security, transport improvement, environment monitoring, through to health and education services. But awareness of the potential of space-enabled services and technologies amongst government purchasers can be low.

We will break down the barriers to public sector procurement. Building on the UK’s Geospatial Data Strategy^{[footnote 21]}, the government has launched a new Dynamic Purchasing System^{[footnote 22]} to help the wider public sector procure space-enabled technologies and geospatial services and work to explore ways to rationalise the public sector’s procurement of Earth Observation data and services. As set out in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, we will improve the speed and simplicity of defence procurement, providing more flexibility in how we procure and support capability and stimulate innovation and technology exploitation.

We will ensure that the UK embeds civil-defence dual use at the heart of our approach to government procurement. We will consider how capabilities and outputs can support multiple government departments and commercial users by designing for multiple purposes, where possible, whilst ensuring that each capability fully meets its core requirements.

7. Access to finance and insurance

Space activities often entail high capital expenditure, significant risk, and long periods for return on investment. With space-enabled services and applications, the upfront costs may be lower, but there is less tangible capital to offer as collateral. The UK has an end-to-end offer for space enterprises including an unparalleled financial services centre in the City of London.

The government-owned British Business Bank (BBB) helps finance markets to work more effectively for innovative firms seeking equity capital. This includes boosting the capacity of angel syndicates, particularly outside London, and investing in selected venture capital funds including those specialising in space technologies. One of these funds has seeded the Seraphim Space Investment Trust which was recently listed on the London Stock Exchange. This will be the world’s first quoted vehicle investing primarily in Space Tech businesses. From summer 2021, the BBB will also be investing directly in companies alongside the private sector through a new £375 million programme, Future Fund: Breakthrough.^{[footnote 23]}

We will work more closely with the financial sector to understand investors’ needs and bring them together with the investment opportunities of our thriving space innovation ecosystem. And through our work to nurture talent, we will build the business and management skills that help entrepreneurs and innovators attract investment from the private sector.

Our modern legal framework is fit for the new commercial space age. Our new licence processes are low cost and efficient to ensure the UK is a world-leading destination for spaceflight operators. All operator licences issued under the Space industry Act 2018 will contain a limit of liability^{[footnote 24]}, therefore no operator will face unlimited liability for activity carried out in compliance with the Act. Our launch insurance requirements are tailored to specific activities and set on a case-by-case basis to be proportionate and reflect the diversity of space operations today and in the future. We will also launch a review of options to consider a lower limit of operator liability for in-orbit operations and alternative insurance models to support the needs of small satellite operators.

Pillar 2: Collaborating internationally

The UK will become a partner of choice in space activities. The technical and material requirements for space projects mean that governments, institutions, and the private sector must act collectively to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable future. We must draw on collaborative research and innovation, international opportunities, and global talent to be resilient and competitive. We will increase our bilateral and multilateral partnerships with other spacefaring nations, forging the best relationships to achieve our goals in space.

1. Building global partnerships

The UK will grow and strengthen our relationships with partners such as the United States, Five Eyes, with European states and across the world, working together to solve humanity’s greatest challenges, forging new bilateral partnerships, and expanding existing ones. Our ambition is to fully realise the potential of a new Global Britain focused on advancing shared interests with partners old and new in space. The UK’s new International Bilateral Programme within the pathfinder National Space Innovation Programme has committed funding to projects directly with partners such as NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA. The UK will build sustained multi-year collaboration in the future. Improving our bilateral relations will empower us to enhance our commercial and scientific endeavours with some of the world’s most dynamic and emerging space economies.

The European Space Agency (ESA) will remain a close multilateral partnership for the UK for civil science, exploration, climate monitoring, and technical collaboration. ESA brings space actors together; it provides a unique platform for sharing knowledge, technical expertise, and resources to achieve shared goals while amplifying our voice within global space endeavours.

We will work through ESA to:

• lead cutting-edge missions to explore our solar system – including building a rover to return samples from Mars, components for the Lunar Gateway, and pursuing a lead role in a new comet interceptor mission
• develop and access large-scale facilities on Earth or in space and send UK astronauts to the International Space Station
• access the skills and expertise of ESA, including through the ESA centre at Harwell, to deliver programmes that support the UK’s civil and economic interests
• put British businesses and scientists at the heart of exciting space missions and support ground-breaking innovations
• use space to fight the global impacts of climate change by establishing the UK-led TRUTHS calibration laboratory in space

The UK has agreed to participate in the Horizon Europe and Copernicus EU programmes under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Participation in these programmes enables UK researchers and technological industries to work closely with the brightest minds in Europe and around the world in delivering crucial environmental and scientific information, Earth Observation, and innovative research.

UK-Australia Space Bridge

The UK-Australia Space Bridge, signed in 2021, will unlock improved access to trade, investment and academic research opportunities, better advice to businesses and innovative bilateral collaborations. The UK and Australia share future ambitions for space and have similar plans to increase the size and job creation potential of the sector. This agreement will further develop the longstanding relationship between the 2 countries which dates to the 1970s when the Black Arrow rockets and Prospero satellite, built in the UK, were launched from Woomera, South Australia.

Together with local partners, the UK will also use space-based tools and applications to support the development of emerging economies and facilitate new markets. Space-based solutions can be the most effective way to deliver aid, enabling growth in the UK’s space sector and prosperity in partner countries. Since 2016 the UK has forged over 350 new relationships with international organisations across 47 developing countries.^{[footnote 25]} We will continue to develop global partnerships through collaboration on R&D, trade, development, security, and diplomacy, supporting the development of the economies of the future. And the UK will continue to support the International Disasters Charter which brings states together to share satellite data, enabling rapid response to natural disasters worldwide.

In 2020 the UK signed the Artemis Accords^{[footnote 26]}:

The Artemis Accords

This NASA-led international programme creates a shared international vision to facilitate human activity on the Moon and Mars. The UK reaffirms our support for activities to develop the Lunar Gateway and send astronauts back to the Moon over the coming decade. Together with partners, the UK will provide essential support that delivers new UK science, technical skills and inspires the next generation. Our participation will allow the UK space sector to demonstrate its world leading capabilities and deliver complex multi-year projects that foster new innovations.

2. Diplomacy for an open and stable international order

The UK will deliver global leadership on a safe, sustainable, and secure space environment working through international and inter-governmental fora and with our partners and allies. We will help modernise the guidelines governing peaceful and sustainable uses of space in line with UK values. This will ensure the guidelines keep pace with new technologies, ensure a sustainable space environment is available to all and create opportunities for science and industry. We will also act with our partners to manage the risks posed by space debris, fulfilling the commitments made by the G7 in Cornwall in 2021.^{[footnote 27]}

Government will lead work with international partners at the United Nations to establish the framework for internationally recognised responsible space behaviours that would increase the security of space systems. Building on the successful 2020 UK-led resolution^{[footnote 28]} at the United Nations General Assembly and subsequent UN Secretary General report,^{[footnote 29]} we will run a further resolution to set up a UN working group to discuss the building blocks and details of responsible space behaviours. We will support global stability through arms-control and non-proliferation regimes and will work with allies to deter hostile activity against space systems including the use of weapons in space. Space sustainability and space security must be considered alongside each other, so the UK will work coherently across the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the Disarmament Commission, and the Conference on Disarmament. Government will meet the challenges of an increasingly contested and congested environment in space through targeted and robust diplomacy.

We will act to prevent the proliferation of technologies and capabilities that risk being misused and pose a threat in space and on earth through robust export controls. UK Strategic Export Controls restrict the transfer of military and sensitive dual-use space technologies under appropriate international export control regimes, such as the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime. These include restrictions on space launch vehicles, satellites, satellite payloads, space qualified components and ground segment equipment. The UK is also working to ensure robust controls on downstream activities that could potentially be used to support military operations of concern. We will continue to work with our partners, as well as through other mechanisms such as the Hague Code of Conduct, to promote transparency and ensure effective international controls on the proliferation of emerging sensitive space-related technologies and potential activities of concern.

The UK will protect and defend our space interests by working closely with international partners. We will continue to secure access and uses of space by strengthening existing partnerships and generating new relationships, and NATO has now made space an Operational Domain^{[footnote 30]}. We will continue to deepen our collaboration and cooperation on Space policy, capability development, intelligence, and operations through the Combined Space Operations initiative (involving Five Eyes countries and France and Germany), and coordinate space efforts through joint activities such as the US-led Operation OLYMPIC DEFENDER.

Operation OLYMPIC DEFENDER

The UK was the first nation to join the US-led multinational Operation OLYMPIC DEFENDER. Participating countries are maximising the benefit provided from space and space systems through cooperation across all space missions, preserving the safety of operating in space while enhancing mutual national security. These operations involve partners sharing information and resources as well as coordinating their capabilities. The UK’s role is to analyse and share information about space to ensure troops on the ground are aware of threats and their options to maintain access to space services.

Pillar 3: Growing the UK as a science and technology superpower

Government will champion UK-led space science, exploration and innovation which expands our horizons and inspires the next generation. We will leverage our world-class researchers, education, businesses, and facilities, building the UK as a science and technology superpower, and in doing so, helping to achieve our goals in space. These activities support our wider goals, tackling global challenges such as climate change, growing and levelling up the economy, and enriching the lives of people in the UK and around the world.

The government has set targets for total R&D spending to constitute 2.4% of GDP by 2027. Space is benefitting from this step-change increase in investment. Alongside support for fundamental research, research institutes, and blue skies technology, we will build on the success of the National Space Innovation Programme which supports the development of innovations through UK-led collaborations between industry and academia. In the coming decade we will continue to collaborate in high profile missions such as returning samples from Mars to the Earth for the first time and monitoring the sun for space weather events like solar flares, as well as the NASA-led Artemis programme which will see humans return to the Moon. We will also continue to focus on high quality research missions exploring the Earth and its climate such as the ESA Biomass mission measuring changes in forest carbon.

The UK will set long-term space science and exploration goals. Activities in Space are highly complex; missions launched today have been in planning for decades and may take decades more to arrive at their destination. As such, government must be highly strategic in the missions we select and support. International collaboration on science and technology requires long-term and dependable partners, and researchers need certainty on national priorities. We will move to a longer-term strategic planning approach for national space science and exploration, mapped against long-term UK ambitions. We will take appropriate risks to maximise the societal benefits and will ensure funding continuity through the mission lifecycle.

We will explore opportunities to increase national mission opportunities and participate in flagship multilateral science and technology missions. There will be opportunities for UK talent to gain mission experience, for instrument developers to do in-orbit demonstration, and for the supply chain of UK SMEs and smaller space universities to diversify.

The UK will continue to invest over the next 4 years in science and technology, and research and development to support the Defence Space Portfolio. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) working with wider government, industry, academia and internationally, will support the delivery of defence ambitions set out in the Integrated Review. Their Defence S&T Space programme will focus on the generation after next projects ranging from developing future concepts to protect and defend space assets, to technologies to observe and characterise space objects.

Pillar 4: Developing resilient space capabilities and services

The UK relies on a broad range of space capabilities every day. These include infrastructure in orbit and on the ground, the people that operate it, and the applications and services that run on it. Secure global communications are key to our ability to protect and defend and support high-speed connectivity to remote and rural communities. Satellite-derived position, navigation and timing (PNT) signals underpin services such as banking and transportation, as well as almost all the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (including energy, policing and healthcare) and defence operations. Space capabilities are already central to many basic and safety-critical civil functions, and this dependency on space will only increase.

The UK has a long history of using space-based capabilities to meet its needs, particularly in defence where defence and security-critical needs are mature and well understood. Building on this, we will integrate resilient space capabilities and services across defence domains, including in operational planning, doctrine, capability development, training, and education. This guarantees that space is a fundamental component of our defence moving towards true multi-domain integration and further enhancing our operational effectiveness. Further detail on Defence space capability priorities will be in the Defence Space Strategy.

UK Space Command

We have established a new UK Space Command. This joint command will take its policy and strategy direction from the National Space Council and MOD Space Directorate. It will encourage coherence across Defence space capability delivery and operations. By harnessing the energy and adaptability of UK’s space sector, UK Space Command will drive space capability development across Defence, to deliver leading capabilities where they are needed, generate the necessary workforce, and conduct day-to-day space operations.

Our civil space capabilities have grown organically over time in response to rapidly changing needs. In some areas we have mature capabilities and well-understood needs, such as weather forecasting which relies upon both terrestrial monitoring stations, and global satellite data. In other areas, such as PNT, we have a long history of using space to support services such as in-flight navigation, but advancing technologies present new options which are not yet mature and fully realised. And in some areas, the civil possibilities of using space to support our daily lives are only just emerging and are not yet fully understood.

OneWeb

In 2020, the UK took a $500 million equity share in OneWeb, an innovative, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company. By 2022 OneWeb will have over 600 satellites in orbit providing global reach and global broadband connectivity. Investing in OneWeb contributes to the government’s commitment to making the UK a world leader in space and in science, research and development and supports the government’s aspirations for UK leadership in space-enabled capabilities and services.

Government will regularly map and fully understand its capability needs from space as technology advances and new opportunities emerge. We will increase our space expertise and build greater control over a larger range of space capabilities. We will need a flexible approach to determining where space capabilities can be most useful and where dual-use capabilities can best meet civil and defence needs. In some cases, only space can offer solutions, while in others a combination of space-enabled and terrestrial technologies will be necessary.

To deliver our capability requirements, we will employ the Integrated Review’s ‘own-collaborate-access’ framework to guide decisions on how to procure the technologies, services, and systems we need. We will seek to establish a leading role in space-related technologies where there is a realistic prospect of delivering strategic advantage for the UK. We will need skilled experts who can translate the UK’s needs into detailed specifications and technical requirements, enabling government to better collaborate with industry, academia, and wider partners. We will work together with the sector to test new technologies, processes and operations that can underlie the development of more advanced UK space capabilities.

The key civil and defence capability priorities for the UK are described below:

Capability	UK activity
Satellite Communications Global, secure, and resilient communications and information exchange via satellites and ground stations for civil and defence purposes.	The UK will invest around £5 billion over the next 10 years in our military satellite communications programme, delivering through the Skynet 6 programme and investigate the dual use applications of free-space optical communications systems. We will also investigate new waveforms and encryption methods to provide better end-to-end protection. The UK will foster UK innovation in satellite communications technologies through ARTES: the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme.
Earth Observation (EO) and, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) The ability to gather Earth observation data and electronic intelligence anywhere on the planet, for both civil and defence use.	The UK will develop a constellation of small ISR satellites with supporting architectures and invest in both EO data infrastructure and hardware development capability. The UK also intends to develop and benefit from the Copernicus Earth Observation programme under the terms of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Command-and-Control and Space Capability Management The organisational structures and process which enable us to direct our resources for activities and missions in space.	The UK will establish a civil/defence National Space Operations Centre. UK Space Command will be in the lead for Command-and-Control operations. National Capability management will be undertaken from a joint civil and defence perspective where appropriate.
Space Control The ability to ensure our space capabilities have adequate resilience to disruption from adversarial activity and operational freedom in space.	The UK will ensure the right Space Control systems and processes are in place, as part of the Defence Space Portfolio, to give the UK supplementary abilities to protect and defend our space interests.
Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) PNT is the ability to determine location, time, and relative direction accurately and precisely. It enables 4G and 5G communications networks, supports navigation on land, at sea, and in the air, and supports the capabilities of our Armed Forces.	Government is evaluating the case for investing in resilient Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities through a mix of innovative new terrestrial and space-based technologies.
Orbital Launch Capability Spaceflight is a prerequisite to acting in space; launch capabilities are needed to deliver satellites into Earth’s orbit, carry humans on suborbital and orbital spaceflight, conduct suborbital science and technology experiments and send payloads beyond Earth’s orbit to the Moon, Mars, and other parts of the solar system.	We will be the first country to launch a small satellite from Europe in 2022 from the spaceports being developed across the UK. Current proposed spaceports are located in Scotland’s Shetland Isles, Sutherland, Argyll, Prestwick, and Outer Hebrides; Snowdonia in Wales; and Cornwall in England.
In Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (IOSM) Many of the UK’s key capabilities rely on satellites in orbit. New technologies will enable the UK to service and maintain our satellites to maximise resilience, effectiveness, and value for money.	The UK will explore advanced in-orbit debris removal servicing, refuelling and assembly technologies nationally and in partnership with others, including ESA. In time, we will be able to build and repair satellites in orbit, conduct commercial activities including producing fuel and materials in space to support robotic and crewed space activity, and conduct defence operations to protect and defend our interests in and from space.
Space Domain Awareness (SDA) The detection, identification, and tracking of objects in space and understanding the effects of space weather to ensure the UK has knowledge of what is occurring in space.	The UK will expand existing dual use sensor and data networks, adding the ability to task sovereign sensors, understand space weather, and exploit space surveillance and tracking data. The civil and defence National Space Operations Centre will provide SDA information to industry. The commercial integration cell will continue to provide the vital link between Industry and defence in enhancing Space Domain Awareness.

10 Point Plan: Initial focus areas

Government cannot pursue every space-related activity now. We must make tough strategic choices and target resources to pursue the highest impact opportunities and the critical cross-cutting enablers that will lay the groundwork for a thriving future in space.

1. Capture the European market in commercial small satellite launch

The UK will achieve the first small satellite launch from Europe in 2022 with the aim of becoming the leading provider of commercial small satellite launch in Europe by 2030. Government is investing to develop spaceports across locations in England, Scotland, and Wales, laying the groundwork for end-to-end UK services building, launching, and operating small satellites, and working closely with industry to implement modern regulations and create favourable conditions for launch.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Resilient capability

2. Fight climate change with space technology

The UK will not reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050 without a clear understanding of how climate change is impacting the Earth, to guide crucial decision-making and investments. We will strive to remain at the forefront of Earth Observation (EO) technology and know-how, including by participating in Copernicus, the world’s leading global EO programme and working with partners in ESA on the TRUTHS mission to deliver a 10-fold improvement in accuracy.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• International collaboration
• Resilient capability

3. Unleash innovation across the space sector

Our UK Innovation Strategy identifies the priority technologies that will drive innovation and growth in the space sector - from robotics and smart machines, advanced materials and manufacturing to AI, digital and advanced computing. This includes strengthening the pull-through of innovation into commercial opportunities to expand UK exports, IP, and know-how. For example, we will build on the success of the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) to encourage the development of cutting-edge space products.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• International collaboration
• Resilient capability

4. Expand our horizons with space science and exploration

We will put space at the heart of our ambition to lead the world as a science and technology superpower. The UK’s national programme of space science and exploration will better focus on UK strengths and priorities, and we will strengthen bilateral relationships with established and emerging space nations to maximise benefits on shared objectives. Missions such as the US-led Artemis programme open the door for greater UK involvement in human spaceflight and provide opportunities for UK companies to innovate and develop future manufacturing capabilities.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• International collaboration

5. Develop our world class space clusters

The government will work with the space sector to support, connect, and level-up locally led space ecosystems across the UK, capitalising upon sector expertise from Cornwall to the Shetland Islands, Durham to Newport and Portsmouth to Belfast. We will link local clusters into valuable networks of innovators and investors, showcasing the strengths of the UK space sector and leveraging the Harwell cluster in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc^{[footnote 31]} to provide a compelling ‘front door’ for international investors in the heart of the UK’s leading space business hub.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• International collaboration

6. Lead the global effort to make space more sustainable

We will build on UK early advantage in robotics and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing (IOSM) to establish global leadership in space sustainability. This includes positioning the UK at the forefront of modern regulation for novel space activities, whilst keeping space sustainable, safe, and secure. The UK is leading efforts at the United Nations to promote safe space operations that will benefit all. We will explore advanced in-orbit debris removal, servicing, refuelling and assembly technologies, bringing together industry, academia, and government to ensure the UK is ready to grasp the opportunities of the future space economy.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• International collaboration
• Resilient capability

7. Improve public services with space technology

We will improve key public services spanning healthcare, the environment, transportation, and infrastructure by identifying where space-enabled applications already available on the market could improve lives and reduce costs for the taxpayer. The potential real-world benefits are numerous and diverse from satellite-enabled NHS drones to turning around test results in remote areas faster, to space-enabled sensors and tracking that detects problems in critical infrastructure before they cause outages. We will pilot new delivery with the possibility of rolling out to other UK locations throughout the decade.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Resilient capability

8. Deliver the UK Defence Space Portfolio

Having established Space Command, we will launch a National Space Operations Centre, fusing civil and defence expertise to monitor, protect, defend, and promote UK interests in Space. We will launch the UK’s first Defence Space Portfolio to be detailed in the Defence Space Strategy, developing independent Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities to protect UK satellites, and advancing our secure satellite communications programme, Skynet. We will develop a small constellation of ISR satellites and explore other new initiatives to protect and defend the UK, pulling through advanced technologies from R&D to operation and exploring opportunities for dual civil and defence use.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• Resilient capability

9. Upskill and inspire our future space workforce

We will partner with employers to help more young people gain access to work placements and apprenticeships in rewarding careers such as space engineering and space systems. Guided by the Space Skills Advisory Panel, we will work with employers, training providers and local partners to promote quality training in the skills required by the space sector. These include not only technical skills, but also the business management skills that help turn science and technology into commercial advantage. Finally, we will use the wonder of space to inspire the next generation into STEM careers, inviting space professionals to lead exciting activities and competitions in schools, from building satellites to designing space habitats.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• Resilient capability

10. Use space to modernise and transform our transport system

Space technology will underpin the modernisation and transformation of the UK transport system, providing enhanced connectivity and positioning services, ensuring safe and reliable operation, and resilient infrastructure. We are supporting innovative public transport projects across the UK, made possible by space-enabled technologies, such as the T-Cabs project to build and trial a fleet of self-driving shuttles. We are also facilitating shared services for short journeys through GPS enabled geo-fencing solutions, including national trials of environmentally friendly e-rental scooters.

Initiatives:

• Growth and competitiveness
• Science superpower
• Resilient capability

Part 4: Implementation

Next steps

Space is unique in its capacity to grow our economy, transform our society and inspire us to greater heights of human progress. This strategy has set out our vision and the goals the government will pursue to make the UK a meaningful actor in space, drawing on our proud heritage and strengths in industry, science and technology, and innovation.

The Strategy will be supported through 4 phases.

1. Countdown Phase

In the Countdown Phase towards the end of 2021, as well as publishing the National Space Strategy:

• the government will publish our Defence Space Strategy to outline how defence will achieve the national space ambitions
• alongside the National Space Strategy, the government has also published our Severe Space Weather Preparedness Strategy^{[footnote 32]}, which sets out a 5-year vision for boosting UK resilience to the risk of severe space weather
• the Comprehensive Spending Review Process will set budgets for government space activities into the coming years, with this strategy providing the direction to align resources with space ambition

Following the Spending Review, we will develop a delivery framework to set out the government’s detailed plans to achieve the vision and goals of this strategy, in partnership with the space sector. Working with industry, we will consider a range of metrics to evaluate the delivery of the strategy and the performance of the identified sub-sectors, to ensure the UK space economy continues to grow and develop in line with our vision and goals.

2. Ignition Phase

In the Ignition Phase from 2022 to 2023, we will implement the National Space Strategy by establishing programmes funded through Spending Review to deliver on the Strategy Goals, establishing new space relationships, and building on our leadership as a science superpower, as well as seeing the first UK orbital launches.

3. Thrust Phase

In the Thrust Phase leading to 2030, we will see the benefits of the strategy embed into the UK economy, society, and daily life. Leadership in new technologies and new markets will emerge through UK innovation, entrepreneurialism, and targeted government support.

4. Orbit Phase

In the Orbit Phase from 2030 onwards, we will re-evaluate the Space Strategy, assessing our progress against our goals, and ensuring the UK adapts to a changing space environment. The UK will reinforce our leadership in areas of the space economy and renew our commitments to science and technology, innovation, and defence.

As the UK implements the strategy and achieves the goals and vision we have set out, we will:

• be a modern, agile, and innovative spacefaring nation, a science and technology superpower, and be led by private sector enterprise supported by government
• have enhanced space security and assurance through increased autonomy and more diverse collaboration
• focus the government’s investment, driving segmental leadership, growth, and discovery, across the whole of the UK
• lead in the sectors of the future and fast-growing downstream operations and services

We are levelling up the United Kingdom and will ensure that the space economy works for all parts of the UK. The government will engage with the Devolved Administrations to fully understand the needs of their local space economies and enable space clusters of excellence to grow and thrive.

The UK has some of the greatest minds and skills within the space sector and the government will ensure that this expertise informs every step of the implementation of the strategy. Therefore, the government will invite regular insight, advice, and challenge from industry experts and wider stakeholder to inform the delivery of the strategy.

Organisation of government activities

To achieve these ambitions, the government will implement an integrated approach to space activities to accelerate progress, innovation, and growth. We will improve the clarity and efficiency of space policy across government.

In 2019, the government announced the National Space Council, a Cabinet Committee chaired by the Prime Minister. The Council was stood up in 2020, with the role of setting the national ambition for space, providing strategic direction to the cross-government approach to space and developing this strategy.

We will ensure there is a clear cross-government approach to national space policy, governance, and delivery. Work to define this cross-government approach is being commissioned as part of this strategy’s implementation plan to deliver integrated working across the civil, defence, and wider governmental interests in space, reducing the challenges of delivering dual use programmes.

The principal government departments and agencies with responsibilities for delivering the National Space Strategy are outlined below. All government departments will consider the use of space enabled services and technologies in the delivery of their activities, ensuring the best value for money solutions for the citizen.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is the central department with coordinating responsibility for civil space policy. It is also the sponsoring department of the UK Space Agency and UK Research and Innovation, which are key agencies for the delivery of this strategy. Through its arms-length bodies BEIS uses satellite-enabled capabilities to monitor land use, deliver accurate weather forecasting, and coordinate resilience to space weather.

The Ministry of Defence works for a secure and prosperous United Kingdom with global reach and influence, protecting its people, territory, values, and interests at home and overseas. MOD is responsible for ensuring we can protect and pursue our interests in and through space, and meeting the needs of our Armed Forces, as well as developing capabilities with built-in opportunities for potential collaboration across government, with international partners and the private sector.

The UK Space Agency develops and delivers UK civil space programmes, based on its deep competence in space science and technology and its partnerships within government, across the UK sector and with international space institutions. It enables delivery of national space capabilities, invests in early-stage R&D and helps to represent the UK in international space cooperation.

UK Research and Innovation invests in multidisciplinary R&D across the UK by supporting academic research and commercialisation that advance scientific discovery and tackle real-world challenges. UKRI strategic investment underpins and directly supports the exploitation of space technologies, pioneering scientific discovery, UK capabilities and skills development.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office pursues UK national interests, works to avoid conflict in space and projects the UK as a force for good in the world building relationships between States, partnering with Allies at NATO and influencing the United Nations on the use of ‘space for good’ and responsible space behaviours. It promotes space technology which has the potential to be truly transformative in delivering on the challenges of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda^{[footnote 33]}, Paris Agreement^{[footnote 34]}, and the Sendai Framework.^{[footnote 35]}

The Department for Transport is responsible for supporting the transport network to get goods and people travelling. In space this is ensuring the Space Industry Act and Space Industry Regulations continue to provide a modern legal framework that is internationally competitive and will support innovation and growth in the UK Space Sector. It will ensure that new spaceflight activities regulated under these provisions by the Civil Aviation Authority are safe and provide the right opportunities for industry.

The Department for International Trade leads the UK’s trade relationships, facilitates foreign direct investment into the space sector competitively and securely, enables exports to global markets including working with UK Export Finance, and jointly enforces the UK’s Strategic Export Controls over dual-use space technologies and services.

The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs is responsible for ensuring appropriate environmental regulation for England around space activities and promoting use of Earth observation technologies across government, both in the UK and internationally in support of the environment and our rural economy, contributing to national prosperity.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport aims to increase growth and productivity through improved digital connectivity. It is responsible for working with Ofcom to ensure that the frequency spectrum required to enable every aspect of our activities in space is well regulated, allocated, and licensed to meet the needs of all sectors and technologies across both civil and defence domains.

The Cabinet Office is responsible for coordinating the security of the realm and to support the design and implementation of HM Government’s policies and the Prime Minister’s priorities. It leads UK policy on geospatial data, Critical National Infrastructure and the National Risk Assessment including space and severe space weather. It also coordinates satellite data for emergency management and manages the secretariat for the National Space Council.

1. UK Space Industry: Size and Health Report 2020, published 19 May 2021 ↩

2. BEIS analysis using third party market projections, detailed in the Technical Annex. This implies an annual growth rate of 5.6%. ↩

3. The UK space economy GVA has grown at 4.7% over the last 4 years, compared with the overall UK GDP growth of 3.7% ↩

4. UK Space Industry: Size and Health Report 2020, published 19 May 2021 ↩

5. UN Sustainable Development Goals ↩

6. ‘New Space’ refers to the increasing commercialisation of the space sector, moving beyond purely state activity. ↩

7. BEIS analysis using third party market projections, detailed in the Technical Annex. This implies an annual growth rate of 5.6%. ↩

8. Including domestic civil spend from Space Foundation data, ESA contributions, EUMETSAT contributions, and EU space program contributions (Galileo and Copernicus), but excluding space defence spend. ↩

9. Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, published 16 March 2021 ↩

10. The Economic Impact on UK of a disruption to GNSS, report from June 2017 ↩

11. Build Back Better: our plan for growth, published 3 March 2021 ↩

12. The 5 military operational domains are: maritime, land, air, space, and cyber ↩

13. UK Innovation Strategy: Leading the future by creating it, published July 2021 ↩

14. Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, published 23 March 2021 ↩

15. UK-Australia Space Bridge Agreement, published February 2021 ↩

16. The Space Sector Export Academy ↩

17. National Space Innovation Programme, a UK Space Agency Programme ↩

18. UK Innovation Strategy: Leading the future by creating it, published July 2021 ↩

19. Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, March 2021 ↩

20. Plan for Jobs ↩

21. Unlocking the Power of Location: The UK’s geospatial strategy 2020 to 2025, published 14 July 2020, ↩

22. Space enabled and Geospatial Services, available at crowncommercial.gov.uk ↩

23. Future Fund: Breakthrough further details on the British Business Bank website ↩

24. With respect to claims made under section 34 and 36. ↩

25. International Partnerships Programme ↩

26. The Artemis Accords, published 14 October 2020 ↩

27. G7 Nations Commit to the Safe and Sustainable Uses of Space, June 2021 ↩

28. UNGA A/RES/75/36, available at undocs.org ↩

29. Report of the UN Secretary-General on reducing space threats (2021), available at un.org ↩

30. NATO’s approach to Space, published 22 April 2021, available at NATO.int ↩

31. Oxford-Cambridge Arc ↩

32. Severe Space Weather Strategy, September 2021 ↩

33. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, available at sdgs.un.org ↩

34. The Paris Agreement, available at unfcccc.int ↩

35. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, available at undrr.org ↩