Guidance

UK space programmes and missions

Through its programmes, the UK Space Agency catalyses investment into the space sector, delivers missions and capabilities, and champions space.

if you’re looking for current funding opportunities to support our delivery programmes, read our Apply for funding guidance.

The UK Space Agency delivers key elements of the government’s National Space Strategy.

Through a programme of annual activity, we:

  • catalyse investment by supporting projects that drive investment and generate contracts for the UK space sector
  • deliver missions and capabilities that meet public needs and advance our understanding of the Universe
  • champion the power of space to inspire people and offer greener, smarter solutions for business, and to support a sustainable future

Read more about our current programmes below.

Launch programme

LaunchUK: the UK’s satellite launch programme is helping to grow the UK space sector’s small satellite and sub-orbital flight markets

Innovation programmes

National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP): co-funds the development of high risk projects that have a clear target market and the potential for high returns

Enabling Technologies Programme: provides opportunities to the UK space industry for emerging and innovative space technology research and development

General Support Technology Programme: aims to design, make and fly new space technologies

Navigation Innovation Support Programme (NavISP): supports UK organisations to undertake positioning, navigation and timing technology research

Discovery programmes

Space Science Programme: funds the design, development and operation of scientific payloads and data processing facilities for space missions

Space Exploration Programme: funds the preparation of experiments that use microgravity and other space environment research platforms

Other programmes

Earth Observation: where data from space missions helps the UK to understand and monitor how our planet is changing, and support environmental management and aid projects

ESA Technology Harmonisation: champions the UK space sector, identifies collaboration opportunities and gets activities and capabilities recognised Europe-wide

Space Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Programme: explores innovative ways of delivering vital satellite navigation and timing services to the UK from space

Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Programme: supports UK industry to develop the next generation of telecommunications products, services and applications

Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit Programme: provides up to £160 million of funding over the next 4 years to UK companies and researchers to develop innovative satellite communications technology

SKYNET 6 Programme: exploits technological advances to deliver the next generation of military communication satellites to the Ministry of Defence

Missions with UK Space Agency involvement

This list is non-exhaustive and is undergoing updates.

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP): A joint UK Space Agency/NASA mission to observe and map the heliosphere — the area of space surrounding the Sun.

EarthCARE: A mission to better understand the interactions between processes that play a role in regulating Earth’s climate.

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA): Due for launch in the mid-2030s, LISA will be the first space-based gravitational wave observatory.

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE). A mission to make detailed observations of the giant gaseous planet Jupiter and three of its largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.

LiteBIRD: Looking for evidence of gravitational waves in the Cosmic Microwave Background, to shed light on the first moments after the Big Bang.

Euclid: Mapping the expansion of the Universe to better understand dark energy and matter

MicroCarb: MicroCarb is a joint mission between the UK Space Agency and CNES that will measure sources and sinks of carbon, the principal greenhouse gas driving global warming.

Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio-Studies (TRUTHS): TRUTHS is a UK-led mission to create a space-based climate and calibration observatory that will improve confidence in climate change forecasts and support net zero mitigation strategies and their impact.

Published 1 April 2022
Last updated 6 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. Added C-LEO SKYNET 6 Programme information, and updated missions list.

  2. Added information on Enabling Technologies Programme and ARTES.

  3. Added ESA Technology Harmonisation programme and removed SSGP. Edited summary.

  4. First published.