About us

We support the government to boost UK prosperity, understand the Universe, and protect our planet and outer space.

The UK Space Agency

We nurture a thriving space ecosystem – a network of investors, scientists, engineers, academia and research labs – and a sector that generates an annual income of £18.6 billion and employs 55,000 people across the country. 

Our staff include scientists, engineers, commercial experts, project managers and policy officials who: 

  • catalyse investment to advance space-based technology and maximise UK space sector growth  
  • deliver missions and capabilities that responsibly meet national needs and advance our understanding of the Universe 
  • champion the power of space to inspire people, offer greener, smarter solutions and support a sustainable future 

Aligned with the government’s broader ambitions, we have prioritised activities to deliver five key outcomes for space. Our Themes, Threads, and Interventions are all designed to contribute directly to these outcomes, which are to:

  • use space to drive a high-growth economy that that maintains the UK’s global market position in space through capitalising on areas of comparative advantage, creates jobs in the sector, supports jobs in other sectors, scales space companies and boosts productivity
  • create a more innovative space sector that develops early-stage up- and down-stream ideas, brings ideas to market and uses space science to generate new knowledge and explore the Universe
  • benefit citizens and the public by making better use of space services and data to benefit citizens and communities in the UK and tackle global challenges
  • create a more secure nation that can defend national interests in, or that are dependent on, space from hazards and threats, and supports UK and allied interests (National Security)
  • ensure that the UK is a globally trusted partner of choice, able to shape the international space landscape and use space to achieve wider geopolitical and international objectives (International Relationships)

Our Themes are:

  • exploration
  • space science
  • telecommunications
  • launch
  • in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing
  • space resilience
  • Earth observation
  • positioning, navigation and timing

Our Threads are:

  • innovation, investment and commercialisation
  • education and future workforce
  • international partnerships
  • European Space Agency
  • space sustainability

Read our Corporate Plan to learn more about our Themes, Threads, Interventions and more.

Read our latest Annual Report.

Read our Respectful Behaviour Policy.

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