Britain's space agency is facing uncertainty over its future after it was stripped of its role at the centre of ambitions to build rocket launch pads and expand the satellite industry.The UK Space Agency last week lost control of handling space policy and strategy, with the Department for Business taking charge following a review.The switch comes after internal disputes over the merits of the Government’s $500m (£365m) investment in OneWeb, the internet satellite operator rescued last year, and frustrations at slow progress on a national space policy.
LONDON (Reuters) -British defence company BAE Systems has high hopes for its space business after acquiring UK-based In-Space Missions on Tuesday, giving it the ability to design, launch and operate complete satellites."It (space) will be a big opportunity for us," Chief Executive Charles Woodburn told Reuters on the sidelines of a defence trade show.BAE already works for space agencies and provides space products, primarily through its U.S.-based business. Adding In-Space gives it new satellite capabilities which it sees as key to defence missions of the future.
The European Commission and the United Kingdom have today reached a political agreement on the UK's participation in Horizon Europe, the EU's research, and innovation programme, and Copernicus, the EU's world-leading Earth observation programme.
Today's agreement remains fully in line with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The UK will be required to contribute financially to the EU budget and is subject to all the safeguards of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Overall, it is estimated that the UK will contribute almost €2.6 billion per year on average for its participation to both Horizon Europe and the Copernicus component of the Space programme.
UK Space Agency to join the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026, helping to streamline support for the UK’s growing space industry.
UK Space Agency to join the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026, helping to streamline support for the UK’s growing space industry.QuoteMove is part of the government’s Plan for Change to cut red tape and make Whitehall more agile and efficient.Over 60 new industry-led recommendations published today show how smarter regulation can unlock major opportunities – from tackling space junk to building and repairing satellites in orbit.People and businesses across the UK will benefit from new changes that will see the UK Space Agency become part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – cutting duplication, reducing bureaucracy, and putting public accountability at the heart of decision-making.In a major step to boost support for the UK’s space sector, the change will bring together the people who shape space policy and those who deliver it. This will cut any duplication that exists and ensure decisions are made with clear ministerial oversight.Taking place by April 2026, the new unit will keep the UK Space Agency (UKSA) name and brand and will be staffed by experts from both organisations. This will drive up efficiency in line with the government’s Plan for Change, cutting red tape and making Whitehall more agile.Today also sees the publication of over 60 recommendations from industry leaders on how to improve regulation for space missions, including Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) – where spacecraft work together in orbit. These missions are key to unlocking a future market worth £2.7 billion by 2031 (according to the UKspace IOSM Priorities Paper), and the UK is well placed to lead the way. It is a prime example of the joined-up working that will benefit from the merge of UKSA into DSIT.With the right support, UK space firms could capture a quarter of the global market for in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing. This will help to clean up space, extend the life of satellites, and build new infrastructure above Earth.Every Arms Length Body across government is being reviewed with a view to rooting out unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication, and to put public accountability first. Ministers have already announced that NHS England, the largest quango in the world, will be abolished as part of this process.Space Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the importance of space to the British economy. This is a sector that pulls investment into the UK, and supports tens of thousands of skilled jobs right across the country, while nearly a fifth of our GDP is dependent on satellites. The aims for growth and security at the heart of our Plan for Change can’t be met without a vibrant space sector.Bringing things in house means we can bring much greater integration and focus to everything we are doing while maintaining the scientific expertise and the immense ambition of the sector.UK Space Agency CEO Dr Paul Bate said:I strongly welcome this improved approach to achieving the government’s space ambitions. Having a single unit with a golden thread through strategy, policy and delivery will make it faster and easier to translate the nation’s space goals into reality.In coming together, the UK Space Agency and space policy colleagues are building on the firm foundations of economic growth and capability development laid in recent years, including cutting-edge missions, major national programmes, and the regulations that enable UK launch and leadership in space sustainability.We will continue to deliver, while reducing duplication and ensuring we work even more closely with Ministers to support the UK space sector, and the country.The UK Space Agency was founded in 2010 and currently operates as an executive agency of DSIT. It catalysed investment and revenue of at least £2.2 billion for the UK space sector in 2024/2025. DSIT and the Agency will continue to work closely together over the coming months to support the UK space sector and ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. Further practical details on the merger will be announced in due course.This RPO Sandbox report has been delivered by 3 firms with leading expertise in the field: Astroscale, ClearSpace and D-Orbit, working in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK Space Agency and DSIT. Publishing the Stage 1 Report on the Regulatory Sandbox for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) delivers a key recommendation from the Space Regulatory Review and further demonstrates the strength of the sandbox model to support wider innovation, taking advantage of these safe spaces for establishing ‘what works’ for regulating cutting-edge new technologies.By tackling bottlenecks and uncertainties that UK firms in this field and beyond currently face, and ensuring regulation keeps up with the fast pace of innovation in this area, we will help encourage investment in nascent space activities like space junk removal, in-orbit refuelling and repair services that are expected to be highly lucrative in the decades ahead.By stress-testing the regulatory framework for novel space missions, the report’s recommendations provide important clarity for the UK’s space industry, their clients and investors, which ultimately encourages the growth of and investment in British space businesses working on RPO missions. This work is supported by the Regulatory Innovation Office’s (RIO) mission to reform regulation across emerging technologies.Delivery on these recommendations is already underway, as is Stage 2 of the Sandbox, which will examine issues unique to RPO missions in greater detail. The Stage 1 report sets a model for future sandboxes to follow. Its findings will support the delivery of the UK’s first ever active debris removal mission, planned to launch by 2028 to prove the tech needed to safely remove defunct satellites from orbit. This is technology that will protect the safe, secure and sustainable access to space upon which the UK’s economy and national security depend.Nick Shave, Managing Director, Astroscale UK:Astroscale UK is proud to have jointly led the industry delivery of Stage 1 of the RPO Regulatory Sandbox. Rendezvous and Proximity Operations are the foundation of all in-orbit servicing, from life-extension and refuelling to active debris removal – and with the right regulatory framework, the UK can be a global leader in this transformative sector.The recommendations in this report tackle the real bottlenecks industry faces today, providing clarity, proportionality and the confidence investors need. We look forward to working with government, regulators, and our fellow innovators to turn these proposals into action, ensuring the UK captures the economic and sustainability opportunities of a truly serviceable space sector. Rory Holmes, ClearSpace COO and UK Managing Director, said:Together with partners, ClearSpace has been at the forefront of delivering Stage 1 of the RPO Regulatory Sandbox, an important step towards a safe, sustainable, and commercially dynamic space sector. This stage has been pivotal in fostering collaboration between government, regulators, insurers, and operators, enabling stakeholders to address knowledge gaps and reduce uncertainty around licensing in-orbit servicing missions in the UK.Through the RPO Operators Consortium, we have contributed to comprehensive recommendations on safety, sustainability, security, and liability measures to strengthen the UK’s regulatory framework and benefit all satellite operators. By establishing a clear, transparent, proportionate, and predictable approach, these proposals position the UK to become a global leader in this strategically vital domain. We remain committed to turning this framework into action, supporting its implementation, and advancing the vision of secure, resilient, and sustainable space operations.D-Orbit’s UK Legal Counsel, Lauren Payne, said:Stage 1 successfully highlighted a range of challenges associated with the licensing of RPO missions under the current regulatory framework, allowing key stakeholders in licensing to work through these real-life challenges in a focussed, neutral forum. For Stage 2 we will build on the work in Stage 1 and zero in on implementation, where we hope to translate these issues into a better regulatory environment for RPO operators, customers, and regulators.Colin Macleod, Head of the Space Regulator at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:The regulatory sandbox on RPO allows us to work with industry and government on cutting edge ideas in a fast-paced, collaborative and safe environment.RPO is vital for sustainable space but operating satellites at thousands of miles per hour in close proximity brings big challenges. Getting this right unlocks new ways of operating in space, helping the UK space sector grow while operating safely and responsibly.Notes to editorsThere are no immediate changes to UK Space Agency grants or contracts, and businesses and researchers currently working with the UK Space Agency do not need to take any action. The Stage 1 Report of the Regulatory Sandbox for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) has been funded by DSIT and developed in collaboration with the sector, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the UK Space Agency. While government bodies were actively involved in the process, the recommendations and problem statements are independent and originate from the sector – they do not represent government policy. DSIT is committing to explore the recommendations further as part of ongoing regulatory reform efforts.Publishing this report fulfils a recommendation from the Space Regulatory Review; and its delivery is supported by the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), whose mission is to unlock innovation by removing regulatory barriers to emerging technologies reaching the market.The Regulatory Innovation Office is an office within DSIT established to drive reforms to the regulatory system that will support the rapid introduction of our most impactful technologies.DSIT media enquiriesEmail [email protected]Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000
Move is part of the government’s Plan for Change to cut red tape and make Whitehall more agile and efficient.Over 60 new industry-led recommendations published today show how smarter regulation can unlock major opportunities – from tackling space junk to building and repairing satellites in orbit.
But insiders who discussed the situation with Space.com said questions around UKSA's merit had been heard in government circles since around 2020."It was around COVID when the [Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, or BEIS] responsible for UKSA at that time started making an argument that the space agency had become isolated and no longer understood the needs for space across all other government departments," a source who had worked at UKSA during the first decade of its existence told Space.com under the condition of anonymity. "It was perceived that the agency had become a bit of a show pony, a cheerleader for the concept of space rather than thinking about what do we actually need from space for environment, transport, defense etc."
Therefore, over 80% of UKSA's budget has been placed into ESA. The perception in the government was that UKSA was acting more in line with ESA's wishes than with the U.K. government's needs, the source added."The government started to argue that the policy team in UKSA was too narrow and too focused on what ESA wanted," they told Space.com. "It was too focused on not questioning where ESA wanted to go as an organization and was largely driven by the forward vision of ESA."
"Currently, in the UK, it's all very disjointed," the source said. "You have to talk to lots of different people and different government interfaces.""I don't think it's a bad thing because DSIT is the department that is giving the space agency all its money anyway," the other source added. "The space agency will maintain its brand but will be reporting to the head of DSIT and not asking money directly from the government."
"It's hard to see how it will work in practice and how will our international partners know how to interact with the U.K.," the source said. "The jury is out whether this could be the right solution. I think that for the next 12 months, things might slow down, and priorities might become less clear as there will be lots of changes on the inside of the government."
However, the UK is in danger of being left behind in the space race. Currently it spends about 1% of its defence budget on space. In contrast, France spends about 3% and the US 5%.Gen Tedman would like to see space given a higher priority. He says around £450bn of the UK economy is dependent on space. It is also the nervous system on which the UK's armed forces increasingly depend – from navigation to precision strikes.
