Recommendations & Conclusions
12 items
5
Conclusion
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
We are concerned that the Government seems to be progressing towards plans to use OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to provide PNT services in the future, despite suggestions from experts that there are many technical issues surrounding using LEO satellites for PNT signals. Ambiguity also remains about the …
Government response. The government created a cross-government PNT team to develop a position on national PNT resilience, with the current phase of work to be completed by Spring 2023 to help decide next steps.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
14
Recommendation
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
We are disappointed that a launch from the UK has not yet been achieved, especially as we were assured on several occasions that the first horizontal launch would take place in summer 2022. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport must prioritise working towards …
Government response. The government acknowledges the failed Virgin Orbit launch from Spaceport Cornwall and states they are working with Virgin Orbit to understand the anomaly while remaining committed to developing the UK’s launch capability, with further vertical launches planned from Scotland from …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
21
Recommendation
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
Research has already shown the UK has the potential to be a world leader in the growing in-orbit services and manufacturing (IOSM) market. The Government should seize this opportunity. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and UK Space Agency (UKSA) should work with organisations and companies such as …
Government response. The government is working with organizations and companies to identify the best approach to enabling IOSM and exploiting the technological leadership the UK has in this field without committing to specific proposals or a budget.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
22
Conclusion
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
Although the technology is at a relatively early stage of development, Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) has the potential to become a useful supply of green energy by 2050, helping the UK to reach its Net Zero goals. We commend the announcement by BEIS of plans to create an innovation …
Government response. The government recognizes the benefits of budgetary certainty for developing new technologies, but it is not commiting to provide longer-term settlements and suggests sharing lessons learned from other organizations.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
23
Recommendation
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
Space-based projects, including fundamental research and development of new and especially wholly novel technologies, generally occur on long timescales and therefore require long-term funding. We were pleased to see the announcement of a three-year budget for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for 2022–23—2024–25 which should bring some …
Government response. The government highlights existing efforts such as the Dynamic Purchasing System and ongoing procurement reform, and emphasizes embedding civil-defence dual use in government procurement, without committing to multi-year budget settlements.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
26
Recommendation
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
The Satellite Applications Catapult has been instrumental in securing the establishment and development of space sector SMEs and driving the growth of Harwell space campus. The Government should provide further support to the Satellite Applications Catapult, which will in turn stimulate the growth and success of space companies. Given that …
Government response. The National Space Strategy and the UKSA Corporate plan 2022 – 25 reiterated the commitment to delivering a coherent set of national space programmes but did not provide specific support to the Satellite Applications Catapult.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
30
Recommendation
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
Companies often find it difficult to recruit employees with considerable experience, but we think companies are also hesitant to invest money and time into training staff. This is partly due to the short-term nature of grant funding, creating a need for companies to have immediate access to the correct expertise. …
Government response. The UKSA has planned to expand several projects under the Inspiration programme to highlight space careers, challenge misconceptions, and improve diversity and equality of opportunity by increasing space outreach to young people around the UK.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
31
Conclusion
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
If the UK is to address the space skills shortage it is currently facing, then it will need to inspire future generations to take up a career in space. Although the UK Space Agency has programmes in place that are seeking to do this, we believe there is a disconnect …
Government response. The government states its commitment to delivering the National Space Strategy through the UKSA Corporate Plan and acknowledges the importance of engaging with industry to shape space sector policy.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
32
Conclusion
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
We welcome the publication of the National Space Strategy, which provides a good overarching vision for future civil and defence space applications. However, the strategy lacks details on how its broad aims will be achieved and does not specify on which areas the Government will focus its efforts. Additionally, the …
Government response. The government is committed to delivering the National Space Strategy and has set out additional information in the UKSA Corporate Plan 2022–25 regarding the Agency’s approach to programme design.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
34
Recommendation
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
We share the space sector’s concern that there has been no announced uplift in public funding for space to accompany the National Space Strategy and support the achievement of its objectives. This is all the more concerning given that the UK’s overall investment in space lags behind comparable nations such …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of monitoring and evaluating progress in delivering the National Space Strategy and is developing a monitoring and evaluation framework.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
36
Recommendation
Second Report - UK space strategy and U…
Acknowledged
As the National Space Strategy stressed that civil and defence capabilities would be brought together wherever possible (so called ‘dual use’), more needs to be done to identify where overlapping capabilities can be brought together to exploit synergies and remove any unnecessary work and reduce costs. One example of this …
Government response. The government has re-established the National Space Council as an Inter-Ministerial Group, chaired by the DSIT Secretary of State, to consider issues relating to prosperity, diplomacy, and national security in space.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
3
Recommendation
Seventh Report - UK space strategy and …
Acknowledged
Following the initial launch attempt, it is clear that there are streamlining improvements that should be made to ensure that the regulatory processes leading up to launch are best aligned. The Government should convene all of the regulatory bodies involved with licencing and ensure that: • There is consistency in …
Government response. The government is undertaking targeted reviews of the space sector regulatory environment to incorporate lessons learned from the first UK launch, and the UK Space Agency has begun implementing changes based on identified lessons, with a summary to be published …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology