Home / Sources / Select Committees / Science, Innovation and Techn… / UK space strategy and UK satellite infr…
Index live
Select Committee · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure

Status: Closed Opened: 23 Apr 2021 Closed: 19 Feb 2024 35 recommendations 10 conclusions 2 reports

The UK space sector holds great potential, generating an income of £14.8 billion annually according to the Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy . Nevertheless, it has been suggested that the UK’s approach to space policy requires a rethink. Further, investment in UK lags behind that of other nations such as …

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrast… HC 1717 14 Jul 2023 8 Responded
Second Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastr… HC 100 4 Nov 2022 37 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
28 Conclusion Second Report - UK space strategy and U… Not Addressed

The UK has already benefited from new international agreements that have been established outside of...

The UK has already benefited from new international agreements that have been established outside of the European Union, such as with the US on the Artemis Accords and the UK-Australia Space Bridge. More needs to be done to ensure that the UK increases its international reach and benefits from the …

Government response. The government describes the UKSA Inspiration Programme, committing over £4 million to establish the National Space Skills Institute (NSSI) and address skills shortages in the space sector.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
33 Recommendation Second Report - UK space strategy and U… Not Addressed

We are reassured that the Government has set up a national space board that is...

We are reassured that the Government has set up a national space board that is developing a cross-Government implementation plan to sit alongside the National UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure 81 Space Strategy. To ensure that the space sector understands what steps the Government is taking to support …

Government response. The response discusses the budgets for civil space, set through the Spending Review process, including a record £1.75bn investment in the UK space sector through UKSA budgets and the UKSA corporate plan 2022–25.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
4 Recommendation Seventh Report - UK space strategy and … Not Addressed

Secure ongoing international airspace agreements to facilitate smoother complex UK space launches

Due to the complex nature of conducting launches from the UK, where many countries’ airspace is involved, it is not surprising to hear that this has been a challenge for both launch companies and the Civil Aviation Authority. The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority should continue their …

Government response. The government response describes an upcoming meeting of the Space Sector Industry Forum, which doesn't directly address the recommendation to create ongoing agreements with necessary nations on airspace use.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Oral evidence sessions

8 sessions
Date Witnesses
17 May 2023 Colin Macleod · Civil Aviation Authority, Dave Ballance · SaxaVord Spaceport, Frank Strang · SaxaVord Spaceport, George Freeman MP · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Jonas Bjarnø · Orbex, Mario Kobald · HyImpulse Technologies, Rebecca Evernden · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rob Bishton · Civil Aviation Authority View ↗
1 Mar 2023 Dan Hart · Virgin Orbit, Ian Annett · UK Space Agency, Joshua Western · Space Forge Ltd, Melissa Quinn · Spaceport Cornwall, Patrick McCall · Space Forge Ltd, Sir Stephen Hillier CBE · Civil Aviation Authority, Tim Johnson · Aviation Environment Federation View ↗
10 Feb 2022 Dr Gillian Lang · Glasgow Science Centre, Dr Lynne O'Hare · National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Dr Stuart Hannah · MicroPlate Dx, Elaine Gemmell · Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, Karen Watt · Scottish Funding Council, Professor Frank Coton · University of Glasgow, Professor Iain Woodhouse · University of Edinburgh, Professor Malcolm Macdonald · University of Strathclyde, Simon Andrews · Fraunhofer UK View ↗
9 Feb 2022 Dr Paul Bate · UK Space Agency, Hugo Robson · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Mark Thomson · Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rebecca Evernden · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy View ↗
12 Jan 2022 Colin Macleod · Civil Aviation Authority, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa · Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Dr Philippe Baptiste · Centre national d'études spatiales—French National Space and Research Centre, Josef Aschbacher · European Space Agency, Tim Johnson · Aviation Environment Federation View ↗
8 Dec 2021 Chris McLaughlin · OneWeb, Dr Hina Khan · Spire Global Limited, Jon Styles · Assimila, Professor Sir Martin Sweeting · Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd, Yasrine Ibnyahya · Inmarsat View ↗
17 Nov 2021 Alan Thompson · Skyrora Limited, Dan Hart · Virgin Orbit, Melissa Thorpe · Spaceport Cornwall, Nicholas Smith · Lockheed Martin Space, Pete Guthrie · Space Hub Sutherland, Scott Hammond · SaxaVord Spaceport View ↗
3 Nov 2021 Lucy Edge · Satellite Applications Catapult, Professor Anu Ojha · National Space Academy, Professor David Southwood · Imperial College London, Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng · Imperial College London View ↗

Correspondence

7 letters
DateDirectionTitle
19 Apr 2023 — Correspondence from Minister of State for Department for Transport, to Chair in…
7 Sep 2022 — Correspondence from Secretary of State for BEIS relating to OneWeb merger
30 Jun 2022 — Correspondence from Science Minister George Freeman MP relating to Space Indust…
26 May 2022 — Correspondence from Rt. Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State of Business, …
27 Apr 2022 — Correspondence from the Chair to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Busi…
31 Mar 2022 — Correspondence from Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy …
23 Mar 2022 — Correspondence from the Chair to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Busi…