Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
Paragraph: 93
Although we believe that UK Space Agency (sponsored by BEIS) and the Ministry of Defence...
Recommendation
Although we believe that UK Space Agency (sponsored by BEIS) and the Ministry of Defence are both right to commit to improving their abilities to track and recognise objects in orbit (Space Situational Awareness /Space Domain Awareness), the two departments appear to be developing these capabilities independently, despite the previous Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s claims about efforts to integrate and find synergies. We believe a joint approach to serving civil 78 UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure and military needs from these capabilities should be established. The Government should bring UKSA and MoD Space Situational Awareness/Space Domain Awareness services under one roof to maximise the use of knowledge, technology, and resources. The UK Space Command would be a perfect candidate for this as it already works alongside the UK Space Agency and Ministry of Defence to deliver joint national space capabilities.
Government Response Summary
The government states UKSA, MoD, and other departments work jointly to deliver the UK SST and SDA capability, with phase one of a joint civilian-military National Space Operations Centre expected to go-live in April 2024.
Paragraph Reference:
93
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
UKSA, MoD (and other HMG departments) work jointly to deliver the UK SST and SDA capability. Phase one of a joint civilian-military National Space Operations Centre is expected to go-live in April 2024 – formally uniting UK civilian and military SST/SDA capabilities under a single entity. Joint UKSA/MoD/Cross-HMG SST/SDA delivery boards are in place to consider and take decisions regarding operations s, joint development and future joint capabilities. Several services providing support to UK industry and government stakeholders are jointly delivered through the combined work of the Space Operations Centre (SpOC) and UKSA Orbital Analysts (who are based in the SpOC). UKSA and MoD have jointly agreed the UK’s first set of HMG SST/SDA civil-military requirements that identify key areas for investment to support combined requirements. Space Command and UKSA jointly fund dual-use software and we are jointly investing in infrastructure at priority locations across the UK and in our Overseas Territories (and other locations). We share data from our commercial procurements.