Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Paragraph: 98
We commend the Government’s latest announcements which will encourage the UK space industry to use...
Recommendation
We commend the Government’s latest announcements which will encourage the UK space industry to use space sustainably. As space is global in nature, the Government should set out how it intends to work with international partners to establish an International Space Sustainability Standard, rather than focusing on UK only interventions.
Government Response Summary
The government launched its Plan for Space Sustainability in June 2022, which includes measures to provide global leadership and support for the adoption of internationally agreed standards.
Paragraph Reference:
98
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
On June 23 2022, Minister Freeman (Minister for Science, Research and Innovation) launched the Government’s Plan for Space Sustainability. In line with the National Space Strategy, this Plan demonstrated the UK’s leadership in sustainable space. The Plan includes measures to provide global leadership and support for the adoption of internationally agreed standards, whilst also ensuring we keep pace with the space industry sector in parallel workstreams. To support this the DSIT Space Directorate, along with UKSA and FCDO colleagues, have increased our presence at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), as well as stepping up work bilaterally with international partners. This enables UK to champion the adoption of the Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines through continued funding of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) projects; provide funding to support UNOOSA work on the Registration of Space Objects; and prioritise sustainability goals for further international guidelines such as Space Traffic Coordination standards; increased sharing of Space Situational Awareness data; and development of Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) guidance to enable debris removal, life extension servicing and on orbit assembly. We also work with like-minded partners in several forums to develop common understanding of sustainability issues and drive closer collaboration that will enable accelerated agreement on the critical issues we face.