Select committee inquiry
UK Engagement with Space
Closed
What the government said
The government responded on 30 January 2026. The deadline was 30 January 2026.
Read the government's response ↗ Read the report ↗ Report an error
How the inquiry ran
Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 26 February 2025 to its close on 20 October 2026. The dashed mark is the deadline Parliament records for the government's response.
- Oral evidence 14 sessions
- Report 4 Nov 2025
- Government response 30 Jan 2026
- Correspondence 4 letters
What it recommended
The committee's recommendations are not listed here yet. Read them in Report - The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out ↗ on parliament.uk.
Evidence
Oral evidence sessions 14
- 8 Sep 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 17:30 Mon 08 September 20251 witness: Aarti Holla-Mainiparliament.uk ↗
- 7 Jul 20254 witnesses: Alderman Professor Emma Edhem, Colin Baldwin, Gabriel Elefteriu, Professor Sir Martin Sweetingparliament.uk ↗
- 30 Jun 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 30 June 20252 witnesses: Annelies Look, Sir Chris Bryant MPparliament.uk ↗
- 23 Jun 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 23 June 20256 witnesses: David Browne, Dr Martin Heywood, Joseph Mhango, Mr Stuart Fyvie, Phil Chambers, Rory Danielsparliament.uk ↗
- 16 Jun 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 16 June 20254 witnesses: Dr. Heidi Thiemann, Dr Joanna Hart, Professor Lucy Berthoud, Professor Martin Barstowparliament.uk ↗
- 9 Jun 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 9 June 20254 witnesses: Dr John B. Sheldon, Dr Peter L. Hays, Hermann Ludwig Moeller, Laurent Jaffartparliament.uk ↗
- 19 May 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 19 May 20255 witnesses: Dr Bleddyn Bowen, Dr Imogen Napper, James Black, Professor Don Polacco, Professor Hugh Lewisparliament.uk ↗
- 12 May 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 12 May 20255 witnesses: Joanne Wheeler, Mark Boggett, Michele Dougherty, Nayen Pankhania, Sa’id Mostesharparliament.uk ↗
- 28 Apr 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 28 Apr 20251 witness: Major Tim Peake CMG - British ESA Astronautparliament.uk ↗
- 31 Mar 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 31 Mar 20256 witnesses: Barry Evans, Geoff Busswell, Joanna Darlington, John Remedios, Richard Blain, Simon Hillparliament.uk ↗
- 24 Mar 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 24 Mar 20256 witnesses: Adam Baker, Alan Thompson, Joshua Western, Katie King, Rory Holmes, Scott Hammondparliament.uk ↗
- 17 Mar 2025Know.Space and LE Europe representatives (Details TBC); Airbus and Thales representatives (Details TBC)4 witnesses: Patrick Wood, Rasmus Flytkjaer, Richard Thorburn, Will Leckyparliament.uk ↗
- 10 Mar 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 10 Mar 20254 witnesses: Alexandra Jones, Ian Bishop, Lord Willetts, Paul Bateparliament.uk ↗
- 3 Mar 2025Formal meeting (oral evidence session) - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 03 Mar 20251 witness: Brian Coxparliament.uk ↗
Who gave evidence 53 witnesses
- Aarti Holla-MainiDirector, UN Office of Outer Affairs
- Adam BakerConsultant & Co-Founder, UK Launch Services Ltd
- Alan ThompsonHead of Government Affairs, Skyrora
- Alderman Professor Emma EdhemLord Mayor's Aldermanic Envoy for Space Technology and Innovation, City of London
- Alexandra JonesDirector General, Science Innovation and Growth, DSIT
- Annelies LookDirector, Space, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Barry EvansProfessor of Information Systems Engineering, University of Surrey
- Brian CoxProfessor of Particle Physics, The University of Manchester
- Colin BaldwinExecutive Director, UKspace
- David BrowneDirector, Corporate and Social Affairs, Maersk
- Dr Bleddyn BowenLecturer in International Relations, Space Policy/Warfare, University of Leicester
- Dr Imogen NapperVisiting Research Fellow, University of Plymouth
- Dr Joanna HartDirector, Space Partnership
- Dr John B. Sheldon
- Dr Martin HeywoodDirector, Newton Launch Systems
- Dr Peter L. HaysProfessorial Lecturer of Space Policy and International Affairs, Space Policy Institute, The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs
- Dr. Heidi ThiemannDirector, Space Skills Alliance
- Gabriel ElefteriuDeputy Director for Defence and Space, Council on Geostrategy
- Geoff BusswellVice President of Business Growth, Telespazio UK
- Hermann Ludwig MoellerDirector, European Space Policy Institute
- Ian BishopDeputy Director of Space Strategy, Strategic Engagement and UKSA Sponsorship, DSIT Space Directorate
- James BlackAssistant Director, Defence and Security, RAND Europe
- Joanna DarlingtonChief Communications Officer & Executive Committee Member, Eutelsat OneWeb
- Joanne WheelerCo-Head of Policy and Places, UK Green Building Council
- John RemediosDirector, The National Centre for Earth Observation
- Joseph MhangoSenior Lecturer - Applied Data Science, Harper Adams University
- Joshua WesternCEO, Space Forge Ltd
- Katie KingCEO, BioOrbit
- Laurent JaffartDirector of Connectivity and Secure Communications, European Space Agency
- Lord WillettsChair, Regulatory Innovation Office
- Major Tim Peake CMG - British ESA Astronaut
- Mark BoggettCEO and Co-Founder, Seraphim Space
- Michele DoughertyExecutive Chair, Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Mr Stuart FyvieDirector, Fire Arrow
- Nayen PankhaniaStrategy and Consulting Director, Satellite Applications Catapult
- Patrick WoodHead of Space Systems UK, Airbus
- Paul BateCEO, UK Space Agency
- Phil ChambersChief Executive Officer, Orbex
- Professor Don PolaccoProfessor of Astrophysics, The University of Warwick
- Professor Hugh LewisProfessor of Astronautics, The University of Southampton
- Professor Lucy BerthoudProfessor of Space Engineering, University of Bristol
- Professor Martin BarstowProfessor of Astrophysics and Space Science and Director of Strategic Partnerships Space Park Leicester, University of Leicester
- Professor Sir Martin SweetingFounder and Executive Chairman, Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd
- Rasmus FlytkjaerPartner, London Economics
- Richard BlainFounder & Chairman, Earth-i Ltd
- Richard ThorburnCOO, Thales Alenia Space UK
- Rory DanielsSenior Programme Manager - Emerging Technologies, techUK
- Rory HolmesUK Managing Director, ClearSpace
- Sa’id MostesharDirector, London Institute of Space Policy and Law
- Scott HammondDeputy Chief Executive Officer, SaxaVord Spaceport
- Simon HillChief Technology Officer, Excelerate Technology Group
- Sir Chris Bryant MPMinister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Will LeckyCo-founder, Know.Space
Correspondence 4 letters
- 2 Oct 2025Letter from Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Chair of the UK Engagement with Space Committee to Patricia Ferguson MP, Chair of the HoC Scottish Affairs Committee, 17 September 2025To committee
- 17 Sep 2025Letter from Patricia Ferguson MP, Chair of the HoC Scottish Affairs Committee to Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Chair of the UK Engagement with Space Committee, 10 September 2025To committee
- 8 Sep 2025Letter from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms, to Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Chair of the UK Engagement with Space Committee, 1 September 2025To committee
- 8 Sep 2025Letter from Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Chair of the UK Engagement with Space Committee, 10 July 2025To committee
Meetings and visits 5
- 20 Oct 2025Private Meeting - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 20 October 2025Formal meeting (private meeting)
- 13 Oct 2025Private Meeting - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 13 October 2025Formal meeting (private meeting)
- 15 Sep 2025Private Meeting - 15:30 - 18:00 Mon 15 September 2025Formal meeting (private meeting)
- 14 Jul 2025Private MeetingFormal meeting (private meeting)
- 2 Jun 2025Private MeetingFormal meeting (private meeting)