A new review celebrates the successes of the UK space sector, marked by milestones such as the historic first launch from UK soil in Cornwall in January 2023.
The Space Regulatory Review establishes the key regulatory priority areas for the UK space sector to maintain its innovative, attractive, and competitive regulatory environment.
These include the importance of fostering international partnerships with spacefaring nations and incentivising world-leading sustainable practices to protect the space environment.
Developed in collaboration with over 100 industry representatives, this new report offers a unified regulatory roadmap for the future of the UK space sector and our flourishing space economy.
Launching the National Space Operations Centre
The report comes as Science Minister Andrew Griffith and Defence Minister Cartlidge visited UK Space Command to launch the National Space Operations Centre.
The centre brings together almost 70 civilian and military personnel to safeguard the UK against space-related threats, risks, and hazards, such as satellite collisions.
The launch of the NSpOC marks a significant milestone, as it fulfils a key commitment outlined in the government’s National Space Strategy, Defence Strategy, and the recently announced Space Industrial Plan, published in March 2024.
Space Minister Andrew Griffith said: “As space technology advances, it becomes increasingly intertwined with our daily lives. From precise GPS navigation to highly localised weather forecasting, we rely upon space to underpin critical sectors of our economy.
“The launch of the National Space Operations Centre today is a further advance in our space capabilities and our commitment to keep the UK space sector safe and secure.”
Delivering impact for the UK space sector
The new Space Regulatory Review has identified seven themes that, if fully implemented, would deliver the greatest impact on the UK’s space sector and wider economy.
They are:
- Agility: Greater, responsive coordination across government departments and regulators
- Innovation: A dynamic framework that supports novel and emerging missions and technologies
- Growth: A progressive regulatory framework that encourages investment
- International partnership: Spacefaring nation with aligned framework and international best practices
- Safety and sustainability: Incentivising sustainable space activities, protecting the space environment and its celestial bodies
- Accessibility: A coherent suite of primary and secondary space legislations and clear published guidance
- National interest: A civil and commercial space regulatory framework that supports UK national security
Industry stakeholders in the UK space sector have strongly endorsed the review, emphasising the critical importance of regulatory confidence in driving growth, innovation, and sustainability.
John Hanley, Chair of UK Space (CGI), explained: “If the UK is to achieve our shared objectives for a growing and globally competitive space sector, we must have a forward-leaning, proportionate and agile approach to regulation.
“The Space Regulatory Review, which was conducted with close engagement between the government and stakeholders in industry and academia, sets out a series of welcome outcomes and actions that will help to deliver this goal.”
