Committees

UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure

Inquiry

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 France and Italy, who spend between five and ten times more on their national space sectors. 

The Government has established a new National Space Council as a Cabinet Committee and has promised to publish a new UK Space Strategy. The Government has made steps to improve its satellite infrastructure through the joint acquisition of OneWeb and the completion of consultations relating to the legislation required to allow spaceflight (including satellite launch) in the UK.  

A coordinated approach to supporting the UK’s thriving space sector must also be viewed through the lens of recovery from the impacts of covid-19 and the UK’s departure from the European Union. The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee is conducting an inquiry into a new UK Space Strategy and UK Satellite Infrastructure.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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Seventh Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure: reviewing the licencing regime for launch
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
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HC 1717
Report
Response to this report
Fifth Special Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure: reviewing the licencing regime for launch: Government response to the Committees Seventh Report
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HC 1900
Government Response
Second Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
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HC 100
Report
Response to this report
Second Special Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report
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HC 1258
Special Report
Second Special Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
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HC 1258
Special Report

Correspondence

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Correspondence from Minister of State for Department for Transport, to Chair in relation to the Committee’s evidence session, Wednesday 1 March on the recent UK space launch, dated 27 March 2023
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
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Correspondence
Correspondence from Secretary of State for BEIS relating to OneWeb merger
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
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Correspondence
Correspondence from Science Minister George Freeman MP relating to Space Industry Regulations
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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17 May 2023
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
Witnesses Frank Strang (CEO at SaxaVord Spaceport), and Dave Ballance (Launch Operations Manager at SaxaVord Spaceport)
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Oral Evidence
1 March 2023
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
Witnesses Patrick McCall (Non-executive Director at Space Forge Ltd), Joshua Western (CEO at Space Forge Ltd), Dan Hart (CEO at Virgin Orbit), Melissa Quinn (Head at Spaceport Cornwall), Sir Stephen Hillier CBE (Chair at Civil Aviation Authority), Tim Johnson (Policy Director at Civil Aviation Authority), and Ian Annett (Deputy CEO at UK Space Agency)
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Oral Evidence
10 February 2022
Inquiry UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
Witnesses Professor Malcolm Macdonald (Chair of Applied Space Technology at University of Strathclyde), and Professor Iain Woodhouse (Professor of Applied Earth Observation at University of Edinburgh)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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UKspace (SPA0108)
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UK Civil Aviation Authority (SPA0106)
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Newton Launch Systems (SPA0107)
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Other publications

Government Responses
The Government has undertaken to respond to most committee reports within two months, although there are exceptions to this rule.
1 published

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  • Email: commonssitc@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 5023 (general enquiries) |020 7219 0731 (media enquiries)
  • Address: Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA