GovWire

The UK Space Agency delivers key elements of the governments National Space Strategy.

Through a programme of annual activity, we:

• catalyse investment by supporting projects that drive investment and generate contracts for the UK space sector
• deliver missions and capabilities that meet public needs and advance our understanding of the Universe
• champion the power of space to inspire people and offer greener, smarter solutions for business, and to support a sustainable future

Read more about our current programmes below.

Launch programme

LaunchUK: the UKs satellite launch programme is helping to grow the UK space sectors small satellite and sub-orbital flight markets

Innovation programmes

National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP): co-funds the development of high risk projects that have a clear target market and the potential for high returns

Enabling Technologies Programme: provides opportunities to the UK space industry for emerging and innovative space technology research and development

General Support Technology Programme: aims to design, make and fly new space technologies

Navigation Innovation Support Programme (NavISP): supports UK organisations to undertake positioning, navigation and timing technology research

Discovery programmes

Space Science Programme: funds the design, development and operation of scientific payloads and data processing facilities for space missions

Space Exploration Programme: funds the preparation of experiments that use microgravity and other space environment research platforms

Other programmes

Earth Observation: where data from space missions helps the UK to understand and monitor how our planet is changing, and support environmental management and aid projects

ESA Technology Harmonisation: champions the UK space sector, identifies collaboration opportunities and gets activities and capabilities recognised Europe-wide

Space Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Programme: explores innovative ways of delivering vital satellite navigation and timing services to the UK from space

Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Programme: supports UK industry to develop the next generation of telecommunications products, services and applications

Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit Programme: provides up to 160 million of funding over the next 4 years to UK companies and researchers to develop innovative satellite communications technology

SKYNET 6 Programme: exploits technological advances to deliver the next generation of military communication satellites to the Ministry of Defence

Missions with UK Space Agency involvement

This list is non-exhaustive and is undergoing updates.

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP): A joint UK Space Agency/NASA mission to observe and map the heliosphere the area of space surrounding the Sun.

EarthCARE: A mission to better understand the interactions between processes that play a role in regulating Earths climate.

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA): Due for launch in the mid-2030s, LISA will be the first space-based gravitational wave observatory.

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE). A mission to make detailed observations of the giant gaseous planet Jupiter and three of its largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.

LiteBIRD: Looking for evidence of gravitational waves in the Cosmic Microwave Background, to shed light on the first moments after the Big Bang.

Euclid: Mapping the expansion of the Universe to better understand dark energy and matter

MicroCarb: MicroCarb is a joint mission between the UK Space Agency and CNES that will measure sources and sinks of carbon, the principal greenhouse gas driving global warming.

Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio-Studies (TRUTHS): TRUTHS is a UK-led mission to create a space-based climate and calibration observatory that will improve confidence in climate change forecasts and support net zero mitigation strategies and their impact.