Britain is putting £7.8bn behind a new UK Space Strategy designed to turn space into a bigger engine of economic growth, national security and technological development over the next four years.
The government’s new strategy brings its space investment under one plan, with billions earmarked for satellite communications, military intelligence, space surveillance, launch infrastructure and scientific missions.
The new strategy formally replaces the National Space Strategy published in 2021 and aims to strengthen the UK’s ability to protect the satellites and services that modern life increasingly depends on.
The move could reshape a UK space sector already worth £18.6bn and supporting more than 55,000 skilled jobs, while helping British companies develop technologies ranging from in-orbit satellite servicing to advanced semiconductors and pharmaceutical manufacturing in microgravity.
Talking on the new UK Space Strategy, Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said: “As space becomes a new frontier of economic and military competition, this plan will help keep Britain secure by strengthening our ability to launch satellites, detect threats and protect the services people rely on every day.
“At the same time, this plan will enable our excellent UK industry to seize the boundless opportunities of this new age in space, creating skilled jobs, driving growth and improving connectivity for all of us.”
Space becomes a bigger security priority
A central focus of the UK Space Strategy is the growing importance of space to national security.
Satellites underpin communications, navigation, weather forecasting and other services, making the ability to monitor and protect assets in orbit increasingly important.
The government is therefore expanding space domain awareness, which involves tracking satellites, rockets, space debris and other objects around Earth.
Among the investments is £149m for the European Space Agency’s Vigil mission, alongside £85m for the National Space Operations Centre.
The funding will support British technologies capable of identifying potential satellite collisions, hostile activity and the effects of solar storms at an earlier stage.
The aim is to provide governments and operators with more time to respond to threats that could disrupt critical services on Earth.
A further £880m will strengthen space control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. These systems will help monitor military activity and potential threats to satellites, supporting faster responses to emerging security risks.
Satellite connectivity to support defence and communities
Connectivity is another major pillar of the strategy, with £2.8bn earmarked for programmes including Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) and SKYNET defence communications.
For the Armed Forces, these capabilities are intended to maintain secure, reliable communications regardless of where personnel operate around the world.
The benefits are also expected to extend beyond defence. Satellite communications could improve broadband and mobile connectivity in rural areas, while helping reduce signal loss for passengers using mobile devices on trains.
This reflects the increasingly important role of space infrastructure in terrestrial networks, rather than treating space as a separate technological domain.
Building a stronger UK space industry
The government is also positioning the strategy as part of its wider effort to reindustrialise the UK, with investment intended to create new companies, products and highly skilled jobs.
One area receiving targeted support is in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM), backed by £40m.
ISAM technologies could allow satellites to be repaired, upgraded and maintained while operating in orbit. They could also help remove dangerous debris, addressing one of the growing challenges facing increasingly crowded orbital environments.
The technology has wider commercial potential. Manufacturing in microgravity could enable products that are difficult or impossible to produce on Earth, including advanced semiconductors and pharmaceutical products.
UK launch capability gets further support
The UK Space Strategy also seeks to strengthen Britain’s ability to reach orbit from home soil.
The government is providing £148m for European rocket programmes and £30m for SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland. The investment is intended to expand launch opportunities, strengthen supply chains and reduce reliance on launch infrastructure overseas.
Space science and exploration will receive a further £163m, including funding for the delivery of the UK-built Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover.
Built in Stevenage, the rover represents the intersection of scientific research and industrial capability, while the government says space missions can also accelerate development in fields such as artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
Additional funding includes £57m from the Department for Transport for rail connectivity, £190m from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for astronomy and space science, and £9m from the Met Office for improved space weather forecasting.
One approach to government space procurement
A significant change under the UK Space Strategy is the decision to take a more unified approach to purchasing and developing space technology across government.
The approach will initially focus on satellite communications, with the aim of giving UK companies greater access to government contracts while strengthening domestic supply chains.
The government says this should help British businesses secure more work, support skilled employment and deliver space capabilities more quickly while improving value for taxpayers.
The programme marks a shift towards treating space as both a strategic security environment and an important part of the UK’s industrial base.
With billions committed through 2030, the government is betting that investment in satellites, launch systems, space science and emerging orbital technologies can strengthen Britain’s resilience on Earth while creating the next generation of its space industry.
