The U.K. Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the UK government responsible for the United Kingdom's civil space program. Established in 2010, it drives growth in the space sector, supports scientific research, and fosters international collaboration. UKSA plays a major role in delivering the government's National Space Strategy, catalysing investment in the UK space sector, enabling missions and capabilities and championing space for the benefit of our planet and its people. The agency works with industry and academia and manages the UK's relationship with the European Space Agency (ESA).
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The UK Space Agency characterized the launch sector as highly competitive and indicated that some companies will succeed while others will fail.
Skyrora positioned the acquisition of select Orbex assets as a measure to preserve UK space capability and keep UK-developed technology and IP under UK ownership.
OrbiSky will use its UK Space Agency funding to design a payload for processing ZBLAN fluoride glass in microgravity to produce fibers with signal loss up to one one-hundredth that of conventional silica optical fiber.
On February 9, 2026, the UK Space Agency awarded research contracts to BioOrbit, Space Forge, and OrbiSky to advance technology demonstration and commercialization of advanced materials manufacturing in low Earth orbit.
Space Forge will use its UK Space Agency funding to demonstrate commercial orbital production methods for semiconductor seed crystals aimed at improving the efficiency and reliability of high-power electronic devices.
The UK Space Agency positions the funded research as contributing to strengthening government-priority capabilities in in-space services, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM).
BioOrbit will use its UK Space Agency funding to design an end-to-end drug manufacturing mission in microgravity.
The UK Space Agency awarded contracts to three companies worth a combined amount of nearly £1 million to advance in-orbit manufacturing.
UK Space Agency awarded contracts to three companies worth a combined $1.1M+ to advance in-orbit manufacturing.
The TOUCAN investment aims to protect services people and businesses depend on and to help build a stronger, more resilient UK space ecosystem that safeguards security.
Dr Paul Bate is Chief Executive Officer of the UK Space Agency.
The UK Space Agency is funding the TOUCAN project with support from the UK National PNT Office and management through ESA's NAVISP navigation program.
The UK Space Agency frames the TOUCAN investment as part of growing international efforts to diversify and harden positioning, navigation, and timing infrastructure as reliance on precise timing and navigation expands across civil, commercial, and defence sectors.
TOUCAN is funded by the UK Space Agency through the United Kingdom’s participation in the European Space Agency’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP).
On February 3, 2026, the UK Space Agency made a strategic investment in the TOUCAN (TWSTFT Capability Demonstration) project to enhance the United Kingdom’s resilience against potential disruptions to Global Navigation Satellite Systems.
Dr. Paul Bate is the CEO of the UK Space Agency.
The UK Space Agency was folded into the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology last fall.
The UK Space Agency received a funding boost for the rest of the decade after folding into DSIT.
The IRUS program is intended to support innovation and create high-value employment across the UK space sector while strengthening the UK’s leadership in ISAM.
The OSS large deployable reflector development was funded through multi-year UK space industrialization initiatives.