| Established | 1 April 2010 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Polaris House, North Star Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1UJ |
| Website | www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency |
The UK Space Agency is a United Kingdom government agency responsible for its civil space programme. It was established on 1 April 2010 to replace the British National Space Centre and took over responsibility for government policy and key budgets for space[1] and represents the UK in all negotiations on space matters.[2][3] It "[brings] together all UK civil space activities under one single management".[1] It is initially operating from the existing BNSC headquarters in Swindon, Wiltshire.[2][4][5][6]
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The UK Space Agency was announced by Lord Mandelson, Lord Drayson and astronaut Major Timothy Peake at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on 23 March 2010.
Around £230 million of funding and management functions was merged into the UK Space Agency from other organisations.[2] It cost US$60 million to create.[7] "Improving coordination of UK efforts in fields such as Earth science, telecoms and space exploration" will form part of its remit, according to Lord Drayson.[8]
Prior to the creation of the UK Space Agency, the space and satellite industry in the UK was valued at £6 billion and supported 68,000 jobs. The 20-year aim of the UK Space Agency is to increase the industry to £40 billion and 100,000 jobs,[1] and to represent 10% of worldwide space products and services (increasing from the current 6%). This plan arises from the "Space Innovation and Growth Strategy" (Space-IGS).[2]
Although Space-IGS called for the UK to double European Space Agency (ESA) contributions and to initiate and lead at least three missions between now and 2030, this has not been committed to, with Lord Drayson stating that "We will require a compelling business case for each proposal or mission".[2]
Alongside the UK Space Agency, a £40 million "International Space Innovation Centre" (ISIC) (http://www.isic-space.com) has been created at Harwell, Oxfordshire,[1] alongside the research facility for the ESA. Some of its tasks will be to investigate climate change, and the security of space systems. £24 million of the cost of the centre will be funded by the government, with the remainder from industry, and it will lead to the creation of 700 jobs over five years.[9]
The UK Space Agency took over the following responsibilities from other government organisations:
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