https://spacewatch.global/tag/uk-space-agency/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:23:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/uk-space-agency/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-prof-anu-ojha-on-awe-wonder-and-why-space-needs-better-storytellers/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79195 From ESPI’s 20th Annual Conference in Vienna, Professor Anu Ojha of the UK Space Agency joins Torsten Kriening to argue that awe and wonder are strategic assets - why “are we alone?” reaches people space economics never will, and why the sector needs ambassadors who can humanise the data.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/orbity-deorbitface-uk-space-agency-opens-competition-to-name-active-debris-removal-mission/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79056 The UK Space Agency has opened a public competition to name its Active Debris Removal mission, which is designed to capture and remove two defunct satellites from orbit. Developed with ClearSpace UK, the mission is scheduled to launch in 2029 and will demonstrate how robotic capture technology could help tackle space debris.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/orbit-fab-qualifies-rafti-high-pressure-interface-for-electric-propulsion/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78659 Orbit Fab has completed the qualification of its new RAFTI High Pressure refueling interface, expanding the company’s existing in-space refueling technology to higher-pressure propulsion systems. Developed by Orbit Fab’s UK team, the European variant is now available for spacecraft applications following a UK Space Agency-funded qualification program.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/skyrora-moves-closer-to-orbital-launch-with-scaled-xl-hot-fire-test/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78403 Skyrora has successfully completed a 45-second static hot-fire test of a scaled-down version of its Skyrora XL orbital launch vehicle, marking another step toward the development of the company’s first orbital launch vehicle.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/space-florida-and-uk-space-agency-launch-joint-space-innovation-funding-call/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78342 Space Florida and the UK Space Agency have opened a joint funding call, offering up to $200,000 and £150,000 respectively for collaborative R&D between Florida and UK space companies.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/nasa-selects-prima-far-infrared-telescope-as-first-probe-explorers-mission/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=78217 NASA has selected PRIMA, the PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics, as the first mission in its new Probe Explorers class, bridging the observational gap between infrared and radio observatories.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/uk-unveils-7-8-billion-space-strategy-focused-on-security-and-industrial-growth/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77450 The UK has published a new UK Space Strategy, positioning space as a critical component of national security, defense and economic growth and backing the sector with £7.8 billion of investment to 2030. The new strategy suggests that the UK is seeking not only to fund a larger space sector, but to build a more commercially competitive and strategically resilient space industry around capabilities it considers critical to national power.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/esa-and-uksa-launch-new-incubed-funding-call-for-eo-based-proposals-in-the-united-kingdom/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75954 ESA has launched a new call for proposals in collaboration with the UK Space Agency, through the ESA InCubed program. This comes as more than £2.5 million were awarded to five projects that use satellite data to improve public services during 2024's InCubed call. For the new round of applications. ESA and the UK Space Agency invite UK-based organizations to submit proposals that demonstrate a clear route to market, credible commercial demand and a strong plan for operational deployment, before an August 21 deadline.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/uk-space-agency-unveils-62-million-funding-program-alongside-300000-joint-fund-with-space-florida/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75877 The UK Space Agency has unveiled a new funding program at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow, pledging up to £62 million to develop homegrown satellite communications and space technologies. During the Airshow, UKSA also penned down a consequential agreement with Space Florida, establishing a £300,000 joint fund to help turn innovative ideas into commercial reality. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/riis-selected-to-host-international-space-leaders-for-karman-week-2026-in-cape-town-south-africa/ Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=74957 The Karman Project' has announced that its annual flagship Karman Week event will take place in Cape Town, South Africa this year, hosted from November 2-6 by RIIS, one of the continent's leading innovation and technology advisory firms. This year’s selected delegation includes Karman Fellows from such organizations as the Bahrain Space Agency, UK Space Agency, Leonardo, Senegal Space Agency, OroraTech, Orienspace, Philippine Space Agency, European Space Policy Institute, Brooklyn Experimental Art Foundation, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Center for Space Medicine Research, and AstroAccess, among others.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/orbit-fab-enters-new-satellite-refueling-partnership-with-thales-alenia-space-uk/ Tue, 26 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=74182 Orbit Fab and Thales Alenia Space UK are partnering on refuellable satellite propulsion architecture, supported by the UK Space Agency.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/ispace-and-university-of-leicester-sign-payload-service-agreement-for-lunar-raman-spectrometer-mission/ Thu, 14 May 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73875 ispace, inc. and the University of Leicester have signed a Payload Service Agreement to deliver a Raman spectrometer payload to the lunar surface on a future ispace mission. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/catalyst-partners-dual-uk-to-develop-satellite-enabled-biodiversity-risk-solution-for-insurance/ Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73280 CATALYST and DUAL UK have completed a pilot using satellite imagery and AI to assess biodiversity risk, funded by the UK Space Agency.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/goonhilly-earth-station-to-track-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-as-humans-return-to-the-moon/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72396 Goonhilly Earth Station will play a role in NASA’s historic Artemis II mission, passively tracking the Orion spacecraft through its journey around the Moon and back to Earth, as the Artemis program prepares to return humans to lunar orbit for the first time in over 50 years. In parallel, Goonhilly is working with the UK Space Agency and NASA to explore downlink solutions for near-real time space weather measurement, enabled by NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP).]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/gmv-wins-uk-space-agency-contract-for-satellite-launch-monitoring-algorithms-to-support-uk-nspoc/ Fri, 06 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71735 GMV has won a UK Space Agency contract to develop advanced algorithmic capabilities for space launch monitoring, supporting the analytical requirements of the UK National Space Operations Center (NSpOC). The contract focuses on the development and demonstration of data processing algorithms designed to detect, identify, and characterize space launch events using heterogeneous observational data sources.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/infinite-orbits-expands-footprint-into-uk-with-acquisition-of-rpo-and-docking-expert-lunasa-space/ Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71637 Infinite Orbits has announced the acquisition of UK-based Lúnasa Space, marking its establishment in the United Kingdom and reinforcing its Endurance life-extension servicer through enhanced rendezvous and docking capabilities. With operations now anchored across France, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom, the company continues to strengthen the technical foundations of its in-orbit servicing roadmap.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/nammo-uk-to-supply-main-engine-for-the-argonaut-lunar-lander-in-the-artemis-program/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69238 ESA and Thales Alenia Space have selected Nammo UK to supply the main engine for the Argonaut Lunar Lander to support NASA’s Artemis program. Nammo UK’s bi-propellant engine; RELIANCE will support Europe’s first ever lunar lander mission as part the NASA Artemis program planned for 2031.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/spaceflux-wins-uk-government-contracts-for-sovereign-space-surveillance-and-tracking-capabilities/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69220 Spaceflux has won three UK government contracts to provide advanced space surveillance and tracking (SST) data across multiple orbital regimes. Under the three contracts, Spaceflux will deliver persistent surveillance across all orbits – from LEO to GEO and beyond – combining routine monitoring of priority UK satellites with on-demand tasking in the event of collisions, fragmentations, or unexpected maneuvers. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/orbit-fab-to-lead-esa-funded-consortium-in-delivering-astral-in-orbit-refueling-project/ Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69158 Orbit Fab has won a UK Space Agency and European Space Agency contract to deliver the Advancing Satcom Technology with Refueling and Logistics (ASTRAL) project. ASTRAL involves an in-orbit experiment by 2028 to de-risk and validate Orbit Fab’s RAFTI™ and GRASP refueling interfaces in a realistic docking and propellant-transfer scenario. The mission will establish the performance of these systems in its operational environment– a crucial step in proving the viability of sustainable satellite servicing and refueling. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/uk-dsit-publishes-rd-funding-allocation-to-partner-organizations-for-2025-26-till-2029-30/ Mon, 03 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68724 The UK DSIT has published its plans for R&D budget allocations to key partner organizations for the financial years 2026/2027 to 2029/2030. DSIT’s overall R&D budget will grow in real terms over the Spending Review period, totaling £58.5 billion from 2026/2027 to 2029/2030, driving economic growth, supporting the Industrial Strategy sectors, and delivering on the AI Opportunities Action Plan. ]]>