https://spacewatch.global/tag/uk/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:08:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/uk/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-next-generation-uk-milsatcom-capability/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70736
Written by John Yates
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Skynet 6 satellites are obsolete before they have even been launched. So, what should the next generation of British Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) satellites look like? The four Skynet 5 satellites were launched into Geostationary Orbit (GEO) between 2007 and 2012. Assuming a typical design life of 15 years, the first would have exceeded its design life from 2022 and the remainder from 2027, to be replaced by the Skynet 6 satellites. Commercial satellites often remain in use beyond their design life, but that is not a desirable scenario for satellites used in potentially critical situations, such as MILSATCOM.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/04/rocket-lab-onramped-to-u-s-and-u-k-defense-contracts/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64915 Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has been selected to participate in two multi-billion-dollar government development programs for the United States and the United Kingdom.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/01/orbex-receives-uk-government-investment-in-series-d-funding-round/ Fri, 31 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=63681 The UK Government has invested £20 million in Orbex as part of its Series D fundraising. The investment comes as the UK government commits to developing Britain’s mission to regularly launch into orbit from its shores using UK-manufactured rockets, supporting growth in its expanding space industry and attracting investment from across the globe. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/uk-to-support-nato-space-launch-capabilities/ Mon, 21 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61801 The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, has signed a letter of intent enabling NATO allies to work closer on government and commercial space launch capabilities. The Defence Secretary agreed to initiatives from boosting ease of access to space and virtual training to developing cutting-edge drones.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/uk-and-new-zealand-sign-satellite-removal-blueprint/ Mon, 21 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61798 The UK and New Zealand space agencies have signed a blueprint for the removal and servicing of operational satellites that are very close together or making contact with one another. The arrangement, which both parties signed, aims to support missions in the fast-growing areas of in-orbit servicing, space debris removal and satellite refueling, known as ‘rendezvous and proximity’ operations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/09/catalyst-establishes-hub-in-harwell-uk/ Tue, 17 Sep 2024 06:00:45 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61127 CATALYST, a recent rebrand of PCI Geomatics, providing scalable solutions to process and extract critical information using Earth Observation (EO) satellites and aerial platforms, has established a hub in the UK. The Company works closely with satellite data providers to support their delivery of foundational image products and actionable insights to a wide range of customers across multiple sectors, leveraging the benefits of its position in Low Earth Orbit to provide fast and efficient data that can save money and lives]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/08/northrop-grumman-wins-ussf-darc-site-2-contract/ Tue, 27 Aug 2024 06:00:08 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=56729 Northrop Grumman Corporation has won the Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) Site 2 contract from the U.S. Space Force. The second site, located in the United Kingdom, continues DARC’s path to become one of the world’s most advanced radars for tracking objects in deep space. This award follows the previous competitive award of DARC Site 1.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/08/climate-x-reveals-unesco-sites-vulnerable-to-climate-related-damage/ Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:00:30 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=56704 Climate risk data analytics company Climate X has disclosed new data identifying which UNESCO Heritage Sites are most vulnerable to climate-related damage. The analysis highlights that four of the UK’s 35 UNESCO Heritage Sites – The Forth Bridge, St Kilda, and New Lanark in Scotland, as well as Studley Royal Park in Yorkshire – are among the most at-risk sites in the world.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/05/esa-and-twelve-countries-sign-the-zero-debris-charter/ Fri, 24 May 2024 06:00:15 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55332 Twelve nations have signed the Zero Debris Charter at the ESA/EU Space Council, solidifying their commitment to the long-term sustainability of human activities in Earth orbit. In addition to the 12 countries, the European Space Agency also signed the Zero Debris Charter as an International Organization (IGO). The Zero Debris Charter is an effort to become debris-neutral in space by 2030 that was unveiled at the ESA Space Summit in Seville meeting in November 2023.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/03/slingshot-aerospace-establishes-new-uk-base-to-drive-expansion/ Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=54080 Slingshot Aerospace has announced the expansion of its international operations with the launch of Slingshot Aerospace Ltd. The new entity will operate from Slingshot’s first international offices in Cornwall and London – representing a significant step in the company's commitment to a global growth strategy.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/07/uk-publishes-national-space-strategy-in-action/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 06:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50163 The United Kingdom (UK) has published its National Space Strategy in Action policy, setting out how the government will deliver on the ambitions set out in the National Space Strategy and summarizes the government's achievements so far. Primarily, the policy paper sets out the next steps in implementing the National Space Strategy across each of its four pillars; unlocking growth, collaborating internationally, growing as a science superpower, and developing resilient capabilities. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/07/the-u-k-and-eu-agree-draft-horizon-deal/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 06:00:15 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=49890 The United Kingdom and European Union have agreed to a draft agreement regarding Britain’s re-entry into the Horizon Europe research program. Britain formally left all three schemes when it quit the EU in January 2020, and discussions to re-associate as a third country proved difficult. As a result, the European Commission blocked the British researchers' participation until the UK resolved a post-Brexit row over Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/03/uk-space-sector-income-reaches-17-5-billion/ Wed, 29 Mar 2023 06:00:50 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=47568 The amount the UK space sector brings to the UK economy has grown by £1 billion, helping to launch new businesses and create jobs across the country, according to the latest figures from the UK Space Agency. Despite the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, space organizations presented a robust picture, generating £17.5 billion in 2021, compared to £16.5 billion the previous year.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/02/kongsberg-nanoavionics-doubles-its-satellite-production-capacity/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:00:27 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=46522 Small satellite mission integrator and bus manufacturer Kongsberg NanoAvionics has doubled its satellite production capability by officially opening its manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing (MAIT) facility in Vilnius, Lithuania.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/11/uks-new-space-regulation-will-fuel-participation-in-the-commercial-space-race/ Mon, 21 Nov 2022 07:00:21 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=44922 UK regulations regarding space, in force since July 2021, helped pave the way for Virgin Orbit to get approval for launching its LauncherOne vehicle from Newquay’s Spaceport Cornwall facility. The launch will be the first ever space launch from UK soil. Commercial space lawyer Andrew Sparrow, Founder of Lecote Applied Space Technology Lawyers, says this model shows how to align enabling laws with industry needs.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/10/uk-and-south-korea-join-asat-test-ban/ Thu, 06 Oct 2022 06:00:19 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=43762 The United Kingdom and South Korea have committed not to destructively test direct ascent anti-satellite missiles (DA-ASAT) and thus joining the initiative led by the United Stated to promote peaceful and safe use of outer space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/09/cosines-hyperscout-selected-for-multiple-space-missions/ Mon, 26 Sep 2022 06:00:17 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=43481 Dutch optical and in-situ measurement space systems provider cosine’s three-in-one instrument combining hyperspectral and thermal imaging with high-level data processing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, HyperScout 2, selected for the Australian Kanyini satellite mission, is now ready to be integrated into the spacecraft. The launch of the 6U CubeSat is part of the South Australia Space Sector Strategy 2030.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/06/spacewatchgl-opinion-new-space-domain-economics/ Fri, 17 Jun 2022 07:10:31 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=41563 The global space market size will raise from 340 million USD annual sales to a 1 trillion USD domain in the next two decades. It is projected that the number of people employed in the space industry as a whole will increase to 400,000 in the next few years. This enormous growth could bring some challenges and opportunities, some of which have been openly discussed at the event. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/06/esa-offers-the-uk-alternatives-to-copernicus-project/ Fri, 17 Jun 2022 06:15:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=41629 Brussels may shut the UK out of the Horizon science programme, the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation, and block the UK’s involvement in the EU’s Copernicus environment monitoring Earth observation programme as part of post-Brexit trading agreements for Northern Ireland. Britain’s participation in the Euratom nuclear research partnership is also likely to change.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/12/unoosa-signs-agreement-with-uk-to-map-space-based-climate-action/ Wed, 22 Dec 2021 07:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=38058 The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) signed an agreement with the United Kingdom to address the information gap for space-related climate actions, the United Nations Information Service reported.  Space-based data and applications have long been utilized in climate change monitoring, research, and policy enactment.]]>