A £50 million programme — announced by Business Secretary Greg Clark when he launched the Government’s Industrial Strategy — is aimed at enabling new satellite launch services and ‘low gravity’ spaceflights from UK spaceports, thereby boosting the economy and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

This latest programme builds on the £99 million already invested in the National Satellite Test Facility at Harwell; it will help UK spaceports to access a global market for launching small satellites worth £10 billion over 10 years.

UK Space Agency (www.gov.uk/ukspaceagency) chief executive Graham Turnock said: “The ambition of our LaunchUK programme is for a home-grown market for spaceflight, which will give businesses across the country access to exciting new opportunities.

"This £50 million boost from the Industrial Strategy will help the UK Space Agency continue working with the industry to develop new technologies, infrastructure and services,to establish the UK as a world-leading destination for space launch.”

The UK Space Agency is working with industry to grow the UK’s share of the global space market from 6.5% to 10%
by 2030.

The Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority and the UK Space Agency are working together to legislate to enable a comprehensive regulatory environment for these activities, with the Space Industry Bill currently going through Parliament.

Several sites in England, Wales and Scotland have so far come forward with spaceport plans.

A series of LaunchUK roadshows is currently touring the country to explore how the market can develop, what opportunities it offers for new supply chains, and how the benefits can be delivered across the country.