The UK Space Agency is to award grants worth £32 million to British companies as part of its two-year International Partnership Space Programme.

The aim is to develop satellite technology to tackle issues such as flooding, deforestation and humanitarian crises in emerging economies.

Announcing the money as part of a visit to Airbus Defence & Space in Stevenage, Greg Clark — the Universities, Science and Cities Minister — said: “This programme will support our ambitious target of achieving a 10% share of the global space sector market by 2030 and help our international partners to take advantage of British expertise in satellite technology, services and scientific research.

The £32 million of funding will give even more UK companies the chance to work on exciting projects, so that more people can enjoy the considerable economic and social benefits that new space technologies provide.”

Mr Clark toured the facility at Stevenage with the European Space Agency’s first astronaut, Major Tim Pease.

They talked with engineering apprentices about different types of careers in the space sector and the Your Life campaign, which encourages young people to study science, technology, engineering and maths.