The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has launched a major new procurement process to tackle the threat of space debris. It is beginning a £75.6 million tender for a mission to remove defunct satellites from orbit. The proposed Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission, will involve a specially designed spacecraft. It will be equipped with robotic and autonomous navigation technology. This will ...
UK Space Agency
The UK Space Agency is advancing satellite technology and space-based electronics, boosting the country’s position in the global space market. Key projects focus on small satellites, satellite communications, and space sensors. Collaboration with UK manufacturers and universities fosters innovation in power supplies, RF components, and embedded systems. Electronics Weekly reports on UK Space Agency initiatives that impact electronics design, research funding, and manufacturing in space and aerospace sectors.
UK Space Agency funds public services using satellite data
The UK Space Agency is providing new funding for projects using satellite data to improve the delivery of public services. The agency is making £2.5 million available to five projects. This was announced at the European Space Agency’s Living Planet Symposium 2025, in Vienna. It follows a joint call for proposals from the UK Space Agency and ESA’s InCubed2 programme. ...
Astroscale completes CDR for ELSA-M space debris removal mission
Astroscale is celebrating the completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its UK Space Agency-backed ELSA-M (End-of-Life by Astroscale-Multiple) In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) spacecraft. Specifically, Astroscale UK – a subsidiary of Japan-based Astroscale Holdings – describes it as a world-first Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO) mission. The system is being designed, manufactured and operated by Astroscale UK at the Harwell Campus ...
ClearSpace clears Phase 2 of active debris removal mission
ClearSpace is celebrating the completing Phase 2 of CLEAR, the UK Space Agency’s active debris removal (ADR) mission. The mission will demonstrate the feasibility of providing disposal services in space. Basically, offering potential solutions to the technical and operational challenges involved. Phase 2 The London-based company has highlighted a number of technological milestones in Phase 2. The spacecraft’s robotic capture ...
Biomass satellite mapping Earth’s forests in 3D with P-band SAR data
Biomass, a flagship satellite developed in the UK for the European Space Agency, is set to become the first in the world to measure, in 3D, the condition of the Earth’s forests from space. Biomass Specifically, the satellite will assess “terrestrial carbon stocks and fluxes from an altitude of 666km above the Earth”. And it is due to launch today ...
Scouts launch Space Activity Badge for STEM boost
A sign of our space exploring times: the Scouts have launched a brand-new Space Activity Badge in partnership with the UK Space Agency.
UKSA boasts record European Space Agency contract wins
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is boasting a record eighteen-months for contract wins involving the European Space Agency (ESA). The agency highlights a significant increase for the funds in-flow involving ESA programmes. An additional £112 million (€134 million) in contracts for the UK space sector between June 2022 and December 2024 from what was expected. Also, the British space sector ...
UK Space Agency awards SatixFy £1.8m for LEO payload software
The UK Space Agency has awarded a contract worth £1.8 million to SatixFy to develop a software suite for digital satellite payloads. The funding was awarded by the agency under its C-LEO (Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit) programme. SatixFy SatixFy, the Israel-headquartered satellite comms specialist, is addressing demand for software-reconfigurable satellite payloads. It is developing advanced regenerative and digital beamforming software. ...
ESA funds lab spaces at Edinburgh’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre
The European Space Agency (ESA) is funding £10 million for new facilities at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC), the research institute in Edinburgh. Specifically, new lab spaces will be built to assemble optical benches. These are for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, investigating gravitational waves in space. The investment will approximately double UK ATC’s construction capabilities. Optical ...
Rocket Factory Augsburg licensed to launch from Shetlands in UK first
Rocket Factory Augsburg has officially received its spaceflight operator licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The SaxaVord Spaceport spaceport – on the Lamba Ness peninsula site in Unst, in the Shetlands – will be hosting the debut launch. A spaceport licence and range control licence are already in place for SaxaVord Spaceport. It means all three critical regulatory ...