A new national space strategy, launched today, 8 September 2026, will bring together the UK's plans for growth, defence, and national security. The strategy is supported by a record £7.8 billion in funding until 2030, aiming to reindustrialise the country.
Key pillars of the strategy include safeguarding national security and defence. This involves strengthening Space Domain Awareness with £149 million for the European Space Agency’s Vigil mission and £85 million for the National Space Operations Centre. An additional £880 million will enhance the UK’s space control and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
The strategy also allocates £2.8 billion to strengthen connectivity, including the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit and SKYNET defence communications programmes. These investments are intended to provide faster, more reliable connectivity to rural communities and reduce mobile signal dropouts on trains.
Further funding includes £40 million for in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing technologies, £148 million for European rocket programmes, and £30 million for SaxaVord Spaceport. The government will also take a unified approach to buying and developing space technology, starting with satellite communications.