UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is set to invest at least £190 million in space initiatives over the current spending review period. This investment will support the new UK Space Strategy, which aims to deliver benefits across the UK.
The funding will be directed towards world-leading research, supporting early career researchers, technology development, and innovation. It will also include investment in international astronomy facilities, with contributions through the Science and Technology Facility Council's (STFC) astronomy and space science programme.
Professor Michele Dougherty, STFC Executive Chair and UKRI Space Senior Responsible Officer, stated that UKRI has collaborated with the UK Space Agency and other government partners to develop the strategy. The Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, highlighted that the plan will strengthen the UK's ability to launch satellites, detect threats, and protect essential services.
Further commitments within the strategy include £163 million for space science and exploration missions, such as the Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover. An additional £149 million is allocated for the European Space Agency’s Vigil mission, designed to provide earlier warnings of solar storms. The Met Office will also contribute £9 million to enhance space weather forecasting.
RAL Space, a part of STFC, plays a role in this work by developing space science instrumentation and supporting UK and international missions, including space weather monitoring and Earth observation.