UK Space Agency is Going Through a Major Change as Responsibilities Shift

12th Feb 2021
UK Space Agency is Going Through a Major Change as Responsibilities Shift

The UK Space Agency is losing part of its influence on the UK space industry and UK space policy in general. The government has decided to shift the responsibility for rocket site development and space strategy to the Department for Business. So, at least part of the UK space industry controls will be executed by a different entity. 

What does the change bring for the UK space industry?

While it is too early to assume what consequences the change may bring for the UK space agency and the UK space industry in general, some already associate the responsibility shift with Graham Turnock’s resignation announcement. On January 13, the UK Space Agency CEO announced that he would be stepping down from the position. Shortly after, the UK government decided to shift launch site development responsibility, along with the UK space strategy planning, to the Department for Business. 

The fact that no replacement for Turnock has been announced (or even found) yet raises a number of questions — especially so for Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State at the Dept. for Business. The public is specifically concerned about Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system and planned launch sites in Scotland, previously funded by the UK Space Agency. 

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