UK Space Agency
Official logo of the UK Space Agency
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| Abbreviation | UKSA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1 April 2010 |
| Legal status | Executive agency of Her Majesty's Government |
| Headquarters | Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1SZ |
| Owner |
 United Kingdom
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| Leader |
Jo Johnson MP |
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Chief Executive
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Katherine Courtney |
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Parent organization
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Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
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Budget
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£322.6 million (2013/2014) |
| Website | www |
Jo Johnson MP
The United Kingdom Space Agency (commonly known as the UK Space Agency or UKSA) is an executive agency of the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for the United Kingdom's civil space programme. It was established on 1 April 2010 to replace the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and took over responsibility for government policy and key budgets for space exploration, and represents the United Kingdom in all negotiations on space matters. It "[brings] together all UK civil space activities under one single management". It is based at the former BNSC headquarters in Swindon, Wiltshire.
The establishment of the UK Space Agency was announced by Lord Mandelson, Lord Drayson and astronaut Major Timothy Peake at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on 23 March 2010.
Around £230 million of funding and management functions were merged into the UK Space Agency from other organisations."Improving co-ordination of UK efforts in fields such as Earth science, telecoms and space exploration" will form part of its remit, according to Lord Drayson.
Prior to the creation of the UK Space Agency, the space and satellite industry in the UK was valued at £6 billion and supported 68,000 jobs. The 20-year aim of the UK Space Agency is to increase the industry to £40 billion and 100,000 jobs, and to represent 10% of worldwide space products and services (increasing from the current 6%). This plan arises from the "Space Innovation and Growth Strategy" (Space-IGS).
Dr David Williams was appointed Acting Chief Executive on 1 April 2010 and he was confirmed as the first CEO on 1 April 2011. At the ESA Council at Ministerial level in November 2012 the UK budget for space was significantly increased.
Although Space-IGS called for the UK to double European Space Agency (ESA) contributions and to initiate and lead at least three missions between now and 2030, this has not been committed to, with Lord Drayson stating that "We will require a compelling business case for each proposal or mission".
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