European Space Agency - ESA’s Post

The UK excels in various industrial, academic, and institutional fields and is notably strong in commercial and economic areas of the space sector, such as telecommunications, downstream applications, and in sustainability and science. Between celebrating ECSAT's 10-year anniversary in Oxfordshire and attending the UK Space Conference in Manchester, I have spent the past few days engaging with scientists, researchers, politicians, and colleagues contributing to the UK's dynamic and thriving space ecosystem. I witnessed two exemplary UK industry leaders in action: Oxford Space Systems, making deployable antennas for space, and Astroscale UK, specialising in in-orbit services, including active debris removal, life extension, end-of-life services, and Space Situational Awareness. Later, I met individually with Lord David Willetts, Minister Sir Chris Bryant MP and Minister Richard Lochhead MSP. We discussed the significance of space for economic growth, security, and strategic autonomy in preparation of #CM25, and how best we can support the UK in this regard. The UK Space Agency and European Space Agency - ESA work together to boost the UK's space ecosystem, which has all the essential elements for success. At the UK Space Conference, I gave a keynote on supercharging the UK’s economy through the space sector. Private investment in space continues to soar, reaching record highs in 2024. European space ventures raised over 1.5 billion euro, marking a 56% increase compared to 2023. In 2024, global private investment in space grew by 20%—to 7 billion euros—compared to 2023. Over the past five years, Europe's share of global private investment in space has grown significantly, from 3% in 2019 to 22% in 2024. However, public investment in space is falling behind. In 2024, Europe captured just 10% of the global public space budget, a decrease of 5% since 2019. Funding gaps also present economic opportunities. Consider ESA’s Biomass mission, a UK-led initiative that allocated over 80 million euros in ESA contracts to ten British companies, supporting about 250 high-skill jobs. Strong public investment is essential for sector growth, enabling ESA to unlock opportunities for Member States to engage in large-scale international missions beyond their individual capabilities. It was a pleasure to discuss this, and later, to engage in a panel with UKSA CEO Paul Bate, where we explored the evolving geopolitical landscape and the heightened focus on using space for European resilience. ESA will work with Member States, the European Commission, and international partners to harness space for the betterment of life on Earth. The decisions made at #CM25 will ensure a more secure and prosperous future for all Europeans, and the UK and its industry will play a significant role in this endeavour. The relationship between ESA and the UK is productive, mutually beneficial, and strategically important. Together, let's elevate the future of space in Europe.