DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Minister of State for Universities and Science, the UK Space Agency is at the heart of UK efforts to explore space, exploit space-based applications and technology and support our academic and industrial communities. The UK Space Agency was launched officially on 23 March 2010 and became an executive agency of BIS on 1 April 2011. The Agency is responsible for all strategic decisions on the UK civil space programme and provides a clear, single voice for UK space ambitions. The UK Space Agency: - co-ordinates UK civil space activity; - supports academic research; - nurtures the UK space industry; - raises the profile of UK space activities at home and abroad; - works to increase understanding of space and its practical benefits and; - inspires our next generation of UK scientists and engineers. The UK Space Agency also interfaces with other departments on security and military programmes. Although it does not manage these programmes directly, the UK Space Agency is kept informed and involved in decisions relating to the programmes as necessary. Collaboration lies at the heart of the UK Space Agency ethos and applies across Government as well as to external organisations including European and global partners such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Union, national space agencies and the United Nations.