Corporate report

Updated May 2024: Delivery timeline

Updated 24 May 2024

1. Discovery

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
Plato	Flight model of UK-built Front End Electronics unit delivered to European Space Agency (ESA) for PLATO mission	PLATO will monitor thousands of relatively bright stars over a large area of the sky, searching for tiny, regular dips in brightness as their planets cross in front of them, temporarily blocking out a small fraction of the starlight.
ESA Human and Robotic Exploration	Completion of Provisional Design Review for the first European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) mission	A robotic mission to the Moon to retrieve samples and return them to Earth, test new hardware, demonstrate technology and gain experience in operations while strengthening international partnerships in exploration.
Euclid	Scheduled release of initial data from ESA EUCLID telescope	Euclid is designed to explore the evolution of the dark Universe. It will make a 3D-map of the Universe (with time as the third dimension) by observing billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years, across more than a third of the sky.
Axiom	UK astronaut mission research and development grants placed (subject to commercial sponsorship)	An opportunity with Axiom Space for UK astronauts to spend up to two weeks on orbit to carry out scientific research, demonstrate new technologies, and participate in education and outreach activities.
SMILE	Delivery of UK built flight model for Soft X-Ray Imager instrument (SMILE Mission)	SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) will study the interaction between the Earth’s magnetosphere and solar wind – charged particles streaming from the Sun.
National Exploration Hardware	Completion of Critical Design Review for Enfys instrument	UK-built Infrared Spectrometer instrument for the Rosalind Franklin Rover which will explore the surface and subsurface of Mars. This mission was a collaboration with Russia due to launch in 2022 but had to be postponed due to the invasion of Ukraine. The mission is planned to launch in 2028.

2. Earth Observation

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
ESA FutureEO	ESA Earth Explorer-12 (EE12) candidates selected for Phase 0 feasibility study	Earth Explorer satellite missions are built in response to the needs of the scientific community in their quest to understand different aspects of the Earth system and the interactions that bind the system as a whole.
CEOI	Completion of Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation projects	The CEOI is funded by the UK Space Agency with parallel technology investment from industry. Its key aim is to develop UK innovative technologies to observe Earth from space through the teaming of scientists and industrialists.
Microcarb	MicroCarb Solar Induced Fluorescence (SIF) processor development and testing complete	A satellite mission built by France and the UK dedicated to monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide, creating unique data sets that are needed for carbon monitoring.
ESA TRUTHS	ESA Ground Segment tender agreed for prime company procurement (ESA TRUTHS mission)	Providing ten times more accurate and trustable data to improve climate modelling and forecasting. It will upgrade the accuracy and interoperability of the global Earth observation system.
ESA InCubed	UK Space Agency support concluded for successful InCubed projects to enable allocation of ESA funding	A Public Private Partnership co-funding programme run by the ESA Φ-lab. InCubed focuses on developing innovative and commercially viable products and services that generate or exploit the value of Earth observation imagery and datasets.
CEOS	UK Space Agency formally accepts Chair role for Committee of Earth Observation Satellites	CEOS members including UK Space Agency work together to ensure international coordination of civil space-based Earth observation programmes. CEOS promotes the exchange of data to optimise societal benefit and inform decision making for securing a prosperous and sustainable future for humankind.

3. Innovation

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
ESA ARTES	Launch of ARTES funding calls for Scylight, 5G, and General themes	ARTES is the ESA research and development programme for commercial telecommunications products and services. Scylight is an optical and technology programme delivering commercial capabilities in support of our Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) activity.
National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP)	Publication of monitoring and evaluation findings for NSIP	The National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) co-funds high-risk, high-reward grant projects from concept to commercialisation. The programme is designed to support innovations in technology, satellite applications and space services.
NSIP	Completion of Gateway 0 review for NSIP Call 1 projects (Kick Starter, Major Projects)	As above
NSIP	Completion of NSIP down-select projects	As above
NSIP Early Technologies Programme (ETP)	Completion of ETP projects (calls 1-4)	The Enabling Technologies Programme is a national funding programme providing opportunities to the UK space industry for emerging and innovative space technology research and development across the UK.
Unlocking Space	Unlocking Space for Investment implementation of business and investor pathway	Unlocking Space for Investment aims to build an end-to-end business development and access to finance offer to enable a complete journey of growth for space companies.
ESA Moonlight	Moonlight - Assessment and award of the partnership call	ESA’s Moonlight programme aims to launch a constellation of satellites into orbit around the Moon, from 2028.
Unlocking Space	Unlocking Space for Business project funding call opened	Unlocking Space for Business aims to stimulate private sector adoption of satellite derived data and services (Earth observation, communications, position, navigation and timing) with complementary technology within the financial services and transport and logistics sectors.
ESA BASS	Deadline for first and second round BASS Kickstart applications	The Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme is a commercially focused space applications programme that delivers innovative uses of space assets and data.
ESA GSTP	Completion of GSTP evaluation panels	The General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is an ESA programme aimed at the development of new and innovative space technologies.
International Bilateral Fund	Completion of International Bilateral Fund Phase 2 projects	Strategic projects with key international partners on areas of joint interest to enable Phase 2 (ignition) of the National Space Strategy and build the UK’s standing on the global stage.
National Space Propulsion Test Facility (NSPTF)	Completion of NSPTF reviews	This facility has recently opened. It will allow chemical propulsion engines (not launchers) to be tested in a bespoke vacuum facility.
Space Technology Roadmapping	Collect Space Technology road-mapping submissions from industry	This roadmap will guide UK Space Agency decision-making by focusing on technologies where UK-based academia and industry are leading or well-placed to lead.

4. Inspiration

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
Education and Future Workforce	Completion of funded Inspire, Learn and Skills for Space projects	The Education and Future Workforce Programme aims to inspire, build and strengthen a diverse UK space workforce, which will support the sector’s future growth ambitions and resilience. It funds activities across the UK which support both formal and informal learning – short and extended duration and differentiated for specific audiences whether in school, at science centres, clubs and organisations, or at home. In 2023-24 it delivered over 4 million interaction hours with young people.
ESA Policy	Publication of Monitoring and Evaluation findings for UK’s ESA CMIN22 Investment	The UK Space Agency monitors and evaluates the investments made through ESA programmes, to assess their return to the UK. This evaluation will focus on our subscription at the ESA Council Ministerial Meeting 2022.

5. Launch

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
Launch Phase 1	Sutherland Spaceport Construction Complete (Initial Operating Capacity)	The Launch Programme will enable the UK to be the first country in Europe to launch small satellites into orbit, with the long-term ambition of creating a commercially sustainable market and being a leading provider of commercial small satellite launch.
Launch Phase 1	Small Launch Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle (SL-OMV) construction complete	As above
Launch Phase 1	UK Space Agency activity completed to prepare for Rocket Factory Augsburg ONE launch	As above

6. Levelling Up

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
Space Ecosystem	Publication of monitoring and evaluation findings for Space Ecosystem Development	We are strengthening the UK space economy by developing a thriving ecosystem of high growth space entrepreneurs in every corner of the UK. Through our dedicated programmes we are supporting businesses from ideation through to scale up and Series A to catalyse investment, strengthen capabilities, enable innovation, encourage collaboration, and achieve technological advancement and economic prosperity.
Space Ecosystem	Completion of Space Cluster development projects funded through Space Ecosystem Development programme	As above
Space Ecosystem	Entrepreneur support calls released for UK Space Agency Accelerator programme	As above
Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF)	Completion of Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) projects	SCIF establishes a mechanism for the UK Space Agency to directly influence and support research and development infrastructure which aligns with the levelling up agenda and catalyses investment in the UK.

7. Low Earth Orbit

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
C-LEO	Grant agreements signed for Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme call	The programme objective is to future-proof the UK’s competitive edge in the high-value satellite communications sector by enabling its diversification into the high-growth and strategically important high-volume constellation market.

8. Space Safety & Sustainability

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
National Space Operations Centre (NSPoC)	Start of Phase One for NSPoC	The National Space Operation Centre combines and coordinates civil and military space domain awareness capabilities to enable operations and protect UK interests in space and on Earth from space-related threats, risks and hazards.
Active Debris Removal (ADR)	Completion of design review of ADR technology	National technology development for ADR and associated in-orbit servicing and manufacturing missions (such as refuelling satellites). This will fund work to explore a national debris removal mission and deliver public and policy-maker outreach activity.
ADR	In Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (IOSM) research study complete	As above
ADR	In Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing test facility (Westcott) upgrades complete	As above

9. Transformation

Activity	Milestones in 2024 Corporate Plan	Context for milestone
New offices	New regional UK Space Agency offices open (Cardiff, Leicester, Edinburgh)	Our Integrated Transformation Programme (ITP) aims to transform the Agency into a delivery-focused organisation that is a great place to work. It will ensure we have the right capabilities and processes to be a truly national space agency, a catalyst for our sector and a trusted space leader.
New offices	New headquarters opens (Harwell)	As above
New offices	New London office opens (Canary Wharf)	As above
Organisation design	Consultation on UK Space Agency organisation design complete	As above
Service design	UK Space Agency service design complete	As above