SPAN Town Hall Summary – June 2026

The latest SPAN Town Hall brought together 78 members from across the UK space academic community to hear updates from the UK Space Agency, SPAN leadership and partners from across government.

The meeting opened with updates from SPAN Co-Chairs Professor Mark Sims and Professor Anna Hogg, who reflected on the recent publication of the Role and Impact of Academia on the UK Space Sector report.   The report provides the strongest evidence to date of the critical contribution that UK universities make to the national space sector and will help underpin future discussions around research investment, policy and the role of academia within the UK’s space ecosystem.

Members also heard about several important developments across the sector, including:

• the integration of the UK Space Agency into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
• view of the UK Space Agency Organogram which has been circulated
• the re-establishment of the Earth Observation Advisory Committee
• ongoing work through the Space Industry Advisory Group (SIAG)
• preparations for the next ESA Ministerial
• continuing engagement on cross-government space funding and future investment priorities.

A highlight of the meeting was an update from Anu Ojha, Chief Technology Officer at the UK Space Agency, who introduced the Agency’s new CTO Directorate and outlined how bringing together science, technology, engineering, regulation and the Office of the Chief Engineer will strengthen strategic decision-making across government. He also emphasised the importance of deeper collaboration between government, industry and academia and described new approaches to long-term strategic planning and international partnerships.

The town hall also welcomed Will Gater, Strategic Engagement Manager at the UK Space Agency, who introduced the Agency’s new Strategic Engagement Team. He highlighted the Agency’s commitment to strengthening engagement with the academic community, improving coordination across government and ensuring researchers have clearer routes into policy development, funding opportunities and senior leadership discussions.

Members also heard from Elishna O’Donovan, who provided an overview of the newly published cross-government Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Requirements. She encouraged the research community to engage with the SDA programme and outlined how the requirements will help shape future capability development, research priorities and collaboration between government, industry and academia.

The Town Hall concluded with updates from the SPAN Project Office on recent activities and upcoming opportunities. Highlights included:

• publication of the Role and Impact of Academia on the UK Space Sector report;
• continued engagement with the UK Space Agency on SPAN’s future funding beyond September 2026;
• participation in national events including Westminster Evidence Week, the Habitable Worlds Observatory Community Workshop, and upcoming National Astronomy Meeting, and Farnborough International Airshow activities;
• invitations to participate in SPAN Working Groups and future community meetings which have been in full swing. Next week we host our Space Data and Analysis meeting, see below for more details.

Overall, the Town Hall reinforced SPAN’s role as the national voice of the UK space academic community and highlighted the growing recognition across government that academia is central to delivering the UK’s ambitions in space through research excellence, innovation and strategic collaboration.