EU Space Act: Implications for UK Universities

SPAN is seeking academics and research representatives to speak with Access Partnership about the potential implications of the EU Space Act for their institutions, research activities and international collaborations.  These interviews form part of a study commissioned by the Space Partnership.

We are keen to capture a range of perspectives, including those of universities, research organisations, spin-outs and teams involved in ESA missions.

We would particularly welcome examples of UK university collaborations with partners in the US or other non-EU countries to build an instrument, develop a payload or deliver a data service independently of ESA programmes.

These examples are not exhaustive. If your work offers another relevant perspective, I would welcome your suggestions and be happy to introduce you to Access Partnership.

To express an interest or suggest a case study, please email me at as1300@leicester.ac.uk as soon as possible.  

EU Space Act: Implications for UK Universities

This summary is based on the Council’s latest text of the proposed EU Space Act from August 2026. As the Act is still under negotiation, the details may change. The UK is classified as a “third country” under the Act, meaning UK universities and research institutes mainly come into scope if they provide space services or space data into the EU.

The Good

Sharing data for research is not caught: The Council text says that providing space data “for purely research or educational purposes” does not count as providing space data under the Act. Normal research collaboration with EU partners should therefore not trigger the Act’s data rules.

Current and near-term missions are out of scope: The Act does not cover satellites launched before a cut-off date: three years after the Act comes into force. Satellites already in orbit, and those launching in the next few years, would not be affected.

The Bad

• Extra EU paperwork on top of the CAA licence: A UK university providing space services or data into the EU would need several things on top of its UK licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) such as:

  • EU registration, with a Commission decision that can take up to 12 months

  • A legal representative based in the EU.

  • A contract with a collision-avoidance provider.

  The exception is if the EU recognises UK rules as equivalent.

• The environmental break may not apply: The Act’s environmental footprint rules extend to non-EU operators. However, the relief given to universities is not extended to them: the exemption for technology demonstration missions and the exemption until 2031. As drafted, a UK university mission could face stricter environmental reporting than a comparable EU university mission.

The Ugly

• It’s unclear whether the lighter safety rules apply: The text lists the research “light regime” among the rules for non-EU operators. But the light regime itself refers only to EU operators. This needs clarifying, for example on whether a small UK research satellite could fly without a propulsion system.

• Recognition of UK rules is possible but not guaranteed: The Act allows the EU to recognise a non-EU country’s rule as equivalent. UK operators with a CAA licence would then be treated as compliant. However, this needs:

• A detailed EU assessment.

• The UK to recognise EU rules in return.

• Renewal after a fixed period.

Next steps

• Please help us to share this information to your colleagues.

• To express an interest or suggest a case study, please email me at as1300@leicester.ac.uk as soon as possible so we can share the next steps.

• Dr Junayd Miah from the Access Partnership will be joining our upcoming SPAN Town Hall on Thursday 19th November to outline the EUSA and what it could mean for our community.

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