The Space Academic Network aims to act as a community forum representing UK space science, engineering and technology, exploration and environmental/Earth Observation and space related academic research communities.
SPAN Town Halls
We bring the community together to engage, share and communicate updates.
SPAN Working Group Meetings
SPAN has created working groups to provide a forum for in-depth discussion of topics relevant to focussed groups in the community.
Please contact info@span.ac.uk to join one of the working groups.
SPAN Board
Membership of the SPAN board is outlined in the Terms of Reference for SPAN. Refer to our Members page for the attendees of the Board meetings.
Please contact us if you wish to attend a meeting.
2026 Meetings
| SPAN Working Group | Q1 | Q2/3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPAN Townhall | Monday 9 February 14:00 – 16:00 | Tuesday 23 June 14:00 – 16:00 | |
| SPAN Engineering and Technology WG (SETWG) | Wednesday 11 March 10:30 – 12:30 | Monday 15 June 14:00 – 16:00 | Friday 25 September 10:30 -12:30 |
| SPAN Data and Analysis WG (SDAWG) | Monday 9 March 10:30 – 12:30 | Friday 10 July 10:30 – 12:30 | Wednesday 11 November (TBC) 14:00 – 16:00 |
| SPAN Earth Observation WG (SEOWG) | Monday 16 February 12:00 – 17:00 Joint SPAN and UKspace EO Committee Meeting (Hybrid/London) | Wednesday 9 June 13:00 – 16:00 Joint UKspace EO Committee Meeting Q2 2026 (Online) | Tuesday 13 October 10:30 – 12:30 |
| SPAN Science and Exploration WG (SSEWG) | Monday 23 February 10:30 – 12:30 | Monday 29 June 10:30 – 12:30 | Tuesday 3 November 10:30 – 12:30 |
| SPAN Space and Society WG (SSSWG) | Wednesday 18 February 14:00 – 16:00 | Wednesday 1 July 14:00 – 16:00 | Tuesday 17 November 10:30 – 12:30 |
| SPAN Space & Society Reading Group (Online) | Wednesday 21 January 14:00 -15:00 | ||
| SPAN Board Meeting | Thursday 8 January 10:00-17:00 SPAN Strategy Day and Board Meeting (Hybrid/Leeds University) Tuesday 17 March SPAN Board Meeting (Hybrid/London) |
2025 Meetings
| SPAN Working Group | Q1 | Q2/3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPAN Townhall | Friday 31 January 11:00 – 13:00 | Friday 16 May 11:00 – 13:00 | Tuesday 18 November 10:00 – 11:30 |
| SPAN Engineering and Technology WG (SETWG) | Thursday 13 February 14:00 – 16:00 | Tuesday 10 June 14:00-16:00 | Tuesday 14 October 10:00 – 12:00 |
| SPAN Data and Analysis WG (SDAWG) | Monday 3 March 10:00 – 12:00 | Thursday 3 July 10:00 – 12:00 | Monday 24 November 10:30 – 12:30 |
| SPAN Earth Observation WG (SEOWG) | Monday 10 March 10:00 – 12:00 | Monday 16 June 10:00 – 12:00 | Monday 8 September 12:30 – 16:30 SPAN EO meeting and DSIT Capability EO and Space Data workshop (hybrid) Monday 1 December 12:00 – 16:00 Joint SPAN and UKspace EO Committee Meeting (hybrid) |
| SPAN Science and Exploration WG (SSEWG) | Monday 17 March 10:00 – 12:00 | Friday 4 July 10:00 – 12:00 | Monday 17 November 10:30 – 12:30 |
| SPAN Space and Society WG (SSSWG) | Tuesday 18 February 10:30 – 12:30 | Monday 19 May 10:00 – 12:00 | Thursday 18 September 14:00 – 16:00 |
| SPAN Space & Society Reading Group (Online) | Thursday 13 November 14:00 – 15:00 Tuesday 2 December 14:00 – 15:00 | ||
| SPAN Board Meeting | Friday 17 October 10:30 – 12:00 |
2024 Meetings
SPAN held the following meetings in 2024
| SPAN Working Group | Q1 | Q2/3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPAN Townhall | Monday 29 Jan 11:00 – 12:00 | Tuesday 23 Apr 10:30 – 12:30 | Tuesday 8 Oct 14:30 – 16:30 |
| SPAN Engineering and Technology WG (SETWG) | Tuesday 20 Feb 10:00 – 12:00 | Tuesday 18 Jun 10:00 – 12:00 | Tuesday 22 Oct 10:00 -12:00 |
| SPAN Data and Analysis WG (SDAWG) | Tuesday 26 Mar 15.30 – 17:30 | Monday 22 Jul 10:30 – 12:30 | Friday 29 Nov 10.30 – 12:30 |
| SPAN Earth Observation WG (SEOWG) | Monday 19 Aug 11:00 – 13:00 | Monday 16 Dec 10:00 – 12:00 | |
| SPAN Science and Exploration WG (SSEWG) | Thursday 21 Mar 11:00 – 13:00 | Monday 1 Jul 09:30 – 11:30 | Friday 11 Oct 10:30 – 12:30 |
| SPAN Space and Society WG (SSSWG) | Tuesday 12 Mar 14:00 – 16:00 | Monday 29 Jul 14:00 – 16:00 | Monday 25 Nov 10:00 – 12:00 |
| SPAN Board Meeting | Tuesday 23 Apr 14:00 – 16:00 |
08 September 2026
We shared yesterday the news that the Government has published the new UK Space Strategy, alongside its Technical Delivery Annex. Ahead of publication, SPAN was invited to provide a response from our Co-Chairs, Professors Anna Hogg and Mark Sims. Their statement has been included in the Government's announcement:
10 August 2026
Over the summer Anushka Sharma had the privilege of moderating discussions and speaking on panels across the UK space sector, from security and defence at Farnborough International Airshow, to running a session on SPAN at the National Astronomy Meeting in Birmingham, and most recently joining a panel on DWC Resilience forum hosted at Fieldfisher
24 June 2026
SPAN 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.
