SPAN Whitepaper: Academic View on the Future of Space Policy and Funding

As you know from previous Townhalls and Working Group meetings SPAN has been commissioned by UKSA to write a Whitepaper on UK Space Policy and funding from an academic point of view. The original requested timescale was October/November 2024 with the intention to consult widely across the membership and working groups. In addition we requested members inputs on the DSIT Delivery Review process.

As a result of the new Government accelerating the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) process UKSA requested the paper to be ready in early September latest as background for UKSA business case submissions. Consequently the Whitepaper had to be written over the late summer using inputs from the SPAN Delivery Review survey and inputs from the Heads of the various working groups along with a two people providing inputs and an independent view. Apologies, however given the changed timescale, it was not possible to have the wide consultation we would have wished.

The Whitepaper, now available from SPAN, covers and I hope reflects academic views on funding gap implications, membership of ESA, need for a strong national and bilateral programmes along with comments on links to industry and some general points.

The document includes points I and WG leads have noted in meetings over the last year or so. It was issued to UKSA initially in draft form in early August, formally released on 29th August and then updated on 17th September following meetings where additional key points were raised by academia.

The document has been widely circulated now within UKSA and DSIT and is in use. That said if there are additional key points we can look at a further update in the future.

Read SPAN Whitepaper