A new agreement marks an ‘exciting new era for UK-US space collaboration.’
The UK and US have signed an agreement whereby US space and technology companies throughout the supply chain can contribute to and benefit from the commercial opportunities offered by the space sector in the UK. The agreement will enable US companies to participate in launches from UK space ports.
The UK space sector employs 42,000 people and generates an income of £14.8 billion each year. The UK government’s Spaceflight Programme, which aims to establish commercial small satellite launches from UK spaceports, has already awarded grants totalling £40 million.
The government added that launching from the UK will be a catalyst for growth in the wider space industry and it is developing a comprehensive national space strategy to bring long-term strategic and commercial benefits for the UK. Regulation is being put in place to enable launches to take place in the early 2020s.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said that she looked forward to seeing companies from Scotland to Newquay benefiting and the creation of highly skilled jobs on both side of the Atlantic.
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