The UK parliament published a report on “UK Engagement with Space” (November, 2025), to guide future government policy on space and Earth observation.
To compile this report, evidence was sought from a broad range of stakeholders in this call. Although after the submission deadline, SENSE students attended a policy workshop in September 2025, and in a role-play environment, they discussed and constructed written responses as if they were submitting evidence to the call. Their responses highlight how the future of UK space is envisioned by the next generation of leaders in Earth observation.
A special mention goes out to SENSE PGRs Katie Lowery and Sam Fielding who coordinated the collection of the following outputs:
Q. How might the UK capitalise on new space technologies, such as nuclear engines, space-based solar power, in-space manufacturing, resource extraction, active debris removal, in-orbit servicing and artificial intelligence?
The UK has a strong foundation in aerospace engineering, research, and innovation, which positions it well to capitalise on emerging space technologies. Nuclear propulsion, for example, could drastically reduce travel times for deep-space missions and increase payload capacity, offering opportunities for the UK to develop cutting-edge propulsion systems in collaboration with its thriving nuclear and aerospace sectors. Space-based solar power could also become a major area of investment, allowing the UK to harness renewable energy from orbit and strengthen its leadership in sustainable technologies while contributing to national and global net-zero goals.
Artificial intelligence also holds enormous potential for enhancing Earth observation (EO), an area where the UK already has strong expertise and infrastructure. AI could be used to process and interpret vast volumes of satellite data more efficiently. By integrating AI with EO, the UK could deliver faster, more accurate environmental monitoring and disaster response systems, supporting both national resilience and global sustainability efforts. Furthermore, advances in machine learning could enable real-time analysis onboard satellites, reducing the need for extensive data transmission to Earth. This capability would position the UK as a leader in intelligent EO systems, with applications ranging from climate modelling to agricultural monitoring and natural resource management.
Foundation models and geospatial reasoning could significantly change how people use Earth observation data. By training large, self-supervised models on global EO datasets, the UK could help develop systems that let users query satellite data in natural language — essentially a “ChatGPT for Earth Observation.” This approach would allow policymakers, researchers, and non-specialists to ask straightforward questions and receive clear, data-driven answers without needing specialist knowledge. It would make complex geospatial information more accessible and practical for tasks such as monitoring environmental change, planning land use, or responding to natural disasters.
In early 2022 the Starlink satellite constellation lost 40 satellites due to Space Weather effects. As a result, Starlink now has an automatic orbital adjustment system whereby during major space weather events the satellites gain altitude to avoid the expansion of the ionosphere, which increases drag and leads to burnup in the Earth’s atmosphere, and is also used for collision avoidance. With this development (and the fact that Starlink and other companies have increased their number of satellites in sensitive orbits by orders of magnitude in the last 10 years), it seems clear that the path forward for orbital adjustments for collision avoidance and to avoid unwanted space weather or other effects is to allow the satellites to adjust their orbits automatically through AI techniques. Doing so should allow a greater level of autonomy, which in turn will allow for less supervision of satellites within ESA and other UK collaborations, allowing resources to be redistributed elsewhere, and allow the UK to become a world leader in satellites with automatic avoidance systems. The UK already has access to a comprehensive catalogue of objects in orbit, further facilitating this transition. Such a development would therefore allow a higher density of satellites to operate safely in low (and other) Earth Orbits, an issue of significant importance as the number of satellites operating continues to grow year-on-year.
Q. From a business perspective, what are the opportunities and challenges resulting from operating in the UK?
Uncertainty in future collaboration/mission continuity with other space agencies (e.g. NASA shutdown of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) missions and uncertainty in the future of Landsat missions) requires growing private sector engagement with using EO satellites for addressing outstanding challenges. The UK hosts a large number of institutions conducting world class research in EO applications within various areas including climate change (Met Office), sea level rise, biodiversity loss, extreme events prediction and disaster preparedness. Access to data, computing facilities and infrastructure as well as multilateral partnerships with international organisations (ESA, NASA, etc.) are supported through government funding and are indispensable for meeting scientific challenges. Most importantly, this research contributes crucial evidence for mitigating impacts of global change on the UK people and economy and also contributes significantly to these efforts globally. Continued support of EO programs is therefore crucial for sustaining these efforts. As reported in a document titled “Investigating UK public sector demand for Earth Observation technology” produced by Geospatial Commission and Satellite Applications Catapult, satellite-derived EO yields ~£1 billion per year of benefit to the UK across nine civilian areas (with ~£64 million direct operational value to government).
Q. Legal framework for international space regulation
With an increasing number of researchers and scientists using AI resources for various purposes (data handling and processing, literature review and more), it is urgent to develop robust artificial intelligence tools with a clear safety framework. Safeguarding data being processed with AI tools is a crucial topic and requires governmental concern. Major risks include data leaks, disclosure of confidential data, and the threat of data being stolen by ill-intended users. ‘Open-source’ AI urgently needs clear regulation as well as transparent terms of use. In parallel, private sectors require the same level of safety regarding the use of AI tools.
With the rapid development in AI that has been seen over the recent years, and likely will be seen over the upcoming years, care needs to be taken to ensure that the speed of this development does not come at the expense of safety. It is therefore vitally important that there is investment into the defence against the inevitable backfire or malfunctions of AI that occur as it develops as there is into its development. The amount of investment put into AI development should at least match the investments put into safety and protection towards AI risks and limitations.
AI regulations cannot be developed on a national level. As competition in this sector is extremely high, a pursuit for the ‘upper hand’ in AI development could lead to irreversible damage and uncontrolled evolution of AI models. Clear ethical boundaries should be set on an international level. Joint projects could also pave the way for a harmonised vision on AI regulations across the different international actors.
These regulations need to enforce safe and ethical international competition. They should be aiming to end the system of “first come first served” and move forward with a framework which allows later innovators to compete with early adopters – for example, the Starlink constellation may make it impossible for late entries into the satellite internet race. This becomes increasingly pressing with the potential for the Moon and Mars to be colonised by non-state actors acting with impunity as there is no relevant legal framework (for example, Elon Musk’s Starlink terms of service famously includes a clause that you must agree to that Mars does not come under the jurisdiction of any Earth-based authority). These non-state actors will then have the ability to restrict access to space resources for future adopters if a regulatory framework is not developed.
Q. Education and Skills: Addressing the UK Space Sector Skills Gap
The UK space sector faces a significant skills gap. According to the Space Sector Skills Survey 2023, 52% of organisations reported gaps in their current workforce, citing difficulties recruiting and retaining staff. The hardest roles to fill include software and data specialists, AI/ML experts, systems engineers and other senior technical positions. This skills shortage is both quantitative (too few people) and qualitative (mismatch between current skills and industry needs). This skills gap is driven by a combination of rapid industry growth, evolving technical demands, and competition for talent with other high-tech fields. As new areas such as in-orbit servicing, AI-driven data analysis, and advanced propulsion systems emerge, the demand for highly skilled engineers, data scientists, and systems specialists has outpaced the supply of qualified graduates. Many university programmes have not yet adapted to cover the interdisciplinary mix of space science, engineering, computing, and business skills now required. Additionally, limited awareness of career opportunities in the space industry and the concentration of jobs in specific regions can make it harder to attract diverse talent. These factors, combined with global competition for expertise in key areas like software development and AI, have created persistent challenges in meeting the sector’s growing workforce needs.
Addressing the UK space sector skills gap will require a coordinated approach across education, industry, and government. Stronger partnerships between universities and industry can help ensure graduates are equipped with the skills employers need by co-designing courses that include more practical training, labs, internships, and micro-credentials in areas such as data science, AI/ML, and systems engineering. Expanding mid-career training and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities is equally important, enabling professionals to upskill or transition from related industries into space-related roles. Early outreach initiatives, such as SENSE’s SatSchool Outreach, can play a vital role in inspiring the next generation by introducing Earth observation and space science to school students. Integrating EO concepts into the school curriculum — and highlighting how they connect to subjects like geography, physics, and computing — could further boost engagement and interest in STEM careers. Alongside education, clearer career pathways and stronger retention strategies, including mentoring and leadership development, are needed to maintain talent within the sector. Finally, investment in regional training hubs and infrastructure will help ensure growth is inclusive, reducing geographic barriers and expanding access to opportunities across the UK.
