UK unveils Plan for Space Sustainability: top points

United Kingdom Minister of Science George Freeman has unveiled an ambitious new “Plan for Space Sustainability” at the Fourth Summit for Space Sustainability organized by the Secure World Foundation and the UK Space Agency in London. 

The new measures, announced on June 23, are intended to demonstrate commitment, ambition and drive to improve the UK’s sustainable use of space. 

The Plan is expected to include:

• Collaboration between UK industry, academia, and UK government, including the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK’s spaceflight regulator, to develop a new Space Sustainability Standard intended to incentivize companies to adopt best practices and recognize those who take steps to minimize their footprint in orbit
• A review of the relevant regulatory framework, including planning to lower the costs of launch licenses and insurance for sustainable satellites and space missions
• Incentivization, through regulatory review, of sustainable practices, investment, and growth, with a goal to enable technological innovations such as Active Debris Removal, In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing, and sustainable development to become the norms in space operation
• Investment in sustainable solutions, including £5 million for Active Debris Removal
• Further investment to support Phase 3 of the implementation of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Activities (UNOOSA) guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space, which provide guidance on the policy and regulatory framework for space activities; safety of space operations; international cooperation, capacity-building, and awareness; and scientific and technical research and development to reduce risks to long-term space sustainability.

Simultaneously, the UK Space Agency released the outcome of its call for evidence to inform orbital liability and insurance policy and has stated that work is under way across government and with the UK space sector, academia, and insurers to develop formal proposals for consultation in early 2023. 

As stated by Minister Freeman at the Summit, “A ‘Wild West' space race without effective regulation risks a growing crisis of debris in space” and “we need an agreed framework of standards for measuring and managing debris, improving satellite repair and retrieval and kite-marking genuinely sustainable supply chains.” 

DLA Piper will monitor developments over the coming days and months for additional information and any opportunity for public consultation. Learn more about the impact of this development in your business by contacting either of the authors.