In the mid-2010s, the UK shifted its space strategy from primarily purchasing satellite services to developing sovereign launch capabilities. This included reallocating funds from general space science and satellite programs to spaceport development, launch vehicle support and regulatory frameworks for commercial launch licensing. Aligning with this strategy, the UK Space Agency launched the UK Spaceflight Programme, which included $50 million USD in initial funding for spaceport and launch vehicle development. Additional support was provided through the European Space Agency (ESA) Boost! Programme and Levelling Up Fund.

The government worked with industry to identify which activities that could be supported within the existing budget and prioritised funding for infrastructure and launch readiness.

Prerequisites:

• Understand access to space needs in your nation

• Evaluate current technological capabilities and identify areas that require development

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k

• Includes: literature review and baseline study, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validation

Timeframe:

• Overall: 12–24 mo

• Phase: scoping & consultations (3–6 mo), draft policy/legal review (4–8 mo), approval & adoption (5–10 mo)

Pros:

• Budget Optimization – Leverages existing budgets to enable efficient allocation of funds.

Considerations:

• Stakeholder Engagement Burden – Requires involvement of experts and relevant stakeholders, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.