1-20 of 115 results for subject:"Space debris"
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic action the Government has taken to discourage the deliberate destruction of satellites in orbit where this generates persistent debris and increases collision risks to other space operators.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic action the Government has taken to discourage the deliberate destruction of satellites in orbit where this generates persistent debris and increases collision risks to other space operators.
The Government recognises the risks to the safe and sustainable use of space from the deliberate destruction of satellites. We work closely with international partners to encourage restraint in debris-generating anti-satellite (ASAT) missile testing, including through support for UN General Assembly Resolution 77/41, which calls on States to commit not to conduct such tests, and at the UN Open-Ended Working Group on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department holds data on the countries and companies responsible for the largest number of fragmentation events that have generated space debris since 1961.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department holds data on the countries and companies responsible for the largest number of fragmentation events that have generated space debris since 1961.
The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC), established in 2024, is responsible for monitoring risks to UK interests in space. Since 2024 NSPOC has monitored 12 fragmentation events involving satellites licensed in USA, China and Russia.
The European Space Agency’s latest Space Environmental Report identifies 661 confirmed on-orbit fragmentation events between the start of the space age and the end of 2025, but does not attribute responsibility to countries, companies, or operators.
Large scale debris events, including deliberate acts such as the anti-satellite tests conducted by several nations over recent decades, are tracked and logged as debris fields through the UN sponsored international register of space objects.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate the Government has made of the proportion of tracked space debris attributable to objects launched by (a) the UK, (b) Russia or the former Soviet Union, (c) the United States, (d) China, and (e) other countries.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate the Government has made of the proportion of tracked space debris attributable to objects launched by (a) the UK, (b) Russia or the former Soviet Union, (c) the United States, (d) China, and (e) other countries.
The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) is responsible for monitoring risks to UK interests in space.
The UK is a leading member of the European Space Agency (ESA) Space Safety programme. The ESA Debris Office’s Space Environmental Report estimates that there are around 1.7 million pieces of debris larger than 1cm in orbit, and a further 230 million debris objects smaller than 1cm. This highlights the scale of the problem of attributing debris to launch nations.
Catalogued space objects (active, legacy and trackable debris) as of June 2026 are broadly distributed as follows:
- United States (US), ~40% to 45%
- Russia / Former Soviet Union (RF), ~23% to 25%
- China (CH), ~25% to 28%
- United Kingdom (UK), < 1%
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the extent to which existing international agreements provide effective means of holding countries responsible for debris generated by their space activities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the extent to which existing international agreements provide effective means of holding countries responsible for debris generated by their space activities.
The UK is a founding signatory of the UN Outer Space Treaty which asserts that states bear international responsibility for their national activities in outer space. This principle is further developed in the Liability Convention. Building on such treaties, the UK actively supports the development and implementation of international guidelines and norms for safe and sustainable space activities, including through the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and by championing the implementation of the UN Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines. The government is clear that these international legal and normative frameworks are still relevant and applicable to modern space activities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, what assessment has been made of the risks associated with capturing and de-orbiting...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, what assessment has been made of the risks associated with capturing and de-orbiting...
For the defunct satellites selected for removal, data on their condition, stability and exact orbital tracks has been gathered through ground observation since 2023. The data shows that the defunct satellites are suitable for capture with the proposed technology. The design and construction of the target satellites have been extensively researched, including obtaining data and design drawings from the original builders. The debris removal satellite design incorporates collision-avoidance measures and a capture system intended to minimise debris generation.
The mission is required to comply with relevant space debris mitigation standards and will undergo further safety and technical assurance. The mission is subject to independent regulatory scrutiny by the Civil Aviation Authority.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, what contingency plans are in place if the spacecraft fails to capture either...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, what contingency plans are in place if the spacecraft fails to capture either...
If the chosen satellites for removal (the targets) are unsuitable, or capture proves too difficult due to unforeseen circumstances, there are contingency targets selected.
In case of spacecraft failure there are multiple backup systems onboard the spacecraft to ensure reliability and therefore mission success.
The chosen targets are intact at present, if any spacecraft operation risks damaging the targets, mission will be aborted. A primary mission objective is safety and to ensure no debris is created – we would rather take no action and conduct solo testing and derisking of novel systems and sensors, utilising the crucial space heritage that the mission provides, than risk damaging the targets or creating debris.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions the Government has had with international partners on establishing a requirement for satellite operators to contribute towards the cost of removing debris generated by their activities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions the Government has had with international partners on establishing a requirement for satellite operators to contribute towards the cost of removing debris generated by their activities.
The UK regularly discusses the technical, legal and policy challenges regarding space debris and its removal from orbit with international partners, both bilaterally and multilaterally with the European Space Agency and through forums like the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The government has not proposed establishing a requirement for satellite operators to contribute towards the cost of removing debris but is aware of such proposals and will continue to consider these in the relevant forums.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the proportion of orbital debris generated by (a) anti-satellite tests, (b) accidental collisions, (c) explosions of satellites or rocket stages and (d) the abandonment of defunct satellites and rocket bodies.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the proportion of orbital debris generated by (a) anti-satellite tests, (b) accidental collisions, (c) explosions of satellites or rocket stages and (d) the abandonment of defunct satellites and rocket bodies.
The National Space Operations Centre monitors risks to UK interests in space. There are currently over 35,000 catalogued space objects.
The European Space Agency’s Space Debris Office states:
- 28% of in-orbit fragmentations have an unknown cause, and a further 28% are caused by propulsion-related failures/explosions.
- 9% of historic fragmentations were caused deliberately.
- Less than 1% are attributable to collisions.
HMG doesn’t distinguish between causes of debris in operational orbits and treats all debris as a risk. Causality is however monitored by UKSA, supporting improvements in safety and security through improved tracking, collision avoidance and integrity of space objects to reduce catastrophic failures.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, how many additional jobs are expected to be created or sustained in the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, how many additional jobs are expected to be created or sustained in the...
The UK ADR contract is expected to sustain 20-25 UK jobs with 10-15 jobs created at ClearSpace UK.
The UK Space Agency does not intend to publish regular updates on mission expenditure and progress against contractual milestones. However, we are planning an independent evaluation of the mission as part of wider monitoring and evaluation of its In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing programmes. This will look at how the mission is being delivered, the outcomes it achieves and the benefits it delivers relative to its costs. We intend to publish evaluation findings at key points, including during delivery, in line with government standards on publishing research and analysis.
Suppliers with a UK footprint represent 55% of ClearSpace’s supply chain, which represents 70% of contract spend.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, what proportion of the mission’s contract value is expected to be spent with...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, what proportion of the mission’s contract value is expected to be spent with...
The UK ADR contract is expected to sustain 20-25 UK jobs with 10-15 jobs created at ClearSpace UK.
The UK Space Agency does not intend to publish regular updates on mission expenditure and progress against contractual milestones. However, we are planning an independent evaluation of the mission as part of wider monitoring and evaluation of its In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing programmes. This will look at how the mission is being delivered, the outcomes it achieves and the benefits it delivers relative to its costs. We intend to publish evaluation findings at key points, including during delivery, in line with government standards on publishing research and analysis.
Suppliers with a UK footprint represent 55% of ClearSpace’s supply chain, which represents 70% of contract spend.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, whether the Department plans to publish regular updates on the mission’s expenditure, progress...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space, published on 15 October 2026, whether the Department plans to publish regular updates on the mission’s expenditure, progress...
The UK ADR contract is expected to sustain 20-25 UK jobs with 10-15 jobs created at ClearSpace UK.
The UK Space Agency does not intend to publish regular updates on mission expenditure and progress against contractual milestones. However, we are planning an independent evaluation of the mission as part of wider monitoring and evaluation of its In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing programmes. This will look at how the mission is being delivered, the outcomes it achieves and the benefits it delivers relative to its costs. We intend to publish evaluation findings at key points, including during delivery, in line with government standards on publishing research and analysis.
Suppliers with a UK footprint represent 55% of ClearSpace’s supply chain, which represents 70% of contract spend.
Lords motion to take note of the report of the UK Engagement with Space Committee on The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out (HL 190 2024-26). Agreed to on question.
Lords motion to take note of the report of the UK Engagement with Space Committee on The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out (HL 190 2024-26). Agreed to on question.
My Lords, it is with great pride that I introduce this debate on the report The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out. The title was chosen to capture the urgency with which the committee believes government and others should act. I am sure this overarching message will be reinforced...
My Lords, it is with great pride that I introduce this debate on the report The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out. The title was chosen to capture the urgency with which the committee believes government and others should act. I am sure this overarching message will be reinforced...
My Lords, I congratulate the committee on an excellent report, which is a magisterial review of the issues in space policy that also brings out the opportunities for us. I declare an interest as chair of SaxaVord spaceport, which has already been referred to. Before that, as chair of the...
My Lords, I congratulate the committee on an excellent report, which is a magisterial review of the issues in space policy that also brings out the opportunities for us. I declare an interest as chair of SaxaVord spaceport, which has already been referred to. Before that, as chair of the...
My Lords, it was a privilege to be a member of the UK Engagement with Space Committee, served so well by its two clerks, Sabrina Asghar and Steph Coulter, and expertly chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady of Ashton of Upholland. I realised that she was going to be a...
My Lords, it was a privilege to be a member of the UK Engagement with Space Committee, served so well by its two clerks, Sabrina Asghar and Steph Coulter, and expertly chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady of Ashton of Upholland. I realised that she was going to be a...
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Ashton of Upholland, and the whole committee for this extremely enthusiastic report. I suspect I will be taking a different perspective from every other speaker in this debate because I am going to start from down here on solid earth—a planet that...
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Ashton of Upholland, and the whole committee for this extremely enthusiastic report. I suspect I will be taking a different perspective from every other speaker in this debate because I am going to start from down here on solid earth—a planet that...
My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and to participate in this debate, as indeed it was a pleasure to be part of the committee under the superb chairmanship of the noble Baroness, Lady Ashton. We are able to say that, for a sessional committee,...
My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and to participate in this debate, as indeed it was a pleasure to be part of the committee under the superb chairmanship of the noble Baroness, Lady Ashton. We are able to say that, for a sessional committee,...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to contribute to this debate on the report of the UK Engagement with Space Committee. Before turning to the substance of the report, I pay tribute to our chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Ashton of Upholland, my fellow committee members and our wonderful clerks,...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to contribute to this debate on the report of the UK Engagement with Space Committee. Before turning to the substance of the report, I pay tribute to our chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Ashton of Upholland, my fellow committee members and our wonderful clerks,...
My Lords, what a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and to take part in this debate. I thank my noble friend Lady Ashton for the masterful way she introduced the report; she made every single point that I had jotted down to say myself.
I want to thank all my...
My Lords, what a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and to take part in this debate. I thank my noble friend Lady Ashton for the masterful way she introduced the report; she made every single point that I had jotted down to say myself.
I want to thank all my...
My Lords, by the time you get to your feet and nine people have already spoken, an awful lot of things that you would want to say have already been covered. I repeat again that it was a delight and fun to be on the committee, which was charmingly chaired,...
My Lords, by the time you get to your feet and nine people have already spoken, an awful lot of things that you would want to say have already been covered. I repeat again that it was a delight and fun to be on the committee, which was charmingly chaired,...