Transforming our future: the UK's space sector

03 June 2025 09:20 - 17:30 Free Watch online
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On 3 June 2025, the Royal Society will hold a conference addressing the future of the UK's role in the space sector.

The UK space sector is becoming ever more integrated into everyday life, playing a crucial role across various industries while also driving and advancing innovation. As the sector continues to evolve, it is vital to foster greater collaboration within and thereby achieve even greater potential and impact.

This one-day conference will convene industry, academia, policy, space specialists and non-specialists to examine the applications of space to other sectors, showcase emerging technologies, and provide a picture of the global space scene and the UK’s part in it.

Transforming our future conferences

This conference forms part of the Royal Society's industry-focused Transforming our future series. These unique meetings feature cutting-edge science and bring together experts from industry, academia and government to explore and address key scientific and technical challenges of the coming decade.

Attending this event

Organisers

  • Professor Michele Dougherty

    Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS

    Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS FRAS is Executive Chair, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

    Michele is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Professor of Space Physics at Imperial College. She led unmanned exploratory missions to Saturn and Jupiter, was Principal Investigator of the magnetometer instrument onboard the Cassini mission to Saturn and is Principal Investigator of the magnetometer for the European Space Agency's JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) that launched in April 2023.

    In addition to being awarded the Royal Astronomical Society Geophysics Gold medal, and a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List, Michele was also awarded the Institute of Physics Richard Glazebrook Gold Medal and Prize. She is President-Elect of the Institute of Physics and will formally take up the role of President in autumn 2025.

  • Iain Hughes

    Iain Hughes

    Iain Hughes works for the UK Space Agency as the Head of the National Space Innovation Programme. Through this programme, Iain awards co-funded grants to support the UK space sector in de-risking lucrative research and development into innovative technologies, satellite applications, and space services. Iain has previously held various roles across the UK Space Agency, including as a market intelligence analyst and delivering initiatives to increase awareness and boost the uptake of space data across government and the public sector. Prior to his current role, Iain was the Head of Projects for the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, where he oversaw the development of advice given to the Prime Minister on topics such as engineering biology, public procurement, and scale-up funding for innovation.

  • Chris Hobbs

    Dr Chris Hobbs

    Chris is an Enterprise Expert at SETsquared Surrey, an incubator supporting spin outs and scale ups from all sectors, including space. He has been a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Southampton, supporting academics and researchers in Space and Astronomy to commercialise their research work, potentially as spin out companies. As a former Head of Business Strategy at the Satellite Applications Catapult, he helped businesses to grow in the space sector, particularly through incubators and accelerators, and was previously Managing Director of a technology-based business producing portable solid-state hydrogen power sources for the aerospace, drone and automotive markets. He has also worked in two large corporates, QinetiQ and AEA Technology (formerly the UK Atomic Energy Authority).

    His skills include leadership, business management, growth and business development, bid, programme, project and product management. He has a PhD in Physics.

  • Professor David Parker

    Professor David Parker

    Over a thirty-five career, David Parker has become one of the UK’s leading space programme experts. Following engineering roles in industry studying new astrophysics and planetary missions, he later secured UK leadership for projects such as Aeolus and LISA Pathfinder. Joining the Research Councils in 2004 to represent the UK in ESA’s science and exploration programmes, he helped create the UK Space Agency in 2010, becoming its Chief Executive in 2013. As a Director of ESA (2016-23), he established its space exploration programme and doubled its budget. Now a visiting Professor at the University of Southampton, he consults for ESA and is a non-executive member of the UK Space Agency’s Board. Holding a BSc in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD sponsored by NASA, in 2019 he received the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Geoffrey Pardoe award for long and valued service to the space sector.

Schedule

Chair

Chris Hobbs

Dr Chris Hobbs

Former EiR, University of Southampton / Formerly Satellite Applications Catapult

09:20-09:30 Welcome remarks & introduction to keynote
Professor Sheila Rowan CBE FRS

Professor Sheila Rowan CBE FRS

University of Glasgow

09:30-10:00 The $1.8 trillion question: the global space sector and the challenges facing the UK

While space activities are more and more in the daily news, and the pace of change has reached an unprecedented scale, it is sometimes hard to distinguish reality from hype. What do we mean by the space sector anyway? What discoveries lie ahead? How important is space to every-day life? What is the UK doing today compared with our competitors and partners? And are we organised to succeed? 

Drawing on thirty-five years’ experience in industry, the Research Councils, the UK Space Agency and the international space community, David Parker will attempt to draw lessons from the past and present, as a stimulus for looking fifty years ahead.

Professor David Parker

Professor David Parker

University of Southampton

Chair

Louis Barson

Louis Barson

Institute of Physics

10:00-10:05 Introduction to Session 1
Louis Barson

Louis Barson

Institute of Physics

10:05-10:20 The value of space applications to a range of sectors: Overview
Stuart Martin

Stuart Martin

Visiting Professor of Space Applications, Imperial College London

10:20-10:35 Fundamental physics in space: driving technology for onward applications

Space missions cover a remarkable breadth of science and drive innovation in technology and precision engineering. Silicate bonding technology, originally developed for NASA’s Gravity Probe B (GP-B) mission where it was used to fabricate ultra-stable and low-distortion optical assemblies in a cryogenic space environment, has since become a critical enabler in the field of gravitational wave detection. Although originally designed to enable space-based relativity experiments, some of GP-B's technological advancements found impactful applications beyond their initial scope. This presentation explores how a core innovation from GP-B was adapted and adopted into instrumentation for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) ground-based detector and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission. By tracing the evolution of technologies from GP-B to LIGO and onwards to LISA Pathfinder, this talk highlights the synergy between fundamental physics missions and broader applications, emphasising how space instrumentation continues to drive scientific frontiers on Earth and in space.

Professor Sheila Rowan CBE FRS

Professor Sheila Rowan CBE FRS

University of Glasgow

10:35-10:50 Satellite Communications: Which lessons from the last 25 years are relevant for the next?

The Satellite communications landscape has changed beyond recognition in the last 25 years. What will the next 25 years bring? There is an ever increasing convergence between the worlds of defence and commercial communications whilst in parallel, the geopolitical global situation is making requirements definers and policy makers think twice about how much reliance to put on unprotected communications. Are the advancements in technology and lower cost access to space helping the conversation or making the situation more cloudy than ever before? This talk will try to prioritise which questions are the most important for the next 25 years and highlight some of the key risks and opportunities.

Andrew Stanniland

Andrew Stanniland

Satellite Industry Executive

10:50-11:00 Q&A

Chair

Chris Hobbs

Dr Chris Hobbs

Former EiR, University of Southampton / Formerly Satellite Applications Catapult

11:30-11:35 Introduction to Session 2
Dr Chris Hobbs

Dr Chris Hobbs

Former EiR, University of Southampton / Formerly Satellite Applications Catapult

11:35-11:50 Knowing the space environment

As we become more dependent on space-based capability and increase investment in space, it’s critical that we understand the operating environment. Space weather isn’t science fiction, it’s science fact. Collectively, we need to be cognisant of the risk space weather presents both to day-to-day operations as well as surviving the ‘big storm’.

What are the risks and how can we work together to characterise the risks and understand the potential impacts and consequences?

Mark Gibbs

Mark Gibbs

MET Office

11:50-12:05 Made in Space, for Earth

Space Forge is an advanced materials space company. We are focused on harnessing the benefits of the space environment to produce new types of semiconductors for use on Earth. Our goal is to be the world’s first truly climate positive space company by producing semiconductors so efficient that despite the environmental burden of accessing space, they prevent more CO2 than they took to create. Our next mission, ForgeStar-1, launches this year.

Josh Western

Josh Western

Space Forge

12:05-12:20 Clearing the Path for the Future

Sixty years of space exploration has brought incredible advancements to Earth. Our current space infrastructure provides us with vital satellite services every moment of every day. But it has also resulted in huge quantities of debris. With over 14,000 satellites now orbiting Earth, 2,850 of them no longer functioning and unable to manoeuvre, the risk to operational satellites and future missions is growing rapidly. Astroscale is on a mission to tackle this growing threat and drive the secure and sustainable development of a circular economy in space. Through proven rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) and advanced capture technology, Astroscale has begun to inspect and ultimately remove large debris from orbit, paving the way to a safer and more sustainable future in space.

Sharon Parker-Lines

Sharon Parker-Lines

Astroscale

12:20-12:35 Innovation in the space sector – enabling innovation through novel insurance and regulatory approaches and sustainable practices

The space industry and technology are changing rapidly. Novel insurance models, regulatory approaches and the use of sustainable practices, and the incentivisation of them, can enable valuable emerging technologies. Such approaches can ensure a better insurance risk; allow access to finance; support better verified data and permit clarity for licensing purposes.

This presentation looks at novel models to insure, finance and licence emerging technologies effectively, while meeting international obligations and incentivising sustainable practices.

Professor Joanne Wheeler MBE

Professor Joanne Wheeler MBE

Alden Legal / Earth & Space Sustainability Initiative

12:35-12:50 The intersection between the space and non-space industries and opportunity for mutual benefit

As the UK positions itself as a global leader in both civil nuclear and space technologies, the intersection of these two sectors presents unique opportunities for innovation and strategic advantage. This talk explores how the nuclear industry can play a pivotal role in supporting the UK’s space capability – ranging from compact power generation systems for lunar and Martian habitats to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) and nuclear propulsion systems that can dramatically shorten interplanetary travel times. Equally, advancements in space technologies such as robotics, remote monitoring and materials science can be leveraged to enhance nuclear operations on Earth, including decommissioning, waste management, and safety systems. Drawing on real-word case studies and emerging collaborative programmes, the session will highlight the mutual benefits of cross-sector engagement and the need for targeted investment, regulatory alignment, and skills development. The presentation will also outline a vision for how an integrated nuclear-space strategy could support the UK’s net zero goals, drive economic growth, and strengthen national resilience in the face of global technological competition.

Katharine Jarman

Katharine Jarman

Rolls-Royce

12:50-13:00 Q&A
14:00-14:30 Space in 2075: Implications for government and society
Sir Martin Sweeting OBE FREng FRS

Sir Martin Sweeting OBE FREng FRS

University of Surrey Space Centre & Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd

Chair

Professor David Parker

Professor David Parker

University of Southampton

14:30-15:00 International outlook: Collaborate, coexist or compete in a changing global order
Professor Gillian Wright CBE FRSE

Professor Gillian Wright CBE FRSE

STFC, UK Astronomy Technology Centre

Tomas Hrozensky

Tomas Hrozensky

European Space Policy Institute

Chair

Professor David Southwood

Professor David Southwood CBE

Imperial College University

15:30-17:10 Getting the best return for the UK. How to facilitate a more joined up space sector?
Dr Paul Bate

Dr Paul Bate

UK Space Agency

Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS

Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Professor Kate Robson Brown

Professor Kate Robson Brown

University College Dublin

Elizabeth Seward

Elizabeth Seward

BAE Systems

James Cemmell

James Cemmell

Open Cosmos

13:00-13:15 House of Lords special inquiry into the UK's engagement with Space
Baroness Catherine Ashton

Baroness Catherine Ashton

Chair House of Lords Inquiry into UK Space Engagement

Chair

Professor Michele Dougherty

Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS

Science and Technology Facilities Council