Under new plans from the UK Government, the UK Space Agency will become a part of the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) in a move to cut duplication, reduce bureaucracy, and put public accountability at the heart of decision-making.

In what the government has called a “major step to boost support for the UK’s space sector,” the change is set to bring together the people who shape policy and those who deliver it, ensuring decisions are made with clear ministerial oversight.

Taking place by April next year, the new unit will keep the UK Space Agency (UKSA) name and brand, and will be staffed by experts from both organisations – in line with the government’s Plan for Changes to drive efficiency and make Whitehall more agile.

Founded in 2010, the UKSA currently operates as an executive agency of DSIT. It catalysed investment and revenue of at least £2.2 billion for the UK space sector in 2024/25.

The government said that the space agency and DSIT will continue to work closely together over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements, with further practical details on the merger to be announced “in due course.”

No immediate changes will be made to UKSA grants or contracts, and businesses and researchers currently working with the UKSA do not need to take any action.

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The unveiling of the UKSA/DSIT merge comes during the publication of over 60 recommendations from industry leaders on how to improve regulation for space missions, including Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) where spacecraft work together in orbit.

It’s been suggested that these missions are key to unlocking a future market worth £2.7 billion by 2031, according to the UKspace IOSM Priorities Paper, with the UK well-placed to lead the way. This instance is a prime example of the joined-up working that will benefit from the UKSA/DSIT merge, the government said.

“I strongly welcome this improved approach to achieving the government’s space ambitions, remarked UK Space Agency CEO, Dr. Paul Bate. “Having a single unit with a golden thread through strategy, policy and delivery will make it faster and easier to translate the nation’s space goals into reality.”

“In coming together, the UK Space Agency and space policy colleagues are building on the firm foundations of economic growth and capability development laid in recent years, including cutting-edge missions, major national programmes, and the regulations that enable UK launch and leadership in space sustainability,” he continued.

“We will continue to deliver, while reducing duplication and ensuring we work even more closely with Ministers to support the UK space sector, and the country.”

Sir Chris Bryant, space minister, added: “You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the importance of space to the British economy.

“This is a sector that pulls investment into the UK, and supports tens of thousands of skilled jobs right across the country, while nearly a fifth of our GDP is dependent on satellites. The aims for growth and security at the heart of our Plan for Change can’t be met without a vibrant space sector.

“Bringing things in house means we can bring much greater integration and focus to everything we are doing while maintaining the scientific expertise and the immense ambition of the sector.”