The UK has launched its first central body to fund civil spaceflight activities and represent the country on international bodies and within the European Space Agency.
With an annual budget of £230 million ($343 million), the UK Space Agency replaces the British National Space Centre, which was a partnership of government departments and research councils, and replaces the Ministry of Defence as manager of UK interests in the European Union's Satellite Centre Earth observation imagery analysis provider.
Specific UKSA responsibilities include managing UK interests in EU projects such as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security constellation and the Galileo navigation system. UKSA is expected to present its strategic plan by September.
Source: Flight International