New report shows how nation's security depends on space

Press Release

15/09/2008

New report shows how nation's security depends on space

Report 'Space Secures Prosperity' highlights UK reliance on space assets and systems for national security and disaster protection.
90% of UK defence capabilities are supported from space.
Is the UK's continued reliance on foreign-owned space assets for national security sustainable?

London, 15 September 2008 – UKspace, Britain’s trade association for the space industry, has published a major new report highlighting the increasing dependence of the nation’s security on space assets and systems in response to the Government’s National Security Strategy. UKspace also calls for UK dependence on foreign satellite information to be reviewed.

The report “Space Secures Prosperity” also calls for a strong pan-government focus for all civil, military and security space matters and highlights how issues from the emergency services to flood prevention are all dependent on space technology. The UK’s world-leading position in the finance and business sectors also depends on space systems.

Following the UKspace “Case4Space” report - which highlighted the economic benefits to the UK economy including a £7bn contribution to GDP and 70,000 jobs - this latest report focuses on the defence and security segment of the UK satellite industry identifying that in 2007 it contributed nearly £590m to GDP and supported more than 10,500 jobs.

Paul Flanagan, Secretary General of UKspace said:

“Space is vital to protecting our nation, our armed forces and our vital infrastructure. Weather forecasting and the monitoring of climate change both depend on satellites, as does the prevention of terrorism via space-based intelligence-gathering. The whole world around us depends on space. The issue must therefore rise up the national priority list.

“Defence and security are key parts of the UK space industry’s work. The UK Government should urgently consider the degree to which it should have an independent satellite intelligence capability rather than depending heavily on that of other nations - as well as determining the risks to national security of not increasing our independent capability.

“Space is increasingly important to our daily lives – becoming more so every day. Our reliance on space in the security arena in particular needs to be better understood and this report is UKspace’s response to the National Security Strategy. We look forward to engaging with the Government and relevant agencies on how our recommendations can be acted upon.”

The report states there should be: “a far more comprehensive and coherent strategic effort to ensure that the space infrastructure, which makes our daily lives possible, can be protected at all times from loss of service due to accidental or intentional damage.”

Highlighting that Government, industry and society in general are not fully aware of the dependency on space the report says:

Space is a key element in the majority of the nine UK Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors for the provision of communications, weather forecasting and environmental monitoring systems.
Space needs to be considered as a crosscutting component of the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) as it provides continuity of service for applications such as broadcasting and climate change monitoring, in addition to providing support in times of emergency (e.g. should terrestrial infrastructure fail).
UK space assets, supporting civil national security interests, are not currently represented by any single lead organisation or body.
Some 90% of UK defence capabilities are supported from space.
Space usage is more pervasive than generally acknowledged and therefore understanding space dependencies and threats is vital.
Space security goes beyond central Government to local/regional Government, business and the individual – in line with the National Security Strategy.

The main recommendations from the report include:

The UK reinstates a robust national space programme.
UK Government acknowledges society’s increasing dependency on space.
UK Government establishes governance for space security.
Threats to military and civil space infrastructure are rigorously monitored
Space is considered as a key topic to be covered by a further UK Government Information Exchange, in which UKspace would be keen to participate.
The UK improves space funding across Government departments and increases space R&D activity levels.
The Home Office joins the BNSC Partnership and the FCO continues to develop its activities covering international space security and legislation.
The UK strengthens collaboration with Europe on space security, while maintaining its existing links with the US.
The UK should be influential in European space projects including, Galileo, GMES and the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system, and seek to host one of the SSA data centres.

The report is due to be officially launched at the RUSI Space for Defence and Security conference, 16-17 September in London www.rusi.org

To view a copy of the case4space please go to www.case4space.com

Notes to editors:

Ukspace is the trade association of the UK space industry. Sponsored jointly by SBAC (the trade body for the aerospace, defence and security industries) and Intellect (the trade body of the information technology, telecommunications and electronics industry), its members are drawn from both the upstream and downstream sectors of the space industry, reflecting the interests of both sponsor organisations. Members‘ capabilities encompass the design, development, manufacture, control and operation of satellites for communications, navigation, Earth observation and scientific applications, together with their payloads and ground support systems. Their leading edge technology and research and development activities are amongst the most advance and diverse of any industry. Member companies in the downstream sector apply satellite based technology into a multitude of markets including telecommunications and broadcasting, transport, healthcare, security and defence. In addition satellite collected data forms the basis of many geographic information systems providing benefit for the public and private sectors, as well as the individual.

For further information contact:

William Higham
Public Affairs Manager
T 020 7331 2039
E This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Paul Flanagan
T 01252 898 792
T 07879 667 001

Jeremy Close (Astrium UK)
T 01438 773 872

Matthew Knowles (SBAC)
T 07962 441 313

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