Forging Space Alliance 2.0: Why the UK and ESA Must Dream Bigger and Build Together

In an era where the future of space is being written at breakneck speed, the United Kingdom and the European Space Agency face a choice: collaborate boldly or risk being left behind. The history of collaboration between the UKSA (United Kingdom Space Agency) and ESA (European Space Agency) is one already framed by success and joint enterprise. The Copernicus program is one of the hallmarks of the ongoing collaboration between the two space agencies, with the United Kingdom rejoining as a member in 2023, and highlights that together, UKSA and ESA can achieve genuinely beneficial and substantive results. This has only been bolstered by the renewed participation in the Horizon Europe programme, which promises to bring benefits for countries across the continent, and is a signal of the UK's willingness to work together with our European neighbours on endeavours mutually beneficial to us all. With this being said, there is still more work to do, and a strengthened, modernised and deepened collaborative effort between UKSA and ESA would help to propel European space innovation and exploration to new heights. The UK and ESA already explore the stars together, but to truly lead in space, it's time for even bolder ambition. A new Space Alliance 2.0 will help to realise such ambitions. 

The historic and ongoing collaboration between the UK and Europe on projects similar to a Space Alliance 2.0 gives a strong foundation from which both parties must endeavour to build upon. Continued alignment following the Brexit vote proves that enhanced relationships between the UK and Europe is possible even in the face of political turmoil and upheaval; this must be extended and built upon. As previously mentioned, the UK has come into the fold in a number of European projects focused on innovation and space, but there is more work to do. There needs to be greater cooperation and collaboration in ambitious launches, lunar exploration and advanced space technologies. The space sector is undergoing a significant revolution with renewed interest and competition from commercial entities such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, but also national organisations such as CSNA (Chinese National Space Administration) and IRSO (Indian Space Research Organisation). The continued global leadership of the United States’ NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)  remains, but CSNA and IRSO have entered the space with significant ambition and drive; it is imperative that ESA and UKSA are not left behind in the wake of the ongoing competition and interest. By establishing a Space Alliance 2.0, UKSA and ESA  can pool their significant resources and be at the forefront of cutting-edge, forward-thinking space innovation.

 A unified European front in international forums such as the Artemis Accords would allow for greater representation of joint UK-European interests on the global stage, meaning that they would not get shut out by larger players like the USA and China. It would also signal the intention for Europe to become a global leader in space leadership and innovation, and would strengthen European bargaining power when it comes to deciding who is allowed to access lunar mining zones, earth observation data rights and satellite orbits. AN enhanced and collaborative UKSA-ESA front in international space forums would mean that Europe has become proactive, rather than reactive in the race for global space leadership. They would have the power and the weight to decide rules that benefit Europe and its wider goals rather than simply playing by the rules that are set by other actors that do not take into account the interests of the UK or its European neighbours. Enhanced collaboration and the establishment of a Space Alliance 2.0 would have significantly beneficial impacts on Europe's standing on the world stage, and would signify its intent to be at the vanguard of space innovation, rather than simply allowing itself to backslide into being a small fish in a very large pond. History shows that Europe and the UK can cooperate even amidst political upheaval. Now, that proven resilience must fuel a new era of joint ambition, one that embraces lunar exploration, next-generation satellite systems, and deep-space missions

In order to effectively build a Space Alliance 2.0 between UKSA and ESA, there must first be concrete proposals for collaboration and partnership. To ensure that Europe is not left behind in the advancements of space innovation, and therefore unable to reap the enormous benefits it would bring, this Alliance must be focused on building ambitious and future-oriented strategic initiatives. Formalising a binding ‘Strategic Space Pact’ by 2026 would go a long way to showing a commitment to deepen and strengthen ties between UKSA and ESA, and show their intent to be global innovation leaders. Such a pact would be a steadfast insurance of greater collaboration and a commitment to joint next-gen lunar missions, Mars exploration, and advanced satellite technology, which would propel Europe to the very frontier of space exploration and stand it in good stead to realise the benefits it will bring. There should be joint mission planning on Lunar and Mars missions by late 2025/early 2026, meaning that Europe kicks into gear its intention to be a leader on such missions. This would see progress being made in both lunar landing and Mars preparatory missions by 2040 at the latest, with 2035 an early goal to have in mind. Just as NASA and ESA collaborate on the Lunar Gateway project, UKSA and ESA could jointly lead the next generation of lunar exploration missions, ensuring Europe shapes the future, rather than simply adapts to it.

Europe and the United Kingdom are home to fantastic educational institutions, and have a long history of leading the world in science and innovation. Together we can unlock this expansive network of thought leaders and entrepreneurs by establishing UKSA-ESA innovation and acceleration hubs. Such hubs would be located in key cities across the UK and Europe, and modelled similarly to those proposed in the Policy for the Stars roadmap, in which they are linked to local universities and incubators. The joint hubs would be focused on AI, quantum computing, climate technology and advanced launch capabilities and would look to be established by 2027, with annual innovation grants being provided. Such hubs would allow for greater collaboration between the UK and Europe, and provide a direct means of communication and allow for greater scalability for projects that would be undertaken by engineers and innovators from across the continent. In addition to this, there must be a unified regulatory and sustainability task force manned by UKSA and ESA. Such a task force would publish unified guidelines on issues such as space traffic management and sustainability, but also ensure that innovators are not constrained but overly burdensome regulation and bureaucracy. For too long Europe, and the United Kingdom, have stifled innovation, both at large and in the space sector, by drowning innovators in a sea of red tape. This task force must identify areas in which deregulation will aid progress and accelerate innovation whilst remaining safe and beneficial for all. While regulation is vital to ensure safety and sustainability, it must be intelligently designed to empower, not inhibit, innovation.

The future of space exploration is not written by those who wait, it is shaped by those who dare to lead. The United Kingdom and the European Space Agency stand at a crossroads, armed with shared achievements and the promise of even greater horizons. But in a world of rising competition and rapid innovation, cooperation alone is no longer enough. We must forge a new era of partnership, bolder, deeper, and more visionary than anything before. Together, the UK and ESA can build not just missions, but legacies: pioneering the next generation of discovery, protecting our planet, and inspiring all humanity. The stars won’t wait for cautious diplomacy. The time to act, to lead, and to dream bigger, together, is now.