Space Debris

Viscount Stansgate Excerpts

Tuesday 18th November 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Viscount Stansgate]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made about the risks to the United Kingdom’s critical national infrastructure from space debris.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. I think the House will understand why it is topical.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Leong) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government recognise that space debris is a risk to critical national infrastructure due to our reliance on space services, including for communications, climate monitoring, navigation and timing. A summary of the national risk assessment is set out in the UK’s National Risk Register 2025. We invest in space situational awareness, in-orbit servicing and active debris removal missions. We work with international partners through the European Space Agency and the United Nations to address the risk.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Two weeks ago today, your Lordships’ UK Engagement with Space Committee, of which I was a member, published its report, The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out, which highlighted the issue of space debris. There are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of bits of junk going round the earth. This was dramatically illustrated last week when three astronauts were unable to leave the Chinese space station to return to earth because their spacecraft was hit—probably by space debris.

Satellites are a critical part of our national infrastructure. What strategy are the Government adopting to protect our satellites and other elements of critical national infrastructure and to encourage the UK to play its part in the space economy of the future? Will these issues be raised at the European Space Agency Ministerial Council next week?

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

My Lords, first, I take this opportunity to thank the UK Engagement with Space Committee for all the work it has done and for the recently published report mentioned by my noble friend.

The Government are strengthening UK space surveillance, tightening regulatory standards and investing in debris mitigation technologies. We are committed to global leadership in sustainable space operations. We committed funding to the debris programmes at the European Space Agency Ministerial Council in 2022. I will ask my ministerial colleague, my noble friend Lady Lloyd, to raise the issue of space debris at the forthcoming ESA ministerial meeting. The UK’s approach on space will balance our national security and growth with expanding the global space economy.