Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many indigenous launch companies were successful in the most recent development grant funding round for a satellite launch programme and spaceport.

The UK Space Agency’s call for grant proposals on low cost access to space is ongoing. 26 proposals were submitted in response to the call, demonstrating strong interest in the UK market for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight.

Proposals came from spaceports all over the UK, working with vehicle operators from the UK, other European nations and the US. All the proposals submitted were commercial-in-confidence. Several proposals remain under consideration as part of this ongoing grant funding call, and the UK Space Agency is working hard to ensure that any grant funding recommended delivers clear benefits for the UK. Final announcements of the outcome of the call for grant proposals will be later in this financial year.

Further information about the call for grant proposals on low cost access to space can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/commercial-spaceflight