The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Ministry of Defence have launched the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) to protect the UK against space-related threats, such as satellite collisions. The centre brings together nearly 70 civilian and military personnel and is jointly funded by DSIT/UK Space Agency and MoD. In partnership with the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre, the NSpOC will use a global network of sensors to support space operations and oversee critical missions. This will include tracking objects re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere and safeguarding UK-licensed satellites from collisions with space debris. The launch of the NSpOC fulfils a key commitment outlined in the government’s National Space Strategy, Defence Strategy, and the recently announced Space Industrial Plan, published in March 2024.
In addition to the launch of the NSpOC, DSIT has published the “Space Regulatory Review 2024”, a new research and analysis report developed in collaboration with over 100 industry representatives to set out the roadmap for space regulations to support pro-innovation in the UK space economy. The report outlines seven key goals, including the need for agility, innovation, growth, international partnerships, safety and sustainability, accessibility, and national interest. Industry stakeholders endorse the report. If fully implemented, the unified regulatory roadmap and recommendations will position the UK as a leader in safe, secure, and sustainable space operations.
The recent launch of the NSpOC follows a series of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), resulting in a category G5 extreme geomagnetic storm from May 10 – 13, 2024. These CMEs are clouds of plasma material that interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, causing aurorae at lower latitudes and potential disruptions to power grids, communications, and satellite operations. With CMEs typically occurring on 11-year solar cycle intervals, the last G5 storm was experienced in 2003. These events underscore the importance of space weather forecasting and hazard monitoring and their potential impact on critical infrastructure.
At the global level, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has been incorporating space weather into its activities for over a decade and has included it as a related environmental service in its strategic plan. The upcoming June meeting of the WMO Executive Council is expected to adopt a new Four-year Plan for WMO Activities related to Space Weather (2024-2027). Approved by the WMO Commission for Observation, Infrastructure, and Information Systems (INFCOM-3), the plan focuses on the three main pillars of the WMO Infrastructure: observing infrastructure, modelling and prediction, and data exchange. Its goal is to enhance WMO Members’ capabilities to provide valuable services to economic sectors prone to threats from space weather.