The British Interplanetary Society is supporting exploratory work on the proposed Institute of Space Engineering (ISpaceE), led by Dr Peter Shaw, Associate Professor in Space Technology at Kingston University. The concept is to establish ISpaceE as a Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) under the UK Engineering Council, providing a dedicated professional body for space engineers and technologists.
The current phase of work, running through early 2026, is a structured analysis of the existing family of PEIs – their governance models, routes to registration, accreditation processes, codes of conduct and approaches to CPD. The ISpaceE working group is using this review to identify what a space‑focused PEI would need in order to:
- Support Chartered, Incorporated and Engineering Technician registration for practitioners whose primary domain is space;
- Provide sector‑specific competence frameworks and professional standards aligned with UK‑SPEC but tailored to space systems, mission engineering and operations;
- Offer accreditation pathways for degree programmes and training with a strong space engineering component; and
- Create a focal point for ethical guidance, safety, sustainability and systems‑of‑systems thinking in space projects.
A white paper is planned for 2026, setting out options and recommendations for how ISpaceE could be constituted, governed and aligned with the Engineering Council’s requirements. This will be of particular interest to engineers already registered through other PEIs (such as the IMechE, IET, RAeS and others) who work largely in the space domain and may see value in a more specialised professional body.
The BIS has been invited to participate in the working team so that our community can both contribute to, and learn from, this scoping exercise. Our involvement reflects a long‑standing objective which is to see space engineering recognised and supported as a distinct and mature branch of the engineering profession, with clear pathways from education and early‑career practice through to senior chartered roles and leadership.
As this work progresses, we intend to share key findings from the PEI landscape analysis relevant to space‑sector employers and practitioners. We will also facilitate forums and events where BIS members can engage directly with the ISpaceE concept and provide feedback. The BIS will help ensure that any future ISpaceE construct is internationally aware, technically rigorous and supportive of interdisciplinary collaboration across the wider astronautics community.
Engineers and organisations interested in the professionalisation of space engineering – particularly those with experience of PEI governance, accreditation or registration – are invited to contact our CEO, John Lewin, so that we can coordinate input to the ISpaceE working group.