The British Interplanetary Society is calling on the UK Government to close the space investment gap with France, Germany, Italy and other leading spacefaring nations.

The campaign’s strapline is:

“The British Interplanetary Society (BIS) is asking the government to increase the UK’s civil space investment to at least double its current level by 2030. This will allow the nation to join the levels invested by comparable economies. The UK can then expand its role in international space exploration, science and utilisation, thus properly supporting growth, security and highly skilled jobs”.

Sign our petition

1. Background

The British Interplanetary Society (BIS), the world’s longest-established organisation devoted to astronautics and space exploration is continuing its BIS UK Space Investment Campaign — this is a concerted public and political drive to persuade the UK Government to at least double its current civil space budget by 2030.

The campaign comes as the UK faces a deepening disparity between its economic standing and its commitment to space.

Despite being the sixth-largest economy in the world, the UK ranks only tenth globally in government space investment and a mere seventeenth when measured against GDP — spending just 0.05% of its government budget on space compared to 0.24% in the United States. France currently spends 2.5 times more than the UK on space; Germany and Italy each spend approximately twice as much. Even India now invests more in space than the UK on an absolute basis.

This situation represents a growing crisis for British science, industry and inspiration

With the NASA-led Artemis programme returning humans to the Moon for the first time in half a century, the stakes for the UK have never been higher. Germany, Italy and France have already secured places for their astronauts on future Artemis lunar flights. The UK’s three ESA-trained astronauts — including Rosemary Coogan — face an indefinite wait for a comparable opportunity. The UK has also reportedly reduced its European Space Agency (ESA) budget contribution from 2026, falling behind Spain in total contributions.

Supporters:

Broadcaster and science communicator Dallas Campbell has added his support to the BIS UK Space Investment Campaign, emphasising the wider stakes for society, commenting:

Space exploration is vital for our future. It offers new discoveries, inspiration and practical wins for all. The BIS campaign to double the UK’s space investment is timely and necessary. As a nation we must also rally others to invest more in spaceflight to reap its benefits for all of humanity.

– Dallas Campbell

David Mackay, the UK-born former Virgin Galactic Chief Test Pilot said:

I’d be happy to add my name to the list of those supporting this initiative. I believe that humans in space, or that have been in space, are a great motivation and inspiration for others to get involved in all it takes to achieve such missions.

– David Mackay

Richard Garriott, BIS Private Astronaut and Commercial Space Exploration Entrepreneur states:

“A New Golden Age of Space Exploration” is upon us! After a gap of 50 years, humanity again has extended its reach to the moon, with plans to stay and go far beyond. Most Importantly is the way we now choose to make this happen. Commercial companies will now lead the way. Launch vehicles, orbital platforms, remote bases, in situ resource development, growing food beyond the earth, all these and more will only exist, as commercial companies take up the challenges. Grand challenges require visionary leaders backed with visionary capital.  The British Interplanetary Society’s Space Investment Campaign, can bring the two visions together for the future of humanity as we expand beyond the cradle of our existence!

– Richard Garriott

A 2025 House of Lords report on the space economy delivered a stark verdict: “The UK must act now if it wishes to be a leader in the growing space economy, the new race for space.”

The economic case is overwhelming

Independent analysis commissioned by the UK Space Agency demonstrates that every £1 invested in space generates more than £7 for the UK economy (Novaspace, 2025). Space investment directly supports growth, innovation, highly skilled employment, national security, and international influence — precisely the outcomes the Government’s own 2022 National Space Strategy and 2024 Space Industrial Plan set out to deliver.

In its ninety-three-year history the British Interplanetary Society has always been at the forefront of inspiring the UK by championing the exploration and utilisation of space. We are calling on the Government to close this investment gap — not just for the future of science, but for jobs, growth and Britain’s standing in the world.

– Colin Philp, President, British Interplanetary Society

2. What the campaign is calling for

The BIS UK Space Investment Campaign is urging the UK Government to:

• Double civil space investment to at least twice its current level of £666 million (2025) by 2030
• Restore and grow ESA contributions to re-establish the UK’s standing among leading spacefaring nations
• Secure UK participation in international exploration programmes, including the Artemis lunar missions
• Engage urgently with the findings of the 2025 House of Lords Space Economy report

3. Campaign actions under way

Following the campaign launch, the BIS has:

• Written formally to Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE (Space Minister), Lord Vallance of Balham (Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear) and The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions), setting out the case for increased investment and requesting a ministerial meeting
• Been preparing to launch a public petition in the coming weeks – “Double UK Civil Space Spending by 2030” – calling on the Government to increase civil space spending to at least double its current level
• Published an awareness flyer to distribute at space, science and industry events across the UK
• Sought support from prominent public figures and industry leaders to amplify the campaign’s reach

Members, Fellows and space supporters are encouraged to support the BIS campaign in one or all three of the following ways:

• Download the attached flyer (awaiting publication) and email it to your contacts;
• Sign our petition
  We need 10,000 signatures to get a Government response, and we need 100,000 signatures to get it debated in Parliament.
• Contact the Secretary of State at the DSIT, relevant Ministers, your own local MP. – A template letter is provided below.

Key contact email addresses are:

TEMPLATE LETTER FOR YOUR POSSIBLE USE:

Dear [insert name]

Re: UK Space Investment

In its ninety-three-year history the British Interplanetary Society (BIS) has always been at the forefront of inspiring the world and the UK by championing and promoting the exploration and utilisation of space.

International enthusiasm for space exploration is growing again, with the NASA-led Artemis project commencing the return of humans to the Moon for the first time in half a century. Europe, Canada and Japan are all sharing in that adventure and are expanding their contributions to Artemis and general space investment.

However, the UK is well behind comparable nations in terms of government investment in space. France, Germany, Italy and Japan invest over twice as much as the UK in space. Worryingly, the UK will be missing out on much of the industrial, science and inspirational benefits of spaceflight. These benefits are immense.

I am supporting the Space Investment Campaign led by the BIS to urge the Government to at least double its current civil space spending level by 2030.

Please do note:

• Recent studies for the UK Space Agency have shown that every £1 invested in space creates over £7 for the nation’s economy (Novaspace,2025.)
• A 2025 House of Lords report on the space economy said: “The UK must act now if it wishes to be a leader in the growing space economy, the new race for space.”
• The UK is the sixth largest world economy and yet it is only the tenth highest in terms of overall government space investment (2025 figures).
• France is spending 2.5 times more than the UK on space, with Germany and Italy spending twice as much.
• India now invests 1.3 times more than the UK on space and is inspiring its young people and industry with lunar lander missions and an emerging human spaceflight capability of its own.
• In terms of its GDP ranking and space spending, the UK comes out at only 17th in the world’s space investment league. The USA spends 0.24% of its government budget on space – the UK is currently investing only 0.05%.
• The UK has apparently reduced its ESA budget from 2026 and will now be behind Spain in terms of total contributions.
• German, Italian and French astronauts will be the first Europeans to join NASA with future Artemis flights to the Moon. The three potential UK/ ESA-trained astronauts, including Rosemary Coogan, will most likely have to wait for years for any chance of securing spaceflight seats for the Artemis lunar return.
• Space investment obviously links to national security and the strengthening of UK national interests.
• Increasing space investment will make the goals of the UK’s National Space Strategy and 2024 Space Industrial Plan much more achievable.

I do hope that you will agree with the case for an expanded UK space funding commitment and look forward to your response.

Sign our petition