Space is vital to life on Earth. Our increasing dependence on satellites for many aspects of our lives has led to an exponential increase in the number of objects in space, particularly in the orbits closest to our planet.
This, in turn, leads to greater risks from a range of space hazards including the uncontrolled re-entry of space payloads, in-space collisions with space debris/other satellites, space weather events, and asteroids and meteors approaching Earth. It is the role of the National Space Operations Centre to manage and mitigate these risks.
Our capabilities have grown rapidly in response to the changing space environment and UK space objectives. The UK Space Agency has worked alongside the Ministry of Defence and other departments and international partners to help ensure the protection of the UK's space assets and shape our ability to observe activity in space.
Monitoring Space Hazards
Through our warning and protection service, eligible users are able to track space risks and hazards including:
UK Uncontrolled Re-Entry Early Warning System
The UK Space Agency through the National Space Operations Centre is responsible for monitoring uncontrolled re-entries of space objects that might pose a risk to the UK or the UK Overseas Territories, as well as the re-entry of UK licensed objects. On average, we monitor about 30 re-entry events per month to help keep the UK and the Overseas Territories safe from objects that survive re-entry and impact Earth.
UK In-Space Collision Avoidance System
In 2022, we launched the in-space collision avoidance service - Monitor Your Satellites. Monitor Your Satellites protects UK-licensed satellites (registered with the service) from collisions with space debris and other satellites.
Satellite owners can ask UK Space Agency analysts at NSpOC
