The United Kingdom should assume the role of a “space watchdog” in the upcoming era of interplanetary exploration, focusing on regulation, insurance, and finance, according to a former science minister. This statement indicates a desire to establish standards and control in an area that is currently unregulated and likened to the Wild West.
George Freeman, the member of parliament for Mid Norfolk and former minister for science, research, technology, and innovation under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, emphasized the urgent need for standards. He stated that the lack of regulation in space exploration could lead to a lawless situation with unbridled commercial and military satellite launches.
Freeman highlighted that there are currently 40 tons and a million pieces of debris in space, with 98% of satellites uninsured. As the global commercial space sector takes off and more businesses rely on satellites, the situation resembles the early days of the automobile industry. However, driving on highways filled with 90% unmanned and uninsured vehicles, while navigating through debris and breakdowns, is undesirable.
As the space minister, Freeman focused on UK leadership in space regulation, insurance, and finance. He established an industry partnership with the UK space sector and Lloyds of London to create the Earth∞Space Sustainability Initiative (ESSI), which aims to set global standards for the sector. He also gained the support of Canada, Japan, and Switzerland through the global summit at the Royal Society.
Freeman’s idea behind space debris regulation and the creation of the Earth Space Sustainability Initiative was straightforward. If a satellite complies with UK standards, which include retrievability, reusability, and recyclability, it would receive faster licensing, cheaper insurance, and access to ESG (environmental, social, and governance) finance.
Freeman added that by implementing smart regulation, markets can be created for innovative UK companies, such as Astroscale, a satellite retrieval company with a base in the UK. Additionally, increasing the spectrum bandwidth on satellite constellations instead of launching more satellites in a race for coverage could create opportunities.
The MP for Mid Norfolk argued that space exploration needs a global regulatory alliance led by and headquartered in a trusted nation. He believes that the UK is well positioned to lead in this area due to its long history as a trusted partner, its regulatory expertise, and its respect for and connection to financial markets and international courts and jurisdiction.
Freeman sees this as a significant opportunity for the UK and encourages the country to seize it.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/apr/07/uk-has-huge-opportunity-to-be-space-watchdog-says-former-science-minister
