Why Space matters: the stand-up of UK Space Command

With UK Space Command recently standing up, find out why space matters and what our UK Armed Forces are doing to safeguard it.

Why Space matters

The headquarters of UK Space Command at RAF High Wycombe

Space, and our access to it, is a key element to our way of life; from helping us to find our way around using satellite navigation, to keeping our country safe through space-enabled military operations.

Loss of, or disruption to the space domain, will impact the UK Armed Forces ability to undertake the majority of Defence tasks, and has the potential to significantly effect both UK and global civilian, commercial and economic activity.

The threat from adversaries in this rapidly evolving operational domain is real and it is here now. That is why the UK Space Command for Defence has been established.

The role of UK Space Command

(Left to Right) Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tim Fraser, Air Vice Marshall Paul Godfrey OBE, Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin, Commander UK Strategic Command General Sir Patrick Sanders, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston outside the headquarters of UK Space Command at RAF High Wycombe

The UK’s first entirely space-focused military command, UK Space Command has been formally stood up and will be jointly staffed. Personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, together with exchange officers from other nations, civil servants, and commercial partners are part of the Command which marks a crucial step forward for the UK’s capability in space.

From their new headquarters at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, UK Space Command will begin to coordinate UK space operations, grow and train the UK’s space workforce, and develop the UK’s capabilities in space, under the leadership of Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, the inaugural Commander.

Three facts about the Space Operator Badge

The Space Operator Badge

1. The award of the badge symbolises the expertise of personnel within the Defence space community.
2. The design, based upon the Airborne Specialist badge, has been iterated and features a single silver angled wing and a blue laurel surrounding a delta, orbit ellipse and Aries star constellation.
3. Those qualifying are trained and experienced operators. The Commander of UK Space Command awards the badge and in common with flying badges, the Space Operators’ badge should be worn on uniform over and above the left chest pocket.

UK Space Command will work closely with Strategic Command and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) on developing new innovative capabilities and world leading UK research and development expertise.