UK Space Command

Making space safe, secure and sustainable for all generations.

Daily lives around the world rely on satellites and systems in space, and they also underpin military operations across the sea, land, air, and cyberspace.

Space is a congested and competitive domain. Hazards in space range from space weather to space debris, but this also includes nefarious activity, as competitors seek to maximise their advantage. UK Space Command works with allies and partners around the world to make space safe, secure, and sustainable for all generations.

The purpose, mission and growth of UK Space Command

UK Space Command is a joint command based at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. It is staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, alongside civil servants and contractors.

The UK has been operating in space routinely since 1969 and continuously since 1988. Following its formation in 2021, UK Space Command’s capabilities and workforce have rapidly grown, now including command of RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, and the UK Space Operations Centre at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

UK Space Operations Centre

The UK Space Operations Centre, based at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, is Defence’s command and control unit for space. Personnel at the UK Space Operations Centre collate, analyse, and assess space information to support UK and allied military forces.

Within the UK Space Operations Centre, military space analysts work side by side with civilian space analysts from the UK Space Agency to monitor the safety of UK satellites and track orbital events, including potential satellite collisions and the re-entry of objects into the Earth’s atmosphere.

I have seen first-hand how critical the Space domain is and how it underpins not only military operations, but broader every day activities. As it becomes ever more congested and contested, it is critical that the UK is integrated in its approach to space and the formation of this command will provide a key focal point for this complex operating environment.

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander, UK Space Command

Protecting the UK's interest in space

Disruption to the UK’s use of space, or the use of space by the UK’s allies, could significantly affect civilian, commercial, and defence activity.

UK Space Command personnel monitor space 24/7, 365 days a year, to protect the UK’s interests in space.

THE DEFENCE LEAD FOR SPACE OPERATIONS, SPACE WORKFORCE AND SPACE CAPABILITY

UK Space Command brings together three functions under a single military commander, Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey.

SPACE OPERATIONS

Command the UK’s defence space capabilities to monitor the space domain, enable global military operations, and protect and defend allied interests in space.

SPACE WORKFORCE

Harness talent by training a growing cadre of Defence space professionals, who will demonstrate excellence, respect, and trust.

SPACE CAPABILITY

Collaborate with industry, allies, and partners to build a competitive edge in space capability, adopting new technology to achieve strategic advantage.

RAF Fylingdales

RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, is the UK’s primary military space sensor. It provides a 24/7 missile warning and space surveillance capability for the UK and its allies.

RAF Fylingdales is a joint enterprise between the United States and the United Kingdom. It’s the only 360° radar within the US-led space surveillance network. Its radar can detect objects the size of a drink up to 3,000 miles into space.

With such rapid change and the corresponding ambition to keep pace, what better time to be involved in space, whether in Government, industry, academia or in our world class scientific community?

Ms Natalie Moore Head of Space Policy, Ministry of Defence

The inaugural commander of UK Space Command is Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey

Paul Godfrey joined the RAF in 1991 and has been a fighter pilot most of his career. A former Station Commander at RAF Lossiemouth, most recently he was responsible for the planning and employment of coalition air and space power across the Middle East within the US Air Force Combined Air and Space Operations Centre.

International cooperation

International cooperation is critical in the space domain.

No one nation can do it alone.

UK Space Command continues the UK’s commitment to the Combined Space Operations initiative with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the US, to ensure a safe, secure and stable space domain.

UK Space Command also controls the UK’s participation in the US-led space coalition under Operation Olympic Defender, a multinational coalition formed to deter hostile actors in space and reduce the spread of debris in orbit. It also supports the growth of the NATO space enterprise.

Space Command in the news

Commander of UK Space Command visits RAF Fylingdales

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey undertook his first visit to RAF Fylingdales since becoming the inaugural Commander of UK Space Command recently.

RAF Corporal qualifies with U.S. Space Command

RAF Corporal has become the first from an overseas nation to qualify as an Orbital Analyst with U.S. Space Command.

Commander US Space Command holds first visit to UK Space Command

The Commander US Space Command, General James H. Dickinson, has held his first visit to the headquarters of UK Space Command at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

Be part of UK Space Command

We are constantly recruiting, training, and developing individuals to work in the space domain.

Air and Space Operations Specialist (Flight Operations)
Air Operations (Systems) Officer
Cyberspace Communication Specialist
Engineering Officer (Communications Electronics)
Intelligence Officer
Intelligence Analyst

UK Space Command is a joint command with personnel from across the UK Armed Forces. If you are interested in careers in the space domain with the Royal Navy or the British Army, please visit Royal Navy jobs or British Army jobs.