The UK Space Agency has signed a new agreement with Houston-based space company Axiom Space to launch a “historic” human spaceflight mission.

The deal sets out plans for the two organisations to work together to create a commercially sponsored UK astronaut mission.

On this flight, UK astronauts would spend up to two weeks in orbit to carry out scientific research and demonstrate new technologies.

"It takes thousands of people to complete a crewed space mission and return the astronauts safely home, highlighting the huge variety of careers available in the UK space sector right now," said Dr Paul Bate, chief executive, UK Space Agency. "There is much to do, and this agreement is the springboard for the UK Space Agency, Axiom Space and the mission sponsors to assess how we best push forward the frontiers of knowledge and innovation, and showcase the power of space to improve lives on Earth.”

The UK Space Agency said that the move builds on the government’s National Space Strategy and the UK Science and Technology Framework, which highlights the important contribution of international relationships to the UK’s capabilities and identifies five critical technologies: AI, engineering biology, future telecommunications, semiconductors, and quantum technologies.

“The prospect of a historic UK mission with Axiom Space has the potential to inspire a whole new generation to reach for the stars, while supporting our efforts to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, so I look forward to seeing the next stage of this exploratory work develop," said George Freeman MP, minister of state at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

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