Star wars: alarm at space agency’s 130 meetings with Ministry of Defence

Rob Edwards, March 16, 2025, The Ferret

Senior officials from the UK Space Agency held over 130 meetings with the Ministry of Defence in 2024, prompting renewed concerns about the “weaponisation” of space.

The meetings discussed the spaceport being built at SaxaVord on Shetland, using nuclear reactors in space and collaboration with the US, NATO and arms companies. Two members of the agency’s advisory board also work for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The subject of one meeting was kept secret because it was about a project that was “highly confidential and not in the public domain”. Releasing its title risked “compromising our nation’s security”, said the agency.

The meetings, revealed in response to a freedom of information request, have been criticised by campaigners. Though Scotland’s bid to build spaceports is marketed as scientific research, it is driven by the defence industry, they say.

They warn that space could become a “new frontier of conflict” that would put humanity at risk. They fear that spaceports could be “a trojan horse for the arms industry” and demand transparency……………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………. Naming space project would ‘compromise national security’

The name of one company involved in a meeting was kept secret to protect its “commercial interests”. The title of another meeting was redacted “for the purposes of safeguarding national security”, the Space Agency said.

It added: “This meeting title references an area of work which is highly confidential and not in the public domain. Releasing this information into the public domain would undermine our position with defence colleagues and any damage to these relationships with our partner departments could compromise our nation’s security.”

The freedom of information request was made by the campaign group, Space Watch UK. “Although the space industry presents itself as being about science, discovery, and inspiration, the reality is that much of the work in the sector is military related,” said the group’s Peter Burt.

“The information released by the Space Agency shows that it works hand-in-hand with the MoD over virtually the whole remit of the agency’s work – launch programmes, satellite communication, earth observation, and international co-operation.”

Burt pointed out that space technologies were born out of weaponry developed by the Nazis in World War Two. “Nowadays these technologies are still being developed, not for the collective benefit of humankind, but largely for their military applications,” he told The Ferret.

“When space programmes become indistinguishable from military agendas we accelerate a new frontier of conflict. Space should be a realm of shared scientific endeavour, not a battleground for geopolitical dominance.”

He added: “Military space projects divert resources from humanitarian needs and normalise the weaponisation of the cosmos – increasing the risks we all face from warfare. We need to see more transparency from the UK Space Agency about co-operation with the MoD.” https://theferret.scot/space-agency-130-meetings-mod/