Is the UK's commitment to space being watered down, or is the recent merger of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) a smart move for efficiency?

Host Dallas Campbell sits down with Mark Saxon, Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult, to dissect the political landscape shaping the UK space industry's future. They dive deep into the National Space Strategy, the new Industrial Strategy, and the critical importance of a "one government approach" to space policy. Mark argues for a necessary shift from R&D-led grant funding to commercially-driven growth, stressing that to create 'space unicorns,' the sector must move past talking only about technology and instead focus on powerful, benefit-driven stories for customers and investors.

This timely conversation explores the push to scale up UK businesses to £10 million in revenue and capitalises on the current momentum, which is backed by a fresh £1.5 million investment from the UK Space Agency to unlock climate and transport innovations. Discover why Mark is optimistic about the sector's trajectory and the actionable steps needed to ensure its global success.

• (00:00) - Welcome to In-Orbit
• (02:06) - The Role of Marketing in UK Space
• (03:10) - Government's Role in Space
• (06:45) - UK Space Agency Merger
• (11:59) - Defense and Space
• (14:18) - ISAM and UK Launch
• (16:27) - Government's Commitment to Space Sector
• (18:26) - Overview of the Industrial Strategy
• (20:56) - Marketing Space to Investors and Companies
• (22:52) - Challenges in Scaling Up Space Companies
• (26:02) - Impact of Defense Spending on Space Sector
• (28:13) - Regulation and Its Role in Space Industry Growth
• (29:55) - Communicating the Benefits of Space Technology
• (31:13) - International Opportunities for UK Space Companies
• (31:59) - Reflections on the UK Space Industry

Mark Saxon: Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult, Mark Saxon is a communications, policy, and public affairs expert with over 20 years of experience. With a PhD in genetics, he transitioned his deep technical background from the life sciences sector, including work for companies like Pfizer and Coca-Cola, to championing the growth of the UK space economy. He focuses on enabling businesses to scale, generate exports, and effectively communicate the commercial value of space data and technology.

Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Are we finally equipping ourselves with the right tools to tackle the climate crisis’s most potent challenge?

This bonus episode dives into the crucial role of methane, a gas whose warming potential is 80 times greater than CO2​ over a 20-year period, making it a powerful lever for immediate climate action. Host Dallas Campbell is joined by Charlotte Massey of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to explore how space technology is transforming the fight against emissions.

Charlotte explains how NPL’s measurement science (metrology) ensures the quality and traceability of satellite-derived data, making it fit for purpose for regulation and global decision-making. They discuss the vital work of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) in developing methane best practices, particularly for facility-scale emissions in the oil and gas sector. Charlotte’s perspective from the frontline of climate science offers a dose of measured optimism: understanding the problem is truly half the solution.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Outer Orbit
• (00:28) - Role and Responsibilities at NPL
• (00:57) - Importance of Satellites in Emission Measurement
• (01:50) - Methane: The Overlooked Greenhouse Gas
• (02:31) - Committee for Earth Observation Satellites
• (03:20) - Methane Best Practice Work
• (04:01) - International Collaboration and COP
• (04:28) - Optimism vs. Pessimism in Climate Science
• (05:21) - The Role of Measurement Science
• (06:09) - Personal Insights and Experiences at NPL

Charlotte Massey: Strategic Business Development Manager for both Greenhouse Gases and Earth Observation at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Charlotte is responsible for curating partnerships and setting the strategic direction of NPL's measurement science for greenhouse gas measurement and Earth Observation data. She focuses on delivering the essential measurement science required to ensure the accuracy, impartiality, and traceability of complex satellite data, making it a trusted resource for policymakers, regulators, and industry in addressing the climate emergency.

Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website
National Physical Laboratory: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Website

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Are we using every tool available to pull the emergency brake on climate change? This episode dives into the crucial role of space-based monitoring in tackling methane, a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than CO2​ and a critical target for urgent climate action.

Host Dallas Campbell is joined by Spence Seaman from the Environment Agency and Charlotte Massey from the National Physical Laboratory to explore the technological leap that is allowing regulators to pinpoint "super-emitters" from orbit.

Spence explains the Environment Agency's Methane Action Plan and the challenge of regulating fugitive emissions from sectors such as waste and agriculture. Meanwhile, Charlotte details how the NPL is providing the essential measurement science to ensure the accuracy and traceability of this complex satellite data, which is now capable of detecting leaks at the facility scale.

With new satellites, such as Carbon Mapper’s Tanager-1, offering the ability to attribute emissions with a resolution of 50 metres, the data is becoming a game-changer for regulators and policymakers seeking to turn intelligence into enforcement. This conversation is essential for understanding how better data leads to better decisions and how the commercialisation of space is creating new accountability standards globally.

• (00:00) - Welcome to In-Orbit
• (00:46) - The Importance of Monitoring Methane
• (02:17) - Charlotte Massey on the National Physical Laboratory
• (03:14) - Current State of Methane Emissions
• (06:04) - Advancements in Space-Based Monitoring
• (13:16) - International Collaboration and Standards
• (17:50) - Future of Emissions Monitoring

Spence Seaman: Energy & Resources Lead for Adaptation within the Environmental Permitting Regime (EPR) and Methane Action Plan at the Environment Agency. A veteran environmental regulator, Spence leads the Agency's efforts to focus on methane emissions, driving improved performance, better data quality, and the effective use of regulatory tools like leak detection and repair (LDAR) across industrial sectors.

Charlotte Massey: Strategic Business Development Manager for both Greenhouse Gases and Earth Observation at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Charlotte is responsible for the strategic direction of NPL's measurement science, connecting the UK's core measurement infrastructure to advanced technologies like space-based monitoring to ensure data quality, scientific agreement, and international traceability.

Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website
Environment Agency: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Website
National Physical Laboratory: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Website

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.