The new organisation is expected to take control of the money spent on space by government departments and science funding agencies.
It will also represent the UK in all its dealings with international partners.


Britain currently puts about £270m a year into civil space endeavours, most of it via the UK's membership of the European Space Agency (Esa).



This is not expected to change dramatically with the creation of an executive agency, especially with the government committed to cutting the public deficit.


The hope, however, is that the reorganisation will bring more coherence to space policy, enabling the available monies to be spent more effectively.