The UK's Military Space Map
Here we detail the main sites within the UK supporting military operations in space. These include proposed spaceports, ground surveillance of space for military purposes; sites enabling satellite surveillance of earth, military satellite ground control stations and command and control sites. Brief details for each location are below.
SPACEPORTS
SaxaVord Spaceport
Haroldswick, Unst ZE2 9TJ
Vertical rocket launches planned.
Web: saxavord.com
Spaceport Cornwall
St Mawgan, Newquay, TR8 4RQ
Horizontal launches.
Web: spaceportcornwall.com
Sutherland Spaceport
A’Mhoine peninsula, Sutherland.
Construction begun.
Web: orbex.space/spaceport
Spaceport 1
Scolpaig, Isle of North Uist HS6 5DH
Sub-orbital launches planned.
Spaceport Machrihanish
Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland
Vertical launches and training planned.
Spaceport Snowdonia
Llanbedr LL45 2PX
Space Technology Centre under development.
Spaceport Prestwick
Prestwick, KA9 2PL
Planning horizontal launches of orbital and sub-orbital missions
Web: glasgowprestwick.com/spaceport
Haroldswick, Unst ZE2 9TJ
Vertical rocket launches planned.
Web: saxavord.com
Spaceport Cornwall
St Mawgan, Newquay, TR8 4RQ
Horizontal launches.
Web: spaceportcornwall.com
Sutherland Spaceport
A’Mhoine peninsula, Sutherland.
Construction begun.
Web: orbex.space/spaceport
Spaceport 1
Scolpaig, Isle of North Uist HS6 5DH
Sub-orbital launches planned.
Spaceport Machrihanish
Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland
Vertical launches and training planned.
Spaceport Snowdonia
Llanbedr LL45 2PX
Space Technology Centre under development.
Spaceport Prestwick
Prestwick, KA9 2PL
Planning horizontal launches of orbital and sub-orbital missions
Web: glasgowprestwick.com/spaceport
SURVEILLANCE FROM SPACE
Menwith Hill
Harrogate, HG3 2RF
Menwith Hill is a US military and National Security Agency (NSA) intelligence gathering and communications facility which utilises satellite surveillance. A number of ground control stations are also at the site.
GCHQ BUDE
Morwenstow, Bude EX23 9JJ
GCHQ is an intelligence gathering site operated by the security services with at least 20 satellite antennas. Details of its activities remain classified.
Harrogate, HG3 2RF
Menwith Hill is a US military and National Security Agency (NSA) intelligence gathering and communications facility which utilises satellite surveillance. A number of ground control stations are also at the site.
GCHQ BUDE
Morwenstow, Bude EX23 9JJ
GCHQ is an intelligence gathering site operated by the security services with at least 20 satellite antennas. Details of its activities remain classified.
SURVEILLANCE OF SPACE
Fylingdales
Pickering, N.Yorkshire, YO18 7NT
Fylingdales and its distinctive pyramid-shaped Radar is the UK's primary space surveillance capability. Its work includes scanning for ballistic missile launches as well as surveillance of space. Fylingdales is a key part of the Allied Space Surveillance Network and supports the US missile defence system
Feltwell
Feltwell, Thetford IP26 4HL
RAF Feltwell is home to one of the US Space Delta 7 squadrons, responsible for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). It provides intelligence for space domain operations including detection, characterization and targeting of adversary space capabilities
Web: 73rd ISRS
DARC Radar
St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6NN
The UK, US and Australia announced the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme in 2023 to develop a network of three new ground-based radars that will undertake surveillance of satellites and other objects in space. Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, Wales is the proposed site of the new UK space radar.
Project Nyx Alpha
Cyprus (Not shown on map)
In 2023, UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency awarded a contract to UK company Spaceflux to build a new ground-based camera-telescope in Cyprus to monitor objects in geostationary orbit in order to help avoid collisions and protect UK satellites.
Pickering, N.Yorkshire, YO18 7NT
Fylingdales and its distinctive pyramid-shaped Radar is the UK's primary space surveillance capability. Its work includes scanning for ballistic missile launches as well as surveillance of space. Fylingdales is a key part of the Allied Space Surveillance Network and supports the US missile defence system
Feltwell
Feltwell, Thetford IP26 4HL
RAF Feltwell is home to one of the US Space Delta 7 squadrons, responsible for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). It provides intelligence for space domain operations including detection, characterization and targeting of adversary space capabilities
Web: 73rd ISRS
DARC Radar
St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6NN
The UK, US and Australia announced the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme in 2023 to develop a network of three new ground-based radars that will undertake surveillance of satellites and other objects in space. Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, Wales is the proposed site of the new UK space radar.
Project Nyx Alpha
Cyprus (Not shown on map)
In 2023, UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency awarded a contract to UK company Spaceflux to build a new ground-based camera-telescope in Cyprus to monitor objects in geostationary orbit in order to help avoid collisions and protect UK satellites.
COMMUNICATIONS
Croughton
Northants, NN13 5XP
Croughton (and nearby USAF Barford St. John) are US military surveillance and communications facilities.
Northants, NN13 5XP
Croughton (and nearby USAF Barford St. John) are US military surveillance and communications facilities.
COMMAND AND CONTROL
UK Space Command
High Wycombe HP14 4UE
Space Command leads UK military space operations. Based at RAF High Wycombe it is staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, alongside civil servants and contractors. The UK Space Operations Centre is the UK's defence operational level command and control unit for space, providing space support for UK and allied military operations across all domains.
MoD Corsham
Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9NR
MOD Corsham is home to the MoD's Global Operations Security Control Centre (GOSCC), the Joint Security Co-ordination Centre (JSyCC), and Defence Digital. Skynet, a family of military communications satellites that provides strategic communication services to the UK Armed Forces and allies. is managed from Corsham with Ground Control facilities adjacent. is
High Wycombe HP14 4UE
Space Command leads UK military space operations. Based at RAF High Wycombe it is staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, alongside civil servants and contractors. The UK Space Operations Centre is the UK's defence operational level command and control unit for space, providing space support for UK and allied military operations across all domains.
MoD Corsham
Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9NR
MOD Corsham is home to the MoD's Global Operations Security Control Centre (GOSCC), the Joint Security Co-ordination Centre (JSyCC), and Defence Digital. Skynet, a family of military communications satellites that provides strategic communication services to the UK Armed Forces and allies. is managed from Corsham with Ground Control facilities adjacent. is
GROUND CONTROL STATIONS
MoD Oakhanger
Oakhanger, Bordon GU35 9JES
MoD Oakhanger is home to a Skynet Ground Control Station. In addition, a US Space Force Delta 6 unit is based at the site providing support for the operational control of a variety of US Military satellites.
DSTL Portsdown West
Portsdown Hill Rd, Fareham PO17 6AD
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has space facilities at Portsdown West, including a satellite ground control station to support space research activities for the MOD. The terminal is able to direct satellites in both low-Earth and geosynchronous orbit.
Oakhanger, Bordon GU35 9JES
MoD Oakhanger is home to a Skynet Ground Control Station. In addition, a US Space Force Delta 6 unit is based at the site providing support for the operational control of a variety of US Military satellites.
DSTL Portsdown West
Portsdown Hill Rd, Fareham PO17 6AD
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has space facilities at Portsdown West, including a satellite ground control station to support space research activities for the MOD. The terminal is able to direct satellites in both low-Earth and geosynchronous orbit.
