How we protected the UK and space in September 2026
What was announced
This report was issued in October 2026 and covers the time period 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026 inclusive.
Key points, in the publisher's words
- September saw a slightly elevated risk levels to UK interests, with more uncontrolled re-entry and collision hazards but lower space weather activity when compared with August.
- All NSpOC warning and protection services were functioning throughout the period.
- There was a 7% increase in the number of objects re-entering Earth’s atmosphere monitored by NSpOC in September, when compared with the previous month.
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “Re-entry analysis There was a 7% increase in the number of objects re-entering Earth’s atmosphere monitored by NSpOC in September, when compared with the previous month.”
- “October: 54, November: 43, December: 52, January: 50, February: 66, March: 72, April: 68, May: 48, June: 53, July: 62, August: 54, September: 58 Collision avoidance analysis Collision risks to UK-licensed satellites were 16% higher in September than in August but sat well below the 12-month rolling average.”
- “October: 2,402, November: 2,472, December: 2,643, January: 2,608, February: 2,117, March: 1,847, April: 1,194, May: 1,285, June: 1,436, July: 1,209, August: 901, September: 1,049 Registered Space Objects (RSOs) analysis The in-orbit population increased in September, with a net addition of 163 objects to the US Satellite Catalogue.”
- “October: 31,981, November: 32,366, December: 32,756, January: 32,981, February: 33,221, March: 33,673 , April: 33,952, May: 34,218, June: 34,509, July: 34,832, August: 35,075, September, 31,238 The number of Resident Space Objects (RSOs) reported may be subject to small adjustments over time as the way objects are tracked is refined.”
Who and where
UK bodies of power
- National Space Operations Centre (sub organisation) · more news
- UK Space Agency (sub organisation) · more news
- Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (UK government department) · more news
- Ministry of Defence (UK government department) · more news
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Space.
Receipt
- Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-we-protected-the-uk-and-space-in-september-2026
- Published 2026-10-28 14:12:49 UTC
- Read by this site 2026-10-28 14:15:11 UTC from GOV.UK
- Saved copy: receipt 3742, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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