Monitoring and evaluation for the National Space Science and the Space Science and Exploration Bilateral Programmes

The UK as viewed from space, photo by

Photo by chrisjmitchell/Adobe Stock

What is the issue?

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) delivers its commitments to international space science missions through two key programmes, the National Space Science Programme (NSSP) and the Space Science and Exploration Bilateral Programme (SEBP), using different mechanisms:

  • The NSSP manages the UK’s contributions to international space science missions within the European Space Agency’s Scientific Programme. Investment into this programme is fixed and mandatory as an ESA member state, and includes the UK’s contributions to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Solar Orbiter (SolO).
  • The SEBP is an ambitious new programme that seeks to expand the portfolio of space science missions that the UK invests in to a diverse range of bilateral science missions, with international partners such as NASA (USA), the Canadian Space Agency, JAXA (Japan) and ISRO (India).

In a political environment marked by changes in government, an imminent spending review and a possible refocusing of the UK’s ambitions in space, creating robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks will be key to allowing UKSA to understand the broader scientific, technical, reputational and collaborative impacts of their investments in space science. This is particularly important at a time where the UK’s investments in ESA and the associated industrial return are being scrutinised.

How are we helping?

RAND Europe, in collaboration with Ipsos, were commissioned by the UK Space Agency to design a monitoring and evaluation framework for the NSSP and the SEBP, and to conduct mission reviews of the UK contributions to JWST and Solar Orbiter.

The aim of this framework is to provide a pathway through which the UKSA can assess the impact, delivery and value for money of missions delivered under the NSSP and the SEBP umbrellas in a consistent manner. This framework will form a key part of a toolbox that UKSA can use to optimise delivery and make the case for further investment.

This project will consist of two work packages, conducted in parallel:

  • The design of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the NSSP and the SEBP, providing a pathway through which the impact, delivery and value for money of these programmes can be assessed and compared.
  • The testing of this framework through two ‘evaluation-style’ mission reviews of the UK’s contributions to key space science missions, the JWST and SolO.

This project will deliver a framework upon which future monitoring and evaluation exercises can be delivered, facilitating transparent provision of information on the overall impacts and value of the UK’s investments into space science missions and instruments that can be used in spending reviews, strategic decision making, business case development and parliamentary committees.

Project team

  • Billy Bryan
  • Paul Khullar
  • James Besse
  • Christopher Carter
  • Katie O'Brien