There is a particular kind of necessity that arrives when the distance is too great and the cost too high to bring everything from home. For a mission to the Moon or Mars, every kilogram of supplies launched from Earth carries a price measured not only in dollars but in fuel, complexity, and risk. The solution, long discussed and now slowly becoming real, is to use what is already there—to live off the land, or in this case, off the regolith and ice of other worlds. A new report from the UK Space Agency offers a detailed look at how well-prepared British industry and academia are to contribute to that effort.
The review, led by Frazer-Nash Consultancy and commissioned by the UK Space Agency in 2025, assessed the nation's capabilities in In-Situ Resource Utilization, or ISRU—technologies that produce useful materials from resources found at a mission's destination . The report is not a government strategy but an independent assessment, designed to map existing strengths, identify gaps, and highlight opportunities for international collaboration .
The findings reveal a sector that is active but uneven. British organizations are working across multiple ISRU functions rather than concentrating on a single area, with particular strengths identified in prospecting instruments, material handling, oxygen extraction, and materials science . Prospecting—determining the location, concentration, and accessibility of resources—is described as a particular British strength, a critical first step before any production can begin .
Yet the report also identifies a familiar problem: the "valley of death" that plagues so many emerging technologies. When UK technologies are plotted by their Technology Readiness Level, there is a noticeable decline at TRL 5 and above—the stage where laboratory concepts must be tested in relevant environments and integrated into functioning systems . The main blockers, according to survey respondents, are a lack of available funding and difficulty accessing appropriate testing facilities .
The international context matters. NASA and ESA both have established lunar programs with defined ISRU objectives, creating the most immediate opportunities for technology developers . Lunar applications are the near-term focus, with water and volatiles dominating development efforts, while Mars remains a longer-term aspiration despite the success of NASA's MOXIE experiment, which produced oxygen from the Martian atmosphere aboard the Perseverance rover .
The review's most practical implication is selective participation. Rather than attempting to build a complete resource production chain, the UK could develop capabilities with clear functions, suitable testing pathways, and identifiable international users . Instruments, testing services, processing equipment, and operational support could serve international programs during their development—a role that is less glamorous than mining the Moon but perhaps more achievable.
The report has been submitted, and the work of turning its findings into action begins. For those watching the slow emergence of a space economy, it offers a sober assessment of where the UK stands and what it would take to move from capability to contribution.
AI Image Disclaimer: All images associated with this report are AI-generated and serve illustrative purposes only, not as documentary records of the technology or research described.
Sources: GOV.UK, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, New Space Economy
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