The UK has formed closer US space links after the secretary of state for defence , Penny Mordaunt , announced it will become the first international partner of Operation Olympic Defender . The project aims to bolster space - based defence and tackle in - orbit space debris . The UK will also send eight personnel to support the US military 's National Space Operations Center in California . Virgin Orbit will seek to “demonstrate responsive and resilient space launch,” the company said in a news release. Additionally , it will invest $ 34 m in a constellation of small satellites to provide real - time information to Royal Air Force ( RAF ) pilots , as part of the transatlantic Team Artemis project . The UK will assist Virgin Orbit in launching the satellites .
The UK has formed closer US space links after the secretary of state for defence , Penny Mordaunt , announced it will become the first international partner of Operation Olympic Defender . The project aims to bolster space - based defence and tackle in - orbit space debris . The UK will also send eight personnel to support the US military 's National Space Operations Center in California . Additionally , it will invest $ 34 m in a constellation of small satellites to provide real - time information to Royal Air Force ( RAF ) pilots , as part of the transatlantic Team Artemis project . The UK will assist Virgin Orbit in launching the satellites .