National Space Lab Director joins �� Space Institute

press release

Published: 29 July 2026

National Space Lab-lead brings her mission-delivery capability to �� Space Institute

Dr Sarah Beardsley, Director of RAL Space, the UK’s National Space Laboratory, is set to join the �� Space Institute at the �� as Deputy Director. Adding Dr Beardsley’s national lab leadership and experience of delivering missions at scale will contribute to rapid delivery of the new Institute’s ambitions.

Credit: RAL Space STFC

Dr Beardsley’s appointment completes a leadership team at the �� Space Institute unmatched in UK academia – led by Professor Adam Amara, the current UKSA Chief Scientist and renowned astrophysicist, and comprising Professor Paul Bate, the former CEO of the UK Space Agency, Professor Doug Liddle, the current chair of UK Space, and Dr Louise Butt, former leader of the regional space cluster Space South Central.

Dr Beardsley currently leads RAL Space, which operates under the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). She has held a number of roles at STFC since joining in 2000, including as instrument scientist on their contribution to ESA’s SMART-1 mission to the Moon, and being involved in the successful delivery of RAL Space’s camera electronics programme for major missions including the and .

At ��, Dr Beardsley will lead the Institute's academic team, applying the delivery discipline that gets instruments built, tested and launched, and connecting its researchers with the industry, government and international partners who turn that work into missions.

Sarah completes an unrivalled leadership team at the �� Space Institute, having led RAL Space, the UK's largest national space laboratory and, before that, helped to deliver the hardware behind instruments that are working in orbit right now. Her track record, which speaks for itself, is powered by her energy and enthusiasm. Sarah has spent years driving our space sector forward and championing its people. I could not be more pleased that this passion and drive will now be contributing to delivering our ambitions for Space at ��. Professor Adam Amara, Founding Director of the �� Space Institute

Dr Beardsley has served as Head of the Space Engineering and Technology Division at RAL Space, where she managed the engineers, technicians and project managers at the heart of many of the organisation’s hardware programmes. She was also RAL Space’s first Head of Continuous Improvement, establishing a new programme for organisational development.

Dr Beardsley is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and Chartered Physicist, and a member of the Association for Project Management.

I am excited to be joining the �� Space Institute and the ��, whose achievements in space science and engineering have earned an outstanding reputation across the sector. The Institute combines its remarkable heritage with a clear sense of ambition for the future. I am drawn by the energy and vision of the organisation, and its determination to translate world-class research, innovation and partnerships into real impact. I’m glad to have the opportunity to be part of that journey, and to contribute to an organisation that is helping to shape the future of the space sector. Dr Sarah Beardsley

The recently launched �� Space Institute builds on the ��'s 45-year history in small satellite innovation. Its research spans three themes – managing water and climate on Earth, building resilience and strengthening space infrastructure such as satellite communications and cybersecurity, and developing the technology, know-how and legal frameworks needed to explore and operate beyond Earth.

Drawing on expertise across engineering, law, bioscience and artificial intelligence, the Institute works with government, industry and other universities, including through the Space South Central cluster, to move research from concept through to orbit. It is also expanding ��'s degrees, short courses and mission-based training to help build the skilled workforce the UK space sector needs.

###