Eight national projects, including a sub-orbital rocket, microreactors for space exploration, and a heat-detecting telescope, have secured £24m in funding from the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme.
When including private sector commitments, the value of the projects rises to £33m. The initiative aims to support high-potential space technologies and drive growth across the UK.
“Space technologies play an important role in many aspects of our day-to-day lives,” said Peter Kyle, the science and tech secretary. “Backing the growth of UK space companies is also essential for driving economic growth, boosting productivity, and creating wealth in every community.
He added: “Our £33m investment in these projects highlights the huge potential of the UK’s space industry, especially as we collaborate with international partners.”
Among the funded initiatives, HyImpulse will conduct a sub-orbital rocket test at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland. It received £5m to carry this out in partnership with Cranfield University, Birmingham University and AVICON Partnership.
This is the second time the Glasgow-based company has received funding from the UK Space Agency. Last year it secured nearly £3.4m to test its hybrid propulsion system.
Rolls Royce Derby is set to develop microreactors designed to support extended space missions. In partnership with Bangor University, University of Oxford and Rolls Royce Bristol, the project aims to raise the overall “technology readiness level for space micro-reactors, closing the gap to a full system space flight demonstration and the commercialisation of space nuclear power.”
University of Cambridge spinout SuperSharp secured £5m to carry out the development and launch of a heat-detecting telescope.
The startup, founded in 2017 by CEO Marco Gomez-Jenkins, CSO Prof Ian Parry and CTO George Hawker, aims to gather critical data to address the climate crisis, showcasing the connection between space technology and environmental science.
The telescope is said to fit into a small satellite and its imaging technology can be used for applications including climate change data, crop monitoring, and global security.
The funding will also support Lúnasa to build and test technology to help satellites safely dock with one another, Orbit Fab to develop a solution for satellite refuelling, and Wayland Additive to develop an electronic propulsion system.
A project led by Spire Global will further develop technology to supply weather forecasting data to global weather prediction centres, while ETL Systems will aim to advance ground equipment that links satellites to 5G and 6G mobile networks, improving connectivity.
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “These new projects will help kickstart growth, create more high-quality jobs, protect our planet, and preserve the space environment for future generations. They embody our goals as a national space agency – supporting cutting-edge innovation, spreading opportunities across the UK, and delivering the benefits of space back to citizens on Earth.”
An additional 15 ‘kickstarter’ projects will also receive £9m between them.
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