The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has announced a new £15 million fund to accelerate innovation in satellite communications across the UK. The fund will support a wide range of projects, including new satellite constellations, ground infrastructure, and the development of novel services that harness satellite capabilities.
Science Minister Nusrat Ghani said she is proud to represent the UK space sector as it prepares for the upcoming European Space Agency (ESA) Council of Ministers meeting. She emphasized the government’s aim to capture economic growth, create jobs, and inspire young people to pursue STEM careers through space investment. The minister added that the new funding is intended to strengthen the UK’s global position in satellite communications and expressed anticipation for the innovative proposals the competition will produce.
The UK Space Agency plays a leading role in ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) programme. According to the government’s Impact Evaluation of UK Investment in the European Space Agency, the UK ranks alongside the United States and Germany in the top three nations for scientific output from ESA activities.
In 2019 the UK committed £374 million per year over five years to ESA. That evaluation report indicates a strong return on investment: for every £1 the UK invests in ESA, the wider UK economy receives an estimated £11.80 in benefit.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, highlighted the benefits of ESA membership. He noted that ESA membership catalyses sector investment, supports innovative companies, and grants access to major missions and capabilities such as the James Webb Space Telescope. Dr Bate also pointed out that as a founding ESA member, UK space organizations gain access to world-class facilities across the UK and Europe, benefit from ESA’s technical expertise, and maintain strong ties with other international space agencies.
The UK’s National Space Strategy, published in 2021, sets out four strategic pillars:
- Unlocking growth in the space sector
- Collaborating internationally
- Growing the UK as a science and technology superpower
- Developing resilient space capabilities and services
The UK space sector contributes over £16.4 billion annually to the economy and employs around 47,000 people. The new £15 million fund, together with the wider National Space Strategy, aims to support continued sector growth, stimulate investment, and create high-quality jobs across the country.
Recently, the vehicle for the UK’s first domestically launched rocket arrived in Cornwall in preparation for the ‘Start Me Up’ mission, which will carry nine small satellites. Ian Annett, Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, described the imminent launch as a landmark moment for UK space activity. He said developing domestic launch capabilities will strengthen the UK’s space ecosystem, attract international companies, generate investment, create local jobs, and inspire future generations of space scientists and engineers.
The upcoming launch from Spaceport Cornwall will use a horizontal launch method involving a modified Boeing 747 airframe. Separately, vertical launch spaceports in Scotland are planned to begin operations from 2023, expanding the UK’s range of launch options.
(Image Credit: Virgin Orbit)
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