£33 million boost for national space programme

The projects, worth £33 million, come from the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme – designed to invest in high-potential technologies, drive innovation and unlock growth across the UK.

Eight major projects will receive £24 million of the total amount. These include funding for a sub-orbital rocket test by HyImpulse (Glasgow) from SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland, support for Rolls Royce (Derby) to develop micro reactors to support space exploration, and backing for Cambridge University spin-out SuperSharp to develop and launch a heat-detecting telescope to gather data that can be used to help tackle the climate crisis. 

The funding will also support Lúnasa (Harwell) to build and test technology to help satellites safely dock with one another, Orbit Fab (Harwell) to develop a solution for satellite refuelling, and Wayland Additive (Huddersfield) to develop an electronic propulsion system. 

A project led by Spire Global (Glasgow) will further develop technology to supply unique weather forecasting data to global weather prediction centres, while ETL Systems (Hereford) will advance revolutionary ground equipment that links satellites to 5G and 6G mobile networks, improving connectivity. 

DSIT Secretary of State Peter Kyle said: "From combatting climate change to staying connected with loved ones, space technologies play an important role in many aspects of our day to day lives. 

"But backing the growth of UK space companies is also essential for driving economic growth, boosting productivity, and creating wealth in every community. 

“Our £33m investment in these projects highlights the huge potential of the UK's space industry, especially as we collaborate with international partners."

An additional 15 ‘Kick Starter’ projects will receive £9 million between them. These will support technologies and applications that are in an earlier stage of development and increase their readiness for use in commercial and scientific endeavours. The projects cover a wide range of space-related capabilities, from in-orbit servicing and manufacturing, as well as advanced material development and the use of satellite imagery. 

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 go to the heart of what we want to achieve as a national space agency that supports cutting-edge innovation, spreads opportunity across the UK and delivers the benefits of space back to citizens on Earth.”

Chair of the UKspace trade association, John Hanley, said: "This investment into the space industry demonstrates the importance of funding through a national programme to unlock innovative collaborations in all parts of the UK. We hope this will further strengthen the sector, and build upon the growth we have seen in recent years."

Major projects

SHARP (Sustainable Hybrid: Accelerated Rocket Programme): £5 million - Led by HyImpulse UK in partnership with Cranfield University, Birmingham University and AVICON Partnership. 

This project aims to conduct the vertical launch of a sounding rocket from SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland, with the goal of developing key components contributing to an orbital launch service. HyImpulse intends to provide a fully vertically integrated launch service for a low-cost, fast, flexible, and reliable deployment of small satellites to low Earth and sun synchronous orbits.

An in-orbit demonstration of an unfolding TIR space telescope for climate change mitigation: £5 million - Led by Super Sharp Space Systems in partnership with the University of Cambridge.

The project will support the launch of an innovative, unfolding, thermal infrared (TIR) telescope into orbit for Earth Observation. The TIR telescope will collect data to drive positive action towards mitigating climate change.

Space Nuclear Power Micro-Reactor Technology Development and Demonstration: £4.8 million - Led by Rolls-Royce Submarines in partnership with Bangor University, University of Oxford and Rolls Royce Bristol.

The project will 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. 

OHMS-Sat (Operational Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder-Satellite): £3.5 million - Led by Spire Global in partnership with STAR-Dundee, the Met Office and STFC RAL Space.

This project will build on the prior developments of the Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder (HYMS) to accelerate it towards an operational mission to supply weather forecasting data to global numerical weather prediction (NWP) centres and create unique weather products. 

Electric Propulsion Innovations for Space and Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing: £2.7 million - Led by Wayland Additive in partnership with Mars Space Ltd.

The project aims to adapt Mars Space Ltd (MSL)’s spacecraft electric propulsion technology and apply it to Electron Beam Metal Powder Additive Manufacturing in Wayland Additive Ltd’s Calibur machines. The access to, and spinout of, this technology to terrestrial applications will result in economies of scale for the MSL hollow cathode technology, benefiting both the space and terrestrial sectors.   

SPITFIRE (Servicing Propellant Interface Technology For In-orbit Refuelling Effectiveness): £1.3 million - Led by Orbit Fab in partnership with MDA Space and Robotics, and the University of Southampton. 

The project will develop a full high-pressure interface solution to flight qualification level. This will bring together all the critical elements of refuelling for a UK-developed pressure agnostic interface solution that could be used on all future Orbit Fab refuelling missions in the pipeline.

Proximus Prime: Autonomous vision-based Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO) demonstration mission in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using Small Satellites: £1 million - Led by Lúnasa in partnership with Orbit Fab.

Lúnasa intends to co-engineer, integrate and test its autonomous Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO) Kit around Orbit Fab’s commercially available satellite docking and refuelling interface. Lúnasa will deploy the RPO Kit into Space and perform a first-of-its kind commercial satellite autonomous close-proximity demonstration between two MicroSats.

DIF Lite project - Digital IF for Satellite mobile ground terminals and antennas:  £690,000 - Led by ETL Systems. 

ETL Systems will develop an advancement in satellite ground segment technology, merging Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) including satellites, with terrestrial networks such as 5G and 6G, alongside cloud virtualisation. This will facilitate seamless waveform alterations and accommodate edge devices like satellite terminals. 

Kickstarter projects

SuperMagdrive: £1 million - Led by Magdrive in partnership with Orbit Fab and the University of Southampton.

This project will develop and scale up Magdrive’s plasma propulsion system - ‘SuperMagdrive’. The project focuses on development of the power system, ultimately demonstrating the technology with a test fire. Applications of this technology range from rendezvous and proximity operations to in space refuelling operations, contributing to a more sustainable space.  

Development of an ultra-high efficiency, low-cost flexible solar blanket and compact, modular roll-out mechanism for in-orbit deployment: £980,000 - Led by Lightricity in partnership with AVS Added Value Solutions and University of Leicester. 

Lightricity will work with partners to deliver a roll-out, in-orbit deployable flexible solar blanket or sheet for application in powering satellite payloads and potentially satellite electric propulsion, particularly suitable for small to medium satellites.

DIGGER (Drilling and Integrated GigaHertz-Generated Energy Resource) for Lunar and Asteroid applications: £850,000 - Led by STFC in partnership with University of Strathclyde, UK Atomic Energy Authority and SJE Space.

DIGGER is a feasibility study into whether terrestrial directed energy drilling (plasmas/microwaves) could be adapted for space applications, specifically lunar exploration.

Direct Detection Receivers for Millimetre Wave Radiometry: £830,000 - Led by STFC RAL Space in partnership with University of Glasgow and Spire Global. 

The project will develop critical low noise amplifier and detector technology which will be at the core of the next generation of atmospheric remote sensing instrumentation. Applications extend beyond gathering data for weather prediction, with use cases being developed in emerging fields of millimetre wave non-destructive testing, short pulse laser and synchrotron diagnostics, security imaging, and theft prevention.      

TARS-IOD: Flight-ready model for In-Orbit Demonstration of Tomorrow’s Astro-Robotic System: £800,000 - Led by Lodestar Space in partnership with Momentus Space, Growbotics and University of Glasgow. 

Lodestar Space will develop a platform-agnostic modular robotic arm to perform contact dependent dynamic space operations. Intended for flight on Momentus’ Vigoride platform, the partnership also involves Growbotics and the University of Glasgow to equip the UK with sovereign capabilities for inspecting, protecting, and repairing vital assets beyond Earth.

SCOPE (Solar Coronagraph for OPErations): Development and testing towards an environmentally-qualified model: £770,000 - Led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

A project continuing the development of the SCOPE coronagraph, UKRI aims to image solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), enhancing our ability to predict CME arrival and thereby space weather, progressing towards an environmentally-qualified instrument.

REALM (Rapid information extraction for environmental remote sensing on board spacecraft through application of light Machine Learning models in payload computing systems): £690,000 - Led by University of Leicester. 

The project will develop and demonstrate streamlined machine learning algorithms capable of complying with spacecraft power and computing performance requirements using drones. The project addresses the need for real-time and near real-time operation of various Earth observation applications ranging from wildfire detection to transport congestion monitoring.

Advanced Microscopy and Thermal Control Upgrades to the SpaceLab Microgravity Research System: £560,000 - Led by Frontier Space Technologies, in partnership with Cranfield University.

Frontier Space Technologies Ltd and Cranfield University will develop their SpaceLab, capable of conducting experiments in microgravity environments. Specific upgrades will significantly enhance capability for drug discovery and in orbit manufacture of high value products. Applications include pharmaceuticals, biosciences and material science.

Multifunctional lightweight superstrates for high performance space PV (photovoltaics): £480,000 - Led by Loughborough University in partnership with the University of Cambridge. 

The project will develop a novel space photovoltaic device, enabling low cost, highly resilient solar power systems which meet the complex demands of next generation space applications.     

FIBSTAR (FIBre STeered SpAce Reflective mirrors): £450,000 - Led by iCOMAT in partnership with Cranfield University

The project will develop and prototype lightweight carbon fibre mirrors using novel fibre steering technology. The primary aims are to develop a simulation design framework, then produce a representative demo article to validate benefits of fibre-steering.

ABEP (Air Breathing Electric Propulsion) Intake End-To-End Simulation & Design: £390,000 - Led by Stellar Advanced Concepts in partnership with the University of Manchester.

The project will work on simulating an Air Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system to unlock new capabilities in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO).

Transmitter for D-band MIMO enabled by traveling wave tubes for ultra-throughput satellites: £390,000 - Led by Lancaster University

Lancaster University will develop a satellite transmitter enabling ultra-capacity satellite links at D-band (134 – 141 GHz) with a novel multiple antenna technique, or MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) powered by Travelling Wave Tubes (TWTs).

CLASP (Capture of Large Spacecraft): £310,000 - Led by ClearSpace Today in partnership with the Satellite Applications Catapult. 

The project will develop a versatile capture mechanism for large unprepared satellites. The development involves analysing potential clients and identifying safe capture locations, creating a simulation tool for studying capture scenarios and trialling a robotics system based on the preliminary design of the capture mechanism.

Biocomputer System for Space Biomanufacturing: £300,000 - Led by BiologIC Technologies in partnership with Axiom Space.

The project will optimise BiologIC Technologies’ biomanufacturing system, built using world-leading biocomputer technology, to withstand space launch, operate in microgravity and ensure compatibility with space infrastructure.

SOARS (Sewage) Outfall Assessment by Remote Sensing (SOARS): £250,000 - Led by HR Wallingford.

The project will test the feasibility of two sets of novel Earth Observation innovations, addressing the strategic priority of sewage spills. SOARS will apply oil spill identification techniques to sewage spills and employ novel machine learning techniques to assess their impact.