TORONTO, ONTARIO, September 3, 2020 (Kepler Communications PR) – Kepler’s Low Earth Orbit constellation expanded earlier today with the successful launch of its third satellite. This satellite, internally referred to as TARS, was launched onboard the Arianespace Vega SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) from the Guiana Space Centre at approximately 01:51 UTC, with communication established shortly thereafter.
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HARWELL, UK (Satellite Applications Catapult PR) — According to press reports, the UK government is a partner in a bid for OneWeb, the UK- headquartered satellite communications company which, following the well-publicised financial difficulties of a major investor, entered Chapter 11 in March. If these reports are true, and the bid is successful, then it is great news for the UK space sector and UK citizens.
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Huh.
The Financial Times reports that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to invest about £500 million ($621 million) as part of a wider consortium bid in bankrupt satellite provider OneWeb.
The company, which planned to offer satellite broadband services, launched 74 spacecraft in Earth orbit before it ran out of money in March. OneWeb has a manufacturing facility in Florida that is a joint venture with Airbus.
The British government is looking to develop its own satellite navigation system because UK companies were barred from being involved in the European Union’s (EU) Galileo system after Britain left the trade bloc.
However, developing and launching a separate system could cost more than £5 billion ($6.2 billion). U.S. defense officials were also opposed to the creating of a rival to the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The Financial Times reports that the Satellite Applications Catapult has proposed installing navigation technology on future OneWeb satellites. Spacecraft manufacturing would be moved from Florida to Britain.
The navigation system based on low orbiting OneWeb satellites would serve as a supplement, not a rival, to the GPS satellites.
Bids for OneWeb are due on Friday. There is reported interest from groups in France and China.
CHANTILLY, Virginia and OXFORD, England, December 10, 2019 (TriSept PR) – TriSept Corporation, a leading provider of launch integration management services for commercial and government missions, has signed a comprehensive teaming agreement with Satellite Applications Catapult, to explore and accelerate new innovations, missions and space access across the burgeoning UK space industry and beyond.
Satellite Applications Catapult, part of The Catapult network and one of dozens of innovative firms based at the Harwell Space Cluster, provides world-leading facilities and expertise for the benefit of the UK space sector. TriSept also announced its alliance with SA Catapult includes a full-time presence on the Harwell campus, where TriSept will expand its global launch integration services business in 2020.
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NEWPORT, Wales (UK Space Agency PR) — The proposed ‘Space Bridge’, borne out of the highly successful ‘FinTech Bridge’ already in existence between the UK and Australia, will unlock greater collaboration between governments, regulators and industry.
The agreement, announced this morning at the UK Space Conference will further the ambitions set out in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two agencies in October 2018 and lay the foundations for swift and amicable negotiations for space-related opportunities under any potential future UK-Australia trading arrangements.
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CORNWALL, UK ( Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership PR) — Business and space industry leaders are backing plans to create the UK’s first horizontal launch spaceport in Cornwall.
Spaceport Cornwall would use planes rather than vertical take-off rockets to put satellites into space from Cornwall Airport Newquay as early as next year, in partnership with California-based launch company Virgin Orbit.
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UPSALA, Sweden (ÅAC Microtec PR) — ÅAC Microtec AB’s subsidiary, Clyde Space, has signed a contract with the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult to upgrade an existing order for the IOD Program from an 3U CubeSat to an enhanced 6U CubeSat. The contract value is 0.2 MGBP (approx. 2.5 MSEK) [$270,513].
The satellite is part of the In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) Program, funded by Innovate UK, the UK Government’s innovation agency, and led by the Satellite Applications Catapult. The spacecraft will be delivered as the IOD-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) through launch providers Nanoracks in the second half of 2020.
TORONTO (Kepler Communications PR) — Kepler has contracted leading UK small satellite manufacturer, ÅAC Clyde, for a 6U satellite bus in support of the machine-to-machine communications mission. This new platform, TARS, will be the third built by the company for Kepler’s growing constellation, offering satellite communication services for Internet of Things (IoT) and data backhaul applications. The mission is part of the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult In-Orbit Demonstration Mission 5.
Lockheed Martin UK Spaceflight Programme Video from Lockheed Martin Space on Vimeo.
FARNBOROUGH, England, July 16, 2018 (Northrop Grumman PR) — The UK Space Agency has selected Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to help implement its vision for the UK Spaceflight Programme, an innovative initiative to create a world-leading commercial launch market that grows the UK economy through regular, reliable and responsible access to space.
The world’s only dedicated space tech Venture Capital fund reaches £70m closeLONDON (Seraphim Capital PR) — A new revolution in Earth Observation is underway driven by low cost satellites and drones/UAVs enabling data that will be defining our changing world over the next decade. A new venture fund launched by Seraphim Capital has been established to capitalize on this opportunity.
DIDCOT, England (Satellite Applications Catapult) — The Satellite Applications Catapult has welcomed the launch of the £50m Seraphim Space Fund, describing it as a “game-changing boost to the UK space industry”.
The UK-based fund is the first of its size anywhere in the world, focusing on investing in early-stage technology companies emerging from the ‘new space’ revolution. It will invest in commercial applications in both software and hardware opportunities, as well as in technologies that have potential space applications such as artificial intelligence, robotics and nanomaterials.
Video Caption: The UK space sector is worth £11.8bn and aims to create a £40bn industry by 2030. The Catapult is tasked with helping generate £5bn of this total. Discover how we’re doing so.
GLASGOW, Scotland (Clyde Space PR) — Clyde Space, Scotland’s leading-edge space technology company, is to provide the satellites for a new pilot programme offering quick, regular and more affordable access to space.
The Glasgow-based company announced today it has been commissioned by the Satellite Applications Catapult and Innovate UK to build four CubeSats for the £1.5 million project.
The satellites will eventually be launched from the International Space Station (ISS) in an ‘in-orbit demonstration’ (IOD) of technical and business propositions that have a high projected return on investment. The Launch opportunities from the ISS are provided by NanoRacks, via its Space Act Agreement with NASA’s U.S. National Lab.
In-Orbit CubeSat Demonstration Program
Satellite Applications Catapult
Innovate UK
Opportunity code: OPP1014
Closing Date: 31 May 2016
Overview:
The Satellite Applications Catapult and Innovate UK have announced the creation of an In-Orbit Demonstration Programme offering quick, regular and more affordable access to space for payload and platform technology providers to demonstrate technical and business propositions with a high projected return on investment and a clear route to a market.
The In-orbit Demonstration Programme takes advantage of the UK heritage in in-orbit demonstration (i.e. UKube-1 and TDS-1) and partnership with NewSpace companies. It offers flight-proven CubeSat platform solutions and frequent launch opportunities from the ISS provided by NanoRacks, via its Space Act Agreement with NASA’s U.S. National Lab.
LONDON (UK Space Leadership Council PR) — Working under the auspices of the UK Space Leadership Council (SLC), a new Space Industry Advisory Group has been established to provide expertise on the requirements for a UK spaceport and associated small satellite launch operations.
Chaired by Stuart Martin, Chief Executive of the Satellite Applications Catapult, the Group comprises leading industrialists from the launch service community, the user domain of satellite manufacturing and operations, and from businesses focusing on delivery of downstream satellite services.
Reliable, accessible and low-cost access to space was identified as one of the essential enablers for long-term sustainable growth of the UK space sector in the 2010 Innovation and Growth Strategy (IGS). The Group will provide expert advice to the SLC on the infrastructure, technology and business of spaceports and launchers, and support stakeholders across government as they develop and implement the necessary policy and regulation.
Chairman, Stuart Martin, said: “The challenge of securing reliable, low-cost access to space creates a real opportunity for a complete end-to-end service from the UK. Establishing an operational spaceport will position the UK to take advantage of emerging demand for small satellite launches and scientific microgravity research, and to respond to future demand for space tourism and commercial space flight.”
