The space industry is full of acronyms, but TRL or ‘technology readiness level’ is one that we hear often for many new and emerging markets. As a measure of the availability and status of the technology required for an operation, it gives an indication of how close to ‘lift-off’ is the said technology. In-orbit services […]
With the UK having left Europe, the Government has updated its information on the EU space programmes in which the UK participates. The new advice relates to the European satellite navigation programmes (Galileo and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service EGNOS), the Copernicus Earth observation space programme, and the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EUSST) programme. […]
The United Nations’ Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), through its consensus process, has accomplished much over the decades, most notably helping to produce the five space treaties and related guiding principles. But it has been unable to produce the international framework of laws to regulate private activity in outer space. As […]
Three significant trends are shaping the start-up space environment as we enter the 2020s. First, investors continue to pour large amounts of capital into start-up space ventures, shattering previous records as increasing numbers of investors fund more recipients. Second, years into start-up space investment, many ventures still have yet to demonstrate profitability and sustainability, creating […]
The mandatory ESA Space Science Programme (SSP) is designed first and foremost to undertake frontier scientific research concerning the Solar System, our Sun and the Universe beyond. At the same time, the programme is charged with stimulating competitive industrial capability. Through a combination of direct and competitive procurement, UK industry regularly secures major ESA contracts […]
ESA and Roscosmos have delayed the second ExoMars mission to the Red Planet, citing a lack of time to complete the necessary tests on the spacecraft components. In the frame of a dedicated meeting, ESA and Roscosmos heads Jan Wörner and Dmitry Rogozin agreed that further tests to the spacecraft with the final hardware and […]
Some £900m was promised in the Budget for investment to support UK businesses in developing future technologies, and space is certainly included within that. The National Space Strategy and a new space innovation fund will receive money from that £900m, but exactly how much was not specified. Space is just one area in the mix, […]
The UK Space Agency is working hard across Government to develop a new and comprehensive space strategy and also to establish a National Space Council. This will ensure that space is properly considered at the top table of Government; space is already being taken seriously within Westminster and has more support now than ever. This was the […]
Raytheon, in collaboration with the UK Department for International Trade, has welcomed more than two dozen British businesses to a UK Space Supplier Conference in Los Angeles, California. The conference created opportunities for small and medium-sized British businesses to enter the fast-moving and dynamic space sector. “In 2016 and 2017, this sector contributed £14.8 billion […]
The UK space sector, the jewel in our industrial crown, is at a crossroads. Brexit has presented hurdles, as well as potential opportunities for the sector. While the sector does well at selling overseas, the global market is becoming more competitive. As a result, there is mounting pressure on the UK space sector to maintain […]
A large space sector delegation from Canada has visited the UK to explore new partnerships and seek valuable opportunities to use space data, supported by the UK Space Agency. More than 20 representatives from the Canadian space industry and government visited the Harwell Space Cluster in Oxfordshire as well as organisations in London, Surrey Research […]
Loughborough-based Previsico has signed up to the national SPRINT business support programme to work with the University of Leicester on a major flood forecasting project. The University of Leicester will provide Previsico with flood extent information retrieved from satellite imagery. This will be combined with real-time flood models based on meteorological forecasts to enhance the […]
The UK Space Agency published its spending data for the final quarter of 2019 in early March, highlighting funding of some £14.4m in R&D, current and capital grants to the private sector. This is some way behind the £32.6 from the same quarter in 2018, but it rounded out the year to more or less […]
The world demand for rare and precious metals is growing, and a mix of political turmoil and natural scarcity are contributing to fears that the global supply will be unable to keep up. As supplies dwindle, demand grows, and prices rise, the new private company-based space race might offer a solution to the shortage. While […]
Every week Space Industry Bulletin updates this page with the latest ESA invitations to tender, taken from the emits pages of the ESA website. For more information and to submit
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