Funding Boost for Cutting-edge UK Space Technology

More than 20 national space projects were announced by DSIT Secretary of State Peter Kyle on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow.

The projects, worth £33 million in total, 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.

Of the 20 projects 7 fund the development of technologies which are directly relevant to space sustainability, representing investment worth £5.1m:

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.

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. 

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. 

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). 

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. 

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