Satellite Applications Catapult & DMC Ink Partnership

Satellite Applications Catapult and the Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) have agreed on a partnership. This marks a critical step forward in the UK government’s objective to capture a 10 per cent of the space industry market by 2030.

DMC, a leading Additive Manufacturing production facility, actively supplies companies in advanced fields. In particular, DMC works in the MedTech, energy, automotive, motorsport, defence, aerospace, and space industries. 

Satellite Applications Catapult is an innovation and tech business that supports early-stage companies with commercial and technical advice, providing unique equipment and facilities.

One of the main challenges Satellite Applications Catapult aims to resolve is that of manufacturing in space, which additive manufacturing could revolutionise. Teams on the ground will engineer spares and parts, and the respective designs would be transmitted to stations and spacecraft in orbit for production via onboard additive manufacturing.

Supporting the UK space sector

Both businesses are eager to make sure that the advantages of their joint capabilities can directly support the UK space industry.

Head of access to space at Satellite Applications Catapult, Mike Curtis-Rouse, commented:

“It follows closely from the announcement of our partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre earlier this year, and will further strengthen the development of the next generation of technology for the space sector.

“Our mission is to help grow the UK space industry on the world stage. 

Our role is to bridge the gap between industry and academia to deliver viable commercial solutions to the challenges of space ensuring that the right technology is used for the right application.”

The CEO of the DMC, Kieron Salter, said the following: 

“The UK space sector is expected to undergo significant growth over the next decade. Integral to these ambitions is a highly-capable supply chain that understands the unique challenges of the industry and is able to service those requirements.

“In addition to supporting manufacturing for the space industry on Earth, our joint ambition is to have a DMC-led AM capability in space – either in orbit, on the moon, or another planet entirely.”