UKSA Kicks Off Farnborough 2024 With New Funding Pledges
22nd Jul 2024
Editor’s note: Our intrepid reporter Hannah Dowling is reporting from Farnborough International Airshow 2024! This item kicks off our coverage of FIA, and we’ll bring you more as the week unfolds, starting with a UKSA new funding announcement.
The UK Space Agency revealed several multi-million-pound funding schemes, assisting dozens of companies working in the UK space sector, as it marks the beginning of the 2024 Farnborough Airshow.
Under the National Space Innovation Program, the UK Government has awarded a further £33 million to 23 companies working to accelerate UK capabilities in space.
Of this, £24 million will be split between eight companies and multi-nationals further to support established projects, such as Rolls Royce’s Derby-based micro-reactor program, HyImpulse’s sub-orbital rocket test project, and OrbitFab’s in-orbit service and refuelling assets. OrbitFab in particular gained £1.3 million in addition to £665,000 in contracts.
A further 15 UK startup projects have been awarded a share of £9 million, to get their projects off the ground. UKSA said these startups 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.”
From UKSA CEO Paul Bate
Speaking of the announcement at Farnborough on Monday, UKSA CEO Dr Paul Bate said, “When we build on existing strengths, we gain a foothold in the fastest growing markets of the future. [These] companies, large and small across the UK, are working hard on solving some of the toughest technological challenges that could and will shape our future.”
Notably, the UKSA chief added that the recipients were also selected, “because of their potential to catalyze investment, real revenue and investment into the sector, from the outside world.
“… together, these projects help to kick start growth to create more high quality jobs and protect our planet and to preserve the space environment for future generations.”
Simultaneously, Bate announced a further £3 million pounds funding call through the European Space Agency’s InCubed program, heralding next-generation earth observation technologies, “focusing on developing new solutions for use by the public sector”.
“InCubed has already delivered innovative missions like the Open Cosmos MANTIS satellite, that launched successfully in November last year,” Bate said. “I want to build on that success.”
Bate highlighted the UK and ESA’s efforts, in collaboration with Axiom Space, to see a commercially-sponsored UK astronaut mission, and the several UK candidates who have completed, or are completing, their astronaut training.
“That mission is about showcasing what space can do for citizens, from cutting edge science and innovative technology demonstrations in microgravity, to the education and outreach work that would run alongside them.
He called the Axiom mission a “genuine global first of its kind”, being both funded by British companies, and using exclusively British astronauts.
Aqualunar Challenge
Finally, Bate announced that the UK Space Agency would be announcing its finalists under the global £1.2 million Aqualunar Challenge, later this week.
This global challenge is focused on finding innovative solutions for human habitation in space, specifically though water purification beneath the Moon’s surface.
The ten finalists will each receive £30,000 in funding to expand their initial proposal, with the eventual final three winners of the challenge assigned a further £300,000 each, as well as “ample” non-financial support in the areas of technology, design, commercialisation, mentoring and networking.
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