UK Space Industry Reacts to Defining Day

Artist’s impression of a UK spaceport. Credit: Perfect Circle PV.

Today has been a pivotal day for the United Kingtom space industry. The U.K. government announced definitive plans for new spaceports, which will enhance its satellite and rocket launch capabilities. In a day full of news, the U.K. government also announced:

• Lockheed Martin will establish vertical launch operations in Sutherland, Scotland and develop innovative technologies in Reading, Berkshire with support from two U.K. Space Agency grants totaling 23.5 million pounds ($31.09 million).
• A further 5.5 million pounds ($7.28 million) will go to U.K.-based Orbex to build an innovative new rocket for launch from Sutherland, as part of the government’s industrial strategy.
• This builds on awards of 2.5 million pounds ($3.31 million) to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to develop a vertical launch spaceport in Sutherland and a 2 million pounds ($2.65 million) development fund for horizontal spaceports such as those planned in Cornwall, Glasgow, Prestwick, and Snowdonia.
• Government support for launch is the first step toward a potential space sector deal and the development of a national space program.

U.K. Space Industry “Now on the Map Again”

The comprehensive spaceport strategy announcement kicked off Farnborough week with a bang. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May spoke at the event today in what could be seen as a defining day for the U.K. space industry.

Alden Advisers Director, and Satellite Finance Network Co-Chair Joanne Wheeler believes that these announcements are huge for the United Kingdom.

“A U.K. launch site will allow the world-leading U.K. smallsat manufacturing, operations, and application industry to be able to launch satellites from the U.K. and not rely on a limited supply of launches abroad,” she told Via Satellite. “This will make the U.K. a one-stop shop for satellite services and a European leader for the best place in Europe to start, develop, and grow a space company.”

Wheeler, who is a member of the Via Satellite Advisory Board, firmly believes that this announcement puts the U.K. back “on the map.”

“The launching of satellites is recognized as a significant and important economic activity, particularly for the smallsat access to space market, where cost and reliability are the competitive selling points. It is also an activity that brings much national prestige,” she said. “The new U.K. Space Industry Act, which received Royal Assent in March 2018, unlocks a new era of British innovation, exploration, and investment in the growing U.K. space industry — and one which is world leading in the manufacturing of small satellites. This announcement puts the U.K. space industry on the map, again, and will encourage more foreign direct investment and engagement in and within the U.K.”

Wheeler believes that that the U.K.’s smallsat manufacturing, operations, and application industry will no longer need to solely rely on a limited supply of launches abroad, making the U.K. one of the most favorable places to start, develop, and grow a space company. “Additionally, such an innovative development in this sector will have the added bonus of acting as a catalyst for innovation in other sectors,” she added.

Wheeler believes that all the elements are in place for the U.K.’s space industry to continue to thrive. “The coming into force of the Space Industry Act, currently the most modern piece of space legislation anywhere in the world, will mean that U.K. companies will be able to compete in the commercial space race using U.K. spaceports,” she said. “The innovation and growth we are seeing in the U.K is impressive, as is the support from the government — but the U.K. cannot be complacent.”

She mentioned that the value of the space industry for economic growth, employment, and innovation is recognized in many other countries and the international competitive landscape is affording keen competition. “The U.K. needs to stay in front — and for that the government needs to work more closely with the space industry and, in turn, the various other industries that the space industry supports,” she said.

Wheeler further added that it is important to note that these announcements do not preclude other vertical and horizontal spaceports.“ Overall and in the context of all the other activities, including through the Space Growth Partnership, this also brings our ambition of gaining 10 percent of the global space market by 2030 more closely within reach,” she concluded.

Orbex

Chris Larmour, chief executive officer of Orbex, a company that will be heavily involved in building rockets, also spoke to Via Satellite today. Larmour said that the U.K. has a strong satellite industry and adding Orbex launch vehicles to the supply chain allows the U.K. to offer an end-to-end satellite solution. “The market seems crowded but the actual operational launch options available to small satellite operators are quite sparse,” he added. “Orbex has focused on building a differentiated offer with a sustainable business model, based on realistic market assessments and business metrics.”

Larmour expects the spaceport to spark change as well as give the U.K. economy a significant boost. “We estimate a boost of around 1.2 billion pouds ($1.59 billion) to the U.K. economy from the activities enabled by the Orbex launch capability,” he said. “It gives the U.K., and Europe, a truly local launch solution that allows a fully integrated end-to-end satellite offering. With Orbex launch solutions we will open more flexible and responsive options that fit the needs of the local developers precisely.”

The U.K. already has some pretty ambitious revenue targets for its space industry. Larmour outlined the challenges ahead, both for Orbex and the U.K. space industry as a whole. “There are several key activities in progress, from regulation to development of the Orbex launcher to the build out of the launch site. All of those activities have to happen in parallel, with close cooperation, in order to allow the Orbex launcher to operate successfully and safely from the U.K.,” he said. “The Sutherland Spaceport — and the Orbex launcher — are key enablers of some of those ambitions, allowing the development of a completely new opportunity in launch activities and the growth of the already successful U.K. satellite industry.”