UK Space Agency provides £2.1m funding for UK spaceflight capabilities

The initial nine projects involve work at Lancaster University, the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey, Swansea University, University of Strathclyde, Durham University (two projects), University of Southampton, Space Forge and Imperial College London.

Applications to receive backing, for example, include enabling 5G and 6G data transmissions from space, micro LEDs for satellite quantum key distribution, electro-thermal propulsion systems, EUV integral field spectrographs and the Development of a cold spray metal additive to help in-orbit servicing and manufacturing…

ETP

Specifically, the funding is the first round of investment from the UK Space Agency’s Enabling Technologies Programme, part of the National Space Innovation Programme, which aims to support UK companies breaking ground in technologies to enhance spaceflight capabilities.

This initial funding will, says the UKSA, be followed by “a series of funding rounds open to commercial businesses, academia and not-for-profit organisations promising cutting-edge technologies that will take UK space capabilities to new heights.”

“These projects showcase the diversity of skills in space-related science and engineering that are growing all over the UK,” said Craig Brown, UK Space Agency Director of Investment, pictured.

“By supporting innovations in emerging and new areas of space technology, such as space-based solar power, extreme ultraviolet Integral Field Spectroscopy, electrothermal propulsion and more, we ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of global advances in space, generating more business opportunities and inspiring more people about the many career options that this thriving sector offers.”

Projects

The UKSA describes the projects as follows:

Lancaster University (£240,000)
E-band travelling wave tubes for high throughput satellites – Design and creation of a high power, compact, low-cost E-band travelling wave tube amplifier to enable 5G and 6G high data transmission.

Surrey Space Centre, University of Surrey (£250,000)
Plasma torch rocket electro-thermal thruster for space logistics (PLATOR) – Development of a new electro-thermal propulsion system to enhance in-orbit servicing, manufacturing and spacecraft manoeuvring.

Swansea University (£250,000)
Levitated opto-mechanical technologies in space (LOTIS) – This project develops key technologies, including nano-particle sourcing, conditioning, and optical trapping, to enable levitated opto-mechanics for large mass fundamental quantum mechanics experiments and inertial and space environment sensing.

University of Strathclyde (£250,000)
Micro LEDs for satellite quantum key distribution – Development integration of UV micro-LEDs to enable compact, low-power, robust sources for satellite quantum key distribution, which will support technology for encrypted communications.

Durham University (£250,000)
Advancing metal optics technology for space systems – This project aims to develop metal optics, enabling higher performance, more compact, instrument concepts for Earth Observation and for exploration missions.

Durham University (£190,000)
Looking up image slicers optimum capabilities in the extreme ultraviolet for space (LUCES) – Exploring image slicer technology in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) to develop the first ever EUV integral field spectrograph that could enable observations of the Sun and advance high energy astrophysics.

University of Southampton (£240,000)
Silicon photonic beam pointing for free space optical communications – Development of a novel beam steering chip for free-space optical communications, enabling fully solid-state communications.

Space Forge (£230,000)
Project Helios solar array – Development of a deployable and retractable solar array for use within a returnable spacecraft and to enable in-orbit servicing.

Imperial College London (£200,000)
Cold spray manufacturing for space (COSMOS) – Development of a cold spray metal additive to help in-orbit servicing, manufacturing and exploration missions.

See also: Durham measures optical turbulence in atmosphere for FSO comms networks