Leading space technology manufactured in the UK was showcased at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).
David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science with Phil Davies, Head of Business Development Activities, SSTL. Credit: UK Space Agency
The exhibition was designed to show the diverse range of space technology and applications produced in the UK, from satellites to spacecraft engines.
Science Minister David Willetts said:
it’s crucial that UK companies take advantage of rapidly growing markets like space technology
“Manufacturing has a vital role to play in rebalancing our economy, so it’s crucial that UK companies take advantage of rapidly growing markets like space technology.
“The companies displaying here today and many more are producing and exporting high value products and services, expanding their companies and employing more people.
“The UK space sector is worth around £7.5 billion to our economy annually and directly employs almost 25,000 people, and this Government is committed to working with industry to build on this strength.”
Colin Paynter, CEO, Astrium UK said:
“For the best part of half a century we have steadily built up a prime capability in the UK for the design and manufacture of sophisticated spacecraft.
This exhibition demonstrates the breadth of the UK’s space industry and showcases the expertise we have in developing a full range of space applications
This exhibition demonstrates the breadth of the UK’s space industry and showcases the expertise we have in developing a full range of space applications.
This includes the latest telecommunication satellites that are bringing broadband Internet to remote parts of the world, Earth observation spacecraft that are improving our knowledge of climate change and cutting-edge missions that are exploring our solar system and beyond.”
Exhibits at BIS include:
- Models of HYLAS 1, Ka-Sat and Gaia satellites produced by Astrium, Europe’s leading company for space technologies with manufacturing sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage
- Model of the Synergistic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) for the Skylon space plane manufactured by Reaction Engines Limited, a British company that designs and develops advanced space transportation and propulsion systems based in Oxfordshire
- Model of the SSTL 300, an Earth Observation Satellite produced by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, a subsidiary of Astrium based in Guildford
- Equipment provided to the European Space Agency’s ExoMars and BepiColumbo missions to study Mars and Mercury produced by Magna Parva, a science and technology company based in Leicestershire.
The next showcase event is planned for 19 – 30 September 2011 and will focus on the chemical sector.