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13 May 2024 – The Satellite Applications Catapult and The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) UK Ltd initiated discussions for collaboration and linking of their two robotics facilities –– one in Westcott, UK, and the other in El Segundo, California, USA.

Integration of these facilities will allow faster validation and verification of emerging in-space servicing capabilities, whilst promoting international collaboration. This in turn will benefit the entire sector, reducing the time companies take to develop products and ultimately delivering proofs of concept for funders, investors and insurers more quickly.

In-scope technologies include innovative commercial artificial intelligence solutions for rendezvous and proximity operations in space, which serve the national interest of both countries.

This type of coordinated testing builds international confidence in linked capabilities, consistent with the Collaboration Statement for IOSM/ISAM between UKspace, the UK’s space sector trade association, CONFERS and AIAA to realise the synergies of working together.

“This opportunity allows both nations to build confidence to accelerate the path from development to deployment by providing answers to the questions raised by regulators, investors, integrators and those who insure these activities. The initiative builds on benefits of testbeds and proving grounds to inform stakeholders across the space enterprise to see rapid returns on their investments.” said Ron Birk, Principal Director of Space Enterprise Evolution Directorate in the Aerospace Corporation Civil Systems Group.

“The Aerospace Corporation in the UK works to connect initiatives in the national interests of both countries and this integration will allow us to unlock immense benefits for companies in the UK and the US. We see this as a first step in enabling commercial entities to collectively establish trust through delivering ‘flight proven equivalency’ for our collective national capabilities” said David Sandy, Managing Director of The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd.

“This agreement will open doors for companies in the US and UK. Both countries have invested in cutting edge and complementary new space testing facilities focussed on in-orbit services, assembly and manufacturing. Sharing and streamlining access to those facilities means UK companies get easier access to US facilities and US companies get easier access to UK facilities. That makes sense for everyone.” said Richard Lowe, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Westcott IOSM Yard

The IOSM Yard is a state-of-the-art facility for testing close-proximity operations and in-orbit servicing technologies. It provides a dynamic platform to validate technologies prior to launch using robotic equipment to simulate a microgravity environment. The yard is currently undergoing a £2m upgrade funded by the UK Space Agency to support the growing IOSM sector within the UK, providing access to the large-scale equipment needed to replicate orbital conditions and flight dynamics.

CAVE

Collaborative & Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem (CAVE): CAVE provides an environment and ecosystem for research, development, integration and testing of autonomous sub-systems and systems using Vicon motion capture camera, robotic arms, rovers and drones to explore how increased autonomy and collaborative robotics will make autonomous space systems manageable.

About Satellite Applications Catapult

The Satellite Applications Catapult is an independent innovation and technology company, created by Innovate UK to drive economic growth through the exploitation of space. We work with businesses of all sizes to realise their potential from space infrastructure and its applications, and we bring together multi-disciplinary teams to generate ideas and solutions in an open innovation environment. For more information visit https://sa.catapult.org.uk/.

About The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd

The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd is the wholly owned UK subsidiary of The Aerospace Corporation. Headquartered in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this small-to-medium enterprise is focused on supporting a number of different government organizations in the UK space economy. The company has been established to support UK efforts in a variety of space areas, including launch, space situational awareness, systems acquisition, and program management. For more information, visit https://aerospacecorp.uk/.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 27, 2021 – The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) announced today that its wholly owned UK subsidiary, The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd (Aerospace UK), was awarded a two-year, £3 million contract by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to provide technical and policy support.

Specifically, Aerospace UK will provide UKSA with independent technical expertise and specialist advice in support of policy development and implementation, successful program delivery, strategic decisionmaking, and international and sector-specific engagement approaches at a critical moment for the UK space enterprise.

“Our strengths in research and development, innovation, and technology place us in a perfect position to take a meaningful role in the new Space Age, and work collaboratively and effectively with our international partners,” said Ian Annett, UKSA deputy CEO for Programme Delivery. “Our partnership with The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd will allow us to build on our sovereign capabilities and realize our goal of achieving 10 percent of the global space economy by 2030.”

A vital part of UKSA’s work is to ensure it continues to operate in the national interest. The UK space sector contributes £6.6 billion annually to the UK economy and supports £5.8 billion annually in exports. New space trends provide significant opportunities for the UK to realize significant economic and national security ambitions for space, including launching satellites from the UK in 2022. The UK has established a new Cabinet committee dedicated to space, the National Space Council, and is developing a new National Space Strategy. Also, space has been designated part of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure, given satellites support £360 billion of UK gross domestic product, public services, and key economic sectors ranging from agriculture to finance.

Leveraging Aerospace’s unique specialist skills, technical expertise and capabilities spanning the entire space enterprise will enable UKSA to develop in areas of high value for the UK as it pursues a more robust role in the global space environment. In turn, Aerospace demonstrates its commitment to integrating and elevating the entire space enterprise through this collaboration with a key U.S. ally.

“Space-based technology and infrastructure allows for the smooth functioning of virtually every aspect of our daily lives on Earth. With so much depending on the space domain, the UK is building a cross-government, enterprise approach to space,” said Gina Galasso, managing director for Aerospace UK. “Aerospace is pleased to offer our specialized expertise to support our UK customers as they tackle this vital undertaking.”

About The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd

The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd is the wholly owned UK subsidiary of The Aerospace Corporation. Headquartered in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this small-to-medium enterprise is focused on supporting a number of different government organizations in the UK space economy. The company has been established to support UK efforts in a variety of space areas, including launch, space situational awareness, systems acquisition, and program management. For more information, visit https://aerospacecorp.uk/. 

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 7, 2021 – The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) announced today that its wholly owned U.K. subsidiary, The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd (Aerospace UK), has secured a one-year contract for £500,000 to advise the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) Space Directorate on a decision-making framework for space capabilities.

“Space is critical to securing operational advantage and enabling multi-domain integration: It is the responsibility of my team to deliver space coherency across defense and ensure we are aligned with other Whitehall Departments,” said Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Harv Smyth, Director of Space at the MoD. “Whilst we are the single touch point for space in defense, this is a team effort, and we are delighted to be working with The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd, whose expertise over many years spans the entire space enterprise.”

Aerospace UK will bring Aerospace’s 60 years of technical expertise and insight to help address the MoD Space Directorate’s challenges, in parallel with U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond’s Planning Guidance objective to strengthen the space capabilities of U.S. allies.

“Working with our allies directly, and through common mission partners, we strengthen our mutual ability to rapidly deliver war-winning capabilities,” said Lt. Gen. John Thompson, Space and Missile Systems Center commander. “As the United Kingdom stands up their new Space Command and embarks on their first national space strategy this year, we are excited to work alongside our longest ally to deepen these ties. Through U.K.-U.S. efforts like International Space Pitch Days and collaborative exploration of how to integrate our complementary space systems together, our mission partners help us collectively deliver coalition capabilities that will outpace the threat.”

In its March 16 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, the U.K. established that it views space as fundamental to the delivery of military capability and to the functioning of wider society. As access to space is increasingly congested and contested, the MoD is developing space capabilities and infrastructure that will enable the U.K. to continue to operate effectively in a degraded or denied space environment. Effective strategic planning underpins the MoD’s response to the evolving space security environment. 

“Space is a complex and expensive environment, and we understand the dedication and collaboration required to achieve success,” said Gina Galasso, Aerospace U.K.’s managing director. “We are excited to be working with AVM Smyth and his team to help them develop and deliver space capabilities necessary for their protect-and-defend mission.”

About The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd

The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd is the wholly owned U.K. subsidiary of The Aerospace Corporation. Headquartered in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this small-to-medium enterprise is focused on supporting a number of different government organizations in the U.K. space economy. The company has been established to support U.K. efforts in a variety of space areas, including launch, space situational awareness, systems acquisition, and program management. For more information, visit https://aerospacecorp.uk/.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 25, 2021 – The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) announced its opening of The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd (Aerospace UK), a wholly owned, UK-based subsidiary.

As an extension of Aerospace’s role as an objective technical advisor for the space enterprise, Aerospace UK will support a key U.S. ally under contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Aerospace UK will provide technical support as the UK develops a new set of space policies and initiatives. For 60 years, Aerospace has operated a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) dedicated to solving the hardest problems for the U.S. space enterprise and its allies.

“Establishing Aerospace UK demonstrates Aerospace’s commitment to advancing the global space community and stronger, deeper partnerships with U.S. allies,” said Steve Isakowitz, Aerospace president and CEO. “We are pleased to provide the technical expertise and strategic insights that have made us a trusted partner to the U.S. space enterprise to support the UK in shaping its future in space.”

The UK is emphasizing space in planning for future defense, security and national prosperity, with specific focus on developing domestic launch facilities, a new position, navigation and timing system and a major new satellite communications capability.

Aerospace UK draws on 60 years of independent technical expertise and insight that Aerospace—as a nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC)—provides to the U.S. military, government space leaders and U.S. allies to help them make technically informed space policy decisions. Aerospace UK will function in a similar independent role, providing access to Aerospace experts while also deploying local technical specialists.

Gina Galasso will serve as the managing director of Aerospace UK. She has spent over 35 years helping Aerospace customers navigate the complex issues of space, including 15 directly supporting allied governments.

“The UK is poised to take its place as one of the world’s most important sovereign space nations,” said Galasso. “The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd will facilitate a truly UK approach that will strengthen our allies’ space capabilities.”

About The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd

The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd is the wholly owned UK subsidiary of The Aerospace Corporation. Headquartered in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this small-to-medium enterprise is focused on supporting a number of different government organizations in the UK space economy. The company has been established to support UK efforts in a variety of space areas, including launch, space situational awareness, systems acquisition, and program management. For more information, visit https://aerospacecorp.uk/.