Tag: UK
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UK Rocket Builder Orbex in Talks to Sell Business to The Exploration Company
UK-based rocket manufacturer Orbex said it has signed a letter of intent to sell its business to European space logistics startup The Exploration Company, marking a potential consolidation move within Europe’s emerging launch sector. Orbex confirmed on Jan. 21 that negotiations have begun but said all details of the proposed transaction remain confidential. The company…
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UK Space Agency Allocates £7 Million to Advance Next-Generation Satellite Technologies
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has awarded nearly £7 million ($9 million) to five projects developing new satellite communications capabilities under the European Space Agency’s ARTES programme, the agency said on Friday. Funding was allocated to Orbit Fab, Goonhilly Earth Station, Vicinity Technologies, Archangel Lightworks working with Eutelsat, and Viasat UK. The projects focus on…
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UK Regulator Grants First Vertical Launch License to Scottish Rocket Firm Skyrora
After nearly a three-year wait, Scottish space company Skyrora has secured the United Kingdom’s first vertical launch license for a domestically based rocket firm, paving the way for suborbital missions from the SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands. The approval, dated July 24 but announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Aug. 5, marks…
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RFA and SaxaVord target UK’s first vertical orbital launch
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is determined to debut its RFA One rocket by the end of this year. Applying industrialization techniques to building low-cost, high-performance rockets, the flight could become the first vertical orbital launch from UK soil. Progress on two further pads is underway at the SaxaVord spaceport, as the two organizations count down…
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Launch providers step closer to first orbital launch from UK soil
The awarding of the UK’s first commercial vertical launch license in December marked a significant milestone on the path to developing Scotland as a European launch leader. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) plans to conduct its inaugural orbital launch from UK soil this year, with other companies currently awaiting their licenses to extend Europe’s access to…
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Canada and UK Forge Ahead with CASTOR Telescope Project in Space Exploration Partnership
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) have solidified their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on joint ventures under the UKSA’s Science & Exploration Bilateral Programme. One significant project under this agreement is the Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and uv Research (CASTOR) telescope, led by Canada. CASTOR…
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ClearSpace Secures UK Space Agency Contract for Satellite Refueling Mission
ClearSpace, a prominent player in space sustainability, has recently clinched a contract with the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to delve into the feasibility of an in-orbit satellite refueling mission. Dubbed the REFUEL.ME study, this endeavor, slated to continue until September 2024, will encompass establishing crucial mission requirements, defining operational concepts, and initiating the design phase…
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RFA static fires at SaxaVord Spaceport as other UK spaceports continue to develop
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), from Augsburg, Germany, appears to have made a significant step toward the first vertical orbital launch attempt from the United Kingdom (UK). On May 16, RFA successfully conducted an unannounced first static fire of the first stage of its RFA ONE rocket. A video showing the test has since been released,…
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UK Ministry of Defense Awards Contracts to Lockheed Martin and Rhea Group for Satellite Control Systems
The U.K. Ministry of Defense has recently announced significant strides in its ISTARI project, a pioneering initiative aimed at bolstering the nation’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities through a constellation of advanced satellites. In a move underscoring its commitment to this endeavor, the Ministry awarded contracts worth approximately $2.5 million each to aerospace giants…
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UK Space Agency Partners with Axiom Space for Groundbreaking £15 Million Funding Opportunity
The UK Space Agency has launched a significant funding opportunity, in collaboration with Axiom Space, offering up to £15 million to drive British technology into space. Two new funding calls have been initiated, inviting UK-based researchers and technology innovators to participate in a space journey alongside home-grown astronauts. Minister for space at the Department for…