Space Growth Partnership highlights importance of low cost access to space
The ‘IGS Low Cost Access to Space’ report focuses on the UK’s expertise in the small satellite market – a growing segment of the space sector, for which low cost access to space is crucial.
Identified as a priority market within the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy (IGS), the report highlights the UK’s world-leading capability in all parts of the satellite industry, except for launch. It emphasises the strategic significance of a low cost, domestic launch capability in contributing to the UK space sector’s ambitious growth target of 10% of the global space market, estimated to be £400 billion by 2030.
The report recommends actions for industry, Government, the Satellite Applications Catapult and academia, which will be required to capitalise on existing UK strengths in small satellite manufacturing, satellite applications and services, and future demand for commercial human spaceflight and microgravity research.
The key findings of the report are:
- Low cost access to space is fundamental to the UK’s growing small satellite industry
- An operational spaceport in the UK to support orbital access is a top priority
Stuart Martin, CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult and Chairman of the Space Leadership Council Industry Advisory Group on Low Cost Access to Space, said: “The challenge of securing reliable, low-cost access to space creates a real opportunity for a complete end-to-end service from the UK. This report addresses market opportunities that low cost access to space can offer, for small satellite launch, commercial human spaceflight, and for microgravity science research – not just for the UK, but for Europe as a whole.”
The IGS Low Cost Access to Space report is available from https://sa.catapult.org.uk/market-reports
