OREANDA-NEWS. Nine of the most exciting British space companies are off to the United States on a trade mission organised by Innovate UK and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

They range from a startup that brings fresh, high-quality earth observation to the consumer market – think real-time ‘selfies’ from space – to a Scottish company making miniature satellites for the mass market.

Another offers off-the-shelf satellite software that can be customised for individual missions while a Southampton company is at the cutting edge of space electric propulsion.

8-14 August

The Space Mission 2015 (8-14 August) first takes in the Small Satellite Conference in Utah, hosted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The companies then move on to California to meet teams from NASA, Virgin Galactic and Lockheed Martin along with other industry-leading organisations and investors.

9 companies

The 9 that went through a competitive funding process to join the mission are:

  • Arralis Technologies – supplies world-leading, ultra-fast radar technology

  • Bird.i – a startup that makes earth observation and satellite data socially useful

  • Bright Ascension – develops software solutions for satellites that save time and money

  • Gyana – a startup that uses advanced mathematics and machine-learning to harness big data for everyday use

  • Mars Space Ltd – provides services and consultancy on space propulsion, plasma engineering and science

  • Oxford Space Systems – has set its sights on becoming the leading global supplier of deployable space structures

Low cost, low mass deployable boom systems

  • PocketQube Shop – a one-stop-shop for custom-built satellites costing less than a family car

introduction video to www.pocketqubeshop.com

  • Printech Circuit Laboratories – has been manufacturing circuitry for the space industry for 20 years

  • Scot Sat – offers ultra-high speed mobile satellite communications at low cost

Cost is often a major factor in determining the viability of space projects. All 9 companies have developed novel business models and approaches to achieve dramatic reductions in the cost of space technology, research and analysis.

Their visit is designed to increase collaboration between the US and the UK in the space sector. Both countries have longstanding connections through space, but US private sector involvement has expanded much more rapidly than the UK’s over the last 20 years.

This mission gives UK companies an excellent opportunity to build connections with US industry leaders and to learn from their experiences.

Tim Just, Head of Space at Innovate UK, said:

The Space Mission 2015 demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to supporting and growing the British space industry. All of these burgeoning firms are at the forefront of the new space race and have genuinely built innovative solutions to some of the sector’s greatest challenges.

We are proud to support these companies as they lay the foundation for future British economic growth.

Innovate UK and UKTI have identified the space sector as a high-growth potential market. Their space industry specialists will be on hand during the mission to assist the companies and ensure they maximise their opportunities.