Image: Amin Chabi, Founder and CEO, Lunasa Space. Credit: Lunasa Space

We’re thrilled to share that four ESA BIC UK companies have been awarded funding from the UK Space Agency’s Launch UK Technology Investment Programme.

The UK Space Agency has recently announced £2.7 million for 13 early-stage technology projects across England, Scotland and Wales to support the growing satellite launch sector.

Funding from the agency’s new Launch UK Technology Investment Programme will support teams from industry and universities to develop technology, products and services that will enhance the UK spaceflight supply chain, strengthen international competitiveness and catalyse further investment.

All four successful ESA BIC UK companies are based at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, three of which are current ESA BIC incubatees. Find out more about their projects below.

SmallSpark Space Systems have been awarded £76,000 of funding for the development and maturation of their dual-firing mode propulsion system, the S4-NEWT-A2; which will form part of the architecture of its S4-SLV in-space logistics vehicle, and as a candidate system for upper-stage launch vehicles. The SLV seeks to provide logistics support for small satellites and aims to remove the need for manufacturers to develop dedicated propulsion, power and communications systems, by providing all of these onboard its reusable vehicle.

Lúnasa are to receive £216,000 funding from the programme to build and test and advance the technology readiness level of their reusable dual-stage spacecraft that will provide in-space logistics and infrastructure services for small satellites. The first-of-its-kind vehicle will fit the type of launch vehicles planned for use from UK spaceports, offering satellite operators opportunities to reach otherwise unattainable or fuel-exhaustive orbits. This project, funded in partnership with the Satellite Applications Catapult at Harwell will focus on de-risking the vehicle’s rendezvous proximity operations and docking capabilities.

Gravitilab Aerospace Service Ltd have been awarded £400,000 to develop their suborbital launch vehicle, ISAAC, from the advanced design and development stage through to design freeze and prototype build. The ISAAC launch vehicle aims to reach a max altitude of 250km with a payload mass of 20kg and a microgravity duration of around 300 seconds. In addition, this project also includes the acquisition and build of bespoke testing facilities.

ESA BIC UK Alumni, Magdrive will receive funding of £250,000 for the next stage of development for their kick-stage for launch, which will allow satellites launched from the UK to reach higher altitudes and new orbits, filling a supply chain gap and building resilience in the UK launch market. The kick-stage uses the Magdrive electric plasma thruster, which can future-proof against the risk of colliding with or causing space debris by rapidly burning.

Congratulations once again to all four companies for this fantastic achievement!