The UK Space Agency is offering £1.8 million to boost British organisations who have promising space technologies – with sustainability and climate among the use cases.
Announced on the opening day of the UK’s first In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (IOSM) conference on May 8, the funding rounds off the final phase of the agency’s Enabling Technologies Programme (ETP).
The ETP was launched in September 2022 in partnership with the UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council to give a boost to British organisations with promising technologies to support the delivery of new space capabilities.
The £8.6m programme has already supported 41 emerging space-based technologies that will drive growth in the UK space sector and has now been incorporated into the broader National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP).
“From more accurate weather forecasts to manufacturing medicines on a bigger scale, ambitious UK space teams from Strathclyde to Surrey are developing pioneering solutions in space to enhance our life on earth,” said Andrew Griffith MP, Minister for Space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“This £1.8 million government fund will grow our economy through new innovation while helping to keep space sustainable and deliver more key discoveries for many years to come.”
Among the recipients is Plymouth-based ARGANS, which received £250,000 to develop an Earth observation satellite application. This project will focus on global coastline mapping, with the goal of improving both climate change monitoring and coastal management planning efforts.
Another recipient is the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey. They were awarded £250,000 to support the development of a spacecraft platform designed for very low-altitude orbits. The technology, if successful, could be used in future Earth observation, telecommunication, and climate monitoring missions.
The full list of recipients can be found on the official press release.
Recent advancements in space-based technologies offer promising solutions for monitoring and understanding climate change on Earth. Companies like Paris-based Kayrros are developing tools to “independently measure the environmental footprint of human activity on a global scale.”
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In 2023, Kayrros’ satellite platform played a key role in revealing significant methane leaks from Turkmenistan. These leaks were estimated to have a larger global warming impact in 2022 than the UK’s total carbon emissions. This achievement contributed to Kayrros’ recognition as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2023.
Beyond emissions tracking, satellites provide a comprehensive perspective for measuring various climate indicators. This includes monitoring changes in ice and permafrost, assessing global soil moisture levels, and tracking air quality, pollution, and cloud cover.
“From using satellite observations to gain a clearer picture of the way our planet is changing, to using the in-orbit environment itself to develop vital tech products more efficiently, space is central to how we can plan for a safer and more sustainable future on Earth,” said Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency.
