The UK Government has selected three projects to use satellites to demonstrate new applications, opening up new markets for industry.
The projects approved for funding are Surrey Satellite Technology's (SSTL) Gemini communications satellite, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's Topsat - which has SSTL participation - and an SSTL-sponsored Disaster Monitoring Constellation.
The selection was made as part of the British National Space Centre's Mosaic programme for small satellites, under which about $22 million has been made available to support industrial and end-user partnerships.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mosaic funding can only be awarded once each company has a certain amount of funding and partners in place. SSTL is expected to receive around half of the programme funding.
Speaking at the project announcement, UK science minister Lord Sainsbury said commercialisation of space was the key to its progress.
"The full potential of space projects can only come when they are affordable" and less dependent on Government funding, Sainsbury commented.
"Space is not for national prestige, it is about world class science and commercial applications," he continued.
The UK's Parliamentary Trade and Industry Select Committee had earlier warned that the UK risks being left behind in the commercial space industry due to lack of Government ambition and the declining quality of engineering and science graduates.
The UK's $200 million space spending is falling in real terms and political interest should be increased and be matched by funds, says the committee.
It called on the Government to "announce something beyond a modest continuation of existing programmes".
Source: Flight International