All articles tagged with #uk space agency
The UK government is dissolving the UK Space Agency after 15 years and integrating it into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, a move driven by cost-cutting and strategic realignment concerns, which raises questions about the UK's future role and influence within the European Space Agency and its domestic space ambitions.
A U.K.-based startup, Space Solar, has successfully tested a wireless power transmission system for a space-based solar power plant, marking a significant step towards the development of the CASSIOPeiA concept. The system, designed to wirelessly transmit power 360 degrees around, aims to provide gigawatts of clean energy more efficiently than solar plants on Earth. Placed in geostationary orbit, CASSIOPeiA would be a vast modular structure assembled in space by robots and could power more than a million homes. The successful test is a crucial milestone in making space-based solar power a reality and demonstrates the U.K.'s leading position in this new energy revolution.
The UK Space Agency is monitoring the re-entry of a 5,000lb satellite, ERS-2, which is expected to crash into Earth in a matter of days, with the exact location of impact unknown. The European Remote Sensing 2 satellite, used for collecting data on Earth's surfaces, is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere, and the UK agency is closely tracking its descent and working with international partners to monitor the situation. The satellite, launched in 1995, can no longer be controlled and its re-entry is considered "natural" by the European Space Agency.
University of Glasgow engineers have successfully built and test-fired the first unsupported autophage rocket engine, which consumes parts of its own body for fuel. This innovative design could potentially revolutionize rocket propulsion by allowing for greater efficiency, less space debris, and increased payload capacity. The UK Space Agency has provided funding to support further development and testing of the prototype engine, highlighting the potential of this technology to contribute to the UK's space industry ambitions.
Engineers at the AIAA SciTech Forum showcased the Ouroborous-3, a self-eating rocket engine prototype that generated 100 newtons of thrust in Scotland. The concept involves the rocket consuming its own fuselage, allowing for the use of more energetic liquid propellants and potential for smaller launch vehicles. The team aims to conduct a suborbital test flight by 2027 and has received funding from the UK Space Agency and UKRI for further development.
The UK Space Agency has signed a deal with Axiom Space to pursue a commercially sponsored human spaceflight mission that could send four UK astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts would spend up to two weeks in orbit to conduct scientific research, demonstrate new technologies, and participate in education and outreach activities. Axiom Space, known for conducting private missions to the ISS, is now working with national space agencies to boost interest and investment in space. The European Space Agency (ESA) is also supporting the mission, and Tim Peake, the first British ESA astronaut to visit the ISS, may lead the crew. Axiom is also developing its own habitats that will join the ISS and operate independently as a private space station.
The UK Space Agency and Axiom Space have signed an agreement to collaborate on a commercially sponsored human spaceflight mission. The mission aims to launch UK astronauts into space for up to two weeks to conduct scientific research, demonstrate new technologies, and engage in education and outreach activities. The agreement aligns with the UK government's National Space Strategy and Science and Technology Framework, emphasizing the importance of international relationships and critical technologies. The UK Space Agency is seeking ideas for experiments and technology demonstrators from UK universities, research institutions, and industry, as well as proposals for a national space education and public engagement program. The mission has the support of the European Space Agency and aims to advance the UK's capabilities in space exploration and innovation.
NASA's Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft is nearing completion with the integration of its final science instrument, the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM). Developed by the University of Oxford and provided by the UK Space Agency, the LTM will work in conjunction with the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) to comprehensively study the Moon's water content, determining its abundance, location, and form. The spacecraft, set to launch in 2023, will provide valuable information about lunar water, guiding future robotic and human exploration missions.