Fish and 33M *pounds* of chips.
To kick off the Farnborough Airshow, the UK Space Agency announced that it had awarded £33M ($42.6M) to more than 20 innovation-forward space projects.
The top awarded projects:
- HyImpulse £5M ($6.5M): Launch of a sounding rocket out of SaxaVord spaceport
- Super Sharp Space Systems £5M ($6.5M): Launch of an unfolding EO telescope
- Rolls-Royce £4.8M ($6.2M): Development of space nuclear power micro-reactor tech
- Spire Global £3.5M ($4.5M): Building more of the Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder weather instrument
Also bloody brilliant: Other awarded projects include directed energy drilling, a modular robotic arm, in-orbit refueling, and air-breathing electric propulsion for VLEO capabilities.
“These new projects will help kickstart growth, create more high-quality jobs, protect our planet, and preserve the space environment for future generations,” said UKSA chief Paul Bate in a release.
Innovation program: The £33M of funding comes out of the coffers of the National Space Innovation Programme, an initiative within the space agency established in 2020 by Boris Johnson, the UK’s former, former, former prime minister (hard to keep track of the revolving door that is British PM-ship). The program aims to promote innovation and investment in the UK space sector.
Space agency dollars: Over the past year, the space agency has invested in lunar and Mars exploration projects, domestic launch initiatives, and an Axiom-led astronaut mission as it broadens the program purview.
Yesterday, the agency also put out a new £3M funding call for EO projects.
