Huddersfield-based Reliance Precision (www.reliance.co.uk) has added a new Stepper Motor Gearbox (SMG) to its space portfolio.

The whole project — from initial concept to manufactured product — was completed in less than 12 months, as part of the UK Space Agency’s National Space Technology Programme.

Kathryn Hullah, Reliance’s business manager for space, said: “The new SMG has been designed for the antenna-pointing mechanism of an earth-observation satellite.

“It is a smaller variant of one called the EuroSMG, which we were developing for the European Space Agency.”

Reliance was able to carry across much of what it had learnt from the EuroSMG — such as material selection, lubrication, process control and cleanliness disciplines — and that was important with regard to the time-frame.

The project brought together a number of UK companies, from SMEs through to the satellite prime contractor, working collaboratively to a very tight development programme and cost target.

The new SMG has been submitted for space qualification testing.

Ms Hullah added: “Space typically has a lengthy investment pay-back timeframe for new product developments, which makes any new product development a challenge for a family-owned SME.

“Having access to funding from the National Space Technology Programme (NSTP) has been a vital enabler. Recognition of our achievement by the UK Space Agency is also extremely important to us at this early stage of our new space business.”