A new ‘gold standard’ national rocket test facility, recently unveiled by Science Minister Amanda Solloway (pictured), will allow UK companies and academics to test ‘state of the art’ propulsion engines that are used to move small satellites in space, at a more affordable rate than having to go abroad. It will also allow new types of more sustainable propellants to be tested, such as hydrogen peroxide and liquid oxygen, which are more environment-friendly in sourcing, storage and combustion.

Based at the Westcott Space Cluster in the Aylesbury Vale Enterprise Zone, the new National Space Propulsion Test Facility (NSPTF), which received £4 million in funding from the UK Space Agency, is the only facility of its kind in the UK. It is one of only three in the world and will create around 60 jobs.

Until now, companies could test extremely small engines in the UK but had to go overseas to test bigger ones. The new facility will tackle this issue and help grow the UK’s status as a leading space player, giving its space industry the resources it needs to expand.

Ms Solloway said: “As we ‘build back better’ we are investing in our brightest space scientists, the facilities they work in and the technologies they are creating. This pioneering facility will support our ambitious space businesses, enabling them to undertake complex spacecraft engine testing, while boosting the local economy by creating highly skilled jobs.

“The UK space sector is already a leader in satellite propulsion; and with a growing space manufacturing sector and plans for the first launches from UK spaceports in 2022, the satellite propulsion field is set to grow substantially in the coming years.”

The UK Space Agency has worked with the European Space Agency, the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space facility and Nammo UK to develop this ‘cutting-edge’ facility. The site will use ‘game-changing’ technology to test the propulsion engines that position orbiting spacecraft in conditions similar to those experienced in space.

Rob Selby, vice president of Nammo Space, the company that will operate the equipment, said: “Thanks to this key UK Government investment, UK space can now compete favourably with the very best rocket test facilities in the world. The Nammo team has designed and produced this phenomenal hot-fire test facility that is already driving further growth in UK-based spacecraft propulsion businesses.
We look forward to testing engines for customers from all over the globe and to further key developments that the NSPTF will enable.”

The Size and Health of the UK Space Industry report published in May shows that the UK space sector is booming. Income rose from £14.8 billion in 2016/17 to £16.4 billion in 2018/19, representing a growth of 5.7% in real terms. Employment increased by 3,200 from 41,900 to 45,100.