Launch of major space facilities

Two major new space facilities – the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) Space’s R100 building – have opened at the UK Space Gateway in Oxfordshire.

Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson said: “Putting cutting-edge knowledge and innovation and world-class space testing facilities right on the doorstep, the opening of the European Space Agency and R100 facilities at Harwell today are a major boost to the UK’s space sector.”

ECSAT – the European Space Agency’s (ESA) newest facility – will offer more than 120 jobs and will accommodate an earth observation climate office, science and exploration teams and technology and quality management teams.

The building – developed as part of the UK government’s decision to increase its contribution to ESA – will support research and development programmes in the UK and will focus on ‘game-changing’ technologies and capabilities.

The R100 building – part of a major expansion of RAL’s test facilities – will house two new space test chambers along with a vibration facility, clean rooms and an assembly, integration and verification control room. The facility will be used for projects such as ESA’s Sentinel 4 mission – part of Europe’s Copernicus programme – and for solar and heliospheric physics with the Solar Orbiter mission.

“Our new integration and test facility provides capability for the needs of the next generation of spacecraft and instruments, and will contribute to the growing community of space focussed businesses, capabilities and skills located at the Harwell Campus Space Gateway,” said Dr Chris Mutlow, Director of RAL Space.