UK Launch commences in 2022; enhancing the industry’s knowledge of safety will ensure success.
To ensure the UK Launch sector gets off to a safe, as well as economically viable, flying start later this year, an intensive course on space centre and launch campaign operations was recently organised by the Westcott-based, Space industry Centre for Excellence (SiC4E)
The workshop programme was designed specifically to ensure that participants could gain an in-depth knowledge of spaceports, launchers and satellite handling operations during launch campaigns. The experience combined factual knowledge with application of engineering safety regulations and anecdotal experiences from the trainers.
As an interactive learning experience the participants, which included members from the CAA’s space engineering team, were given opportunities to embed learning by combining this knowledge with the current licencing evaluation practices. This is extremely important given the new generation of spaceport and satellite operators, who are streamlining procedures and practices to forge ahead with the NewSpace revolution.
Combining entirely new spaceports, new infrastructure, new operators, a new workforce and un-tested regulations, the UK is taking a bold step in its aim to achieve commercial launch services. Ensuring the safety of these operations and maintaining the excellent safety record of the UK space industry are critical especially as this has the potential to make the UK a leading space access location.
With over 35 years and close to 100 commercial satellite launches to their credit, the team at SiC4E are keen to see the nascent launch sector apply high safety standards from the outset; this will make UK-based launch more attractive in what will become a very competitive market within this decade. As such, they will be publishing a paper outlining spaceport and launch campaign safety and offering a vision of a Gold Standard CONOPS, which will hopefully aid all aspiring Spaceport, launch vehicle and satellite operators in their endeavours.
Background information
The Space Industry Centre for Excellence (SiC4E) is a collaboration between European Astrotech Ltd and Plastron Training Ltd, both based at Westcott Venture Park. The SiC4E provides specialist skills development to industry, government and academia on spaceflight and propulsion engineering safety and is a leading advocate on practical skills development in space engineering to ensure NewSpace industrial practices are agile and adaptable, without compromising on safety or quality.
European Astrotech Ltd is a provider of propulsion test and launch services as well as propellant analysis and compatibility, with a state-of-the-art test laboratory, hazardous test sites and cleanroom facilities.
Lead: Chris Smith
Plastron UK is a space sector start-up with a unique industry focus on safety-led skills and infrastructure innovation for the NewSpace sector. The company collaborates with the academic sector to develop evidence-based, state-of-the art improvements to the upstream space sector and is currently an incubatee business at the ESA Business Incubation Centre at Harwell Campus.
Lead: Charlie Young