UK Space Sector, 2021

The UK space sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK. Since 2010 the UK space sector has grown by over 60% and the sector supports UK economic activities worth an estimated ￡300 billion through the use of satellite services. With no signs of slowing down and further government support, within the next ten years the UK wants to capture 10% of the world market.

Already a global leader in commercial small satellite technology manufacturing with over 20% of the satellites currently in orbit. With SmallSat launch capabilities in the not-too-distant future, no wonder many new ventures around the world are choosing to set up in the UK with the South of England and Scotland being the main hubs.

The global space community forecasts significant growth in the markets for launching small satellites and offering sub-orbital spaceflight. Launching small satellites alone could be worth ￡25bn globally over the next 20 years which is why the UK has launched their Spaceflight Programme, LaunchUK, which aims to establish commercial vertical and horizontal small satellite launch from UK spaceports. Below, courtesy of the UK Space Agency, you will see the planned UK Spaceports that are currently in discussion. 

Sapienza Consulting sister company Osprey is proud to be part of the team supporting Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in the development of the ￡17.3 million satellite launch spaceport at the A’Mhoine peninsula in Sutherland.

The project, known as ‘Space Hub Sutherland’ is set to become the UK’s first commercial vertical launch facility. The ambitious plans will see vehicles carrying commercial satellites launched vertically into space for earth observation. Osprey is privileged to be part of such a unique and exciting venture and will support HIE in developing the airspace solution for the spaceport.

The first launch from the Sutherland site could be as early as 2022 and the spaceport will host up to 12 launches per year once fully operational. The project will include a launch operation and control centre, launch site integration facility, single launch pad, antenna park and associated site infrastructure.

Osprey also recently won a new contract with Skyrora to provide independent assurance of the Skylark L sub-orbital launch vehicle safety case. Skyrora represents a new breed of private rocket companies developing the next generation of launch vehicles for the small satellite market and are just one of many companies who choose to set up in the UK.

One of the biggest developments in space over the last decade is the feasibility of launching and operating small satellites. These have brought the cost of access to space considerably down and likewise, taking all the data collected by existing earth observation, weather and other types of orbital spacecraft and making that accessible to numerous different industries across the globe. 

Within Sapienza Consulting space is at the heart of our operations. We are one of the few organisations in the global space sector with a track record of contracts that cover the whole space industry supply chain. We engage with intergovernmental and national agencies, Tier-1 system integrators, system suppliers, scientific institutes, satellite operators and start-ups alike. We are helping to scale dozens of VC-backed NewSpace ventures across the globe who are all competing for the same talent.

Why are there so many new space and SATCOM start-ups? If we take a look at some of the numbers over the last few years, in 2018 there was a record breaking $3.5 billion invested into the space sector. A year on in 2019 there was $5.7 billion of investment in space startups. Then in 2020 in the middle of a global pandemic we see a record $8.9 billion invested in space companies. Space is becoming so easily accessible with downstream applications being able to provide key data that can give companies a much bigger ROI.

As of today, if we just look at the UK space sector.

• Over 340 space manufacturing businesses, from launch vehicle providers and satellite manufactures to component and materials suppliers
• Over 300 satellite applications companies who deliver satellite communications services, process satellite data or develop applications dependent on GNSS or Earth observation data
• 44 space operation companies including launch services, launch brokerage services, proprietary satellite operation and ground segment operators
• 170 organisations offering ancillary services including consultants, IT and software services providers, insurers and legal services
• 67 research groups and universities across the UK with their research interests

The UK space sector is thriving with many new start-ups popping up all over the country. Over the coming years we will see tens of thousands of newly created jobs within the UK and more space awareness within our schools and children's education.

ESERO-UK has been established at the National STEM Learning Centre through funding from ESA (European Space Agency) and the Department for Education. ESERO-UK promotes space in the UK and the use of space to enhance and support STEM teaching and learning in the UK.

The resources bring together materials from ESA and other providers to both promote space exploration, and also help teachers and lecturers to use space as an engaging context for teaching and learning in STEM subjects. ESERO-UK has also established a network of space ambassadors across the UK to actively support partners from the space education sector in their work with schools and colleges.

For over a decade I've been truly privileged to have worked with entrepreneurial minded professionals helping them to scale-up SATCOM and SpaceTech start-ups across the globe. With the innovation we have right now within the space industry it's got to be one of the most exciting times to ever be involved in the space sector.

I will leave you with five fun facts about space

1. One million Earths could fit inside the sun – and the sun is considered an average-size star.
2. Comets are leftovers from the creation of our solar system about 4.5 billion years ago – they consist of sand, ice and carbon dioxide.
3. You can't walk on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune because they have no solid surface.
4. An asteroid about the size of a car enters Earth’s atmosphere roughly once a year – but it burns up before it reaches us. 
5. There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth. That’s at least a billion trillion.