The first satellite developed in Wales is due to be launched from Spaceport Cornwall this summer in what is being branded as a historic moment for the UK space industry.
Launch company Virgin Orbit and European in-space manufacturing tech start-up Space Forge have signed an agreement to launch the first satellite developed in the principality.
The satellite will be launched as part of a broader joint UK-US mission to open the country’s first domestic space port in summer 2022 out of Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay.
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Last year, Cardiff-based Space Forge secured a £7.7m equity boost in what was Europe's largest ever seed-funding round for a space tech company.
Virgin Orbit and Space Forge say they have shared values around democratising space and pioneering responsive and responsible launch technologies.
This, coupled with Spaceport Cornwall’s ambitions to become a world leader in responsible launch, will offer an example of a global shift in environmental space practice from sustainable on-the-ground operations, to horizontal lower impact launch technologies, to in-orbit services minimising the environmental impacts of manufacturing.
Space Forge said it is on a mission to make space work for humanity, seeking to harness the power of microgravity, offering an on-demand service to advance the expansion of the market for premium research and development.
Space Forge recently announced that, along with partners, it is developing a world-first service incorporating launch and return of a new small class of vehicle - the ForgeStar - that can be deployed from conventional launchers to provide rapid, reliable and reusable in-space infrastructure.
This inaugural mission will see Space Forge’s ForgeStar-0 platform launched for the first time and will test future return from space technology.
Aiming to unlock the next steps on the path to market expansion, dedicated in-space manufacturing, coupled with proof of reliable return, will allow Space Forge to leverage the benefits of space, namely: microgravity, vacuum, and temperature, to create products impossible to manufacture on Earth.
The firm’s focus is on producing materials and products which offer levels of performance and efficiency in power hungry infrastructure and systems, reducing the environmental impact of production on earth.
Research suggests that manufacturing certain materials in space could reduce CO2 emissions by 75% – the equivalent to removing all petrol cars from the UK.
“We at Virgin Orbit are delighted to have been chosen to move Space Forge forward in their space journey as we look forward to our inaugural Cornwall launch. Space Forge is joining the growing community of space innovators advancing space technologies for the betterment of our world,” said Virgin Orbit chief executive Dan Hart. “Their commitment to sustainability builds a foundation for future growth in the industry that we at Virgin Orbit are proud to be part of.”
Joshua Western, chief executive of Space Forge, said: “We’re thrilled to be making UK history with our first launch. We will demonstrate the use of space for good through in-space manufacturing and reliable return and it's brilliant that both Virgin Orbit and Spaceport Cornwall share our ambitions. This is the start of a great collaboration and we are so excited to see where it goes.”
Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall, said: “Launch from Cornwall is the chance to set the bar for the global space industry. Leading with companies like Space Forge, who are innovating in the responsible use of space, is key to this next iteration of space exploration.
“It's amazing to see our partners Virgin Orbit select customers who share our ambitions in this area and we can’t wait to show the world how this can be done.”
Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “The UK is set to become the first nation in Europe to offer small satellite launch, as we become one of the most attractive space economies in the world.
“Space Forge is an innovative, fast-growing company and their agreement with Virgin Orbit demonstrates how all regions of the UK are playing a key role in our ambition to create a thriving small satellite launch market.
“In-space manufacturing harnesses the benefits of the space environment to create materials far superior to those we can produce on Earth, which can be used to speed up electric car charging or improve the lifetime of aircraft engines. This is a huge moment for Space Forge to be part of the first satellite launch from the UK and I wish them all the best, along with Spaceport Cornwall and Virgin Orbit.”
Founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2017, the company began commercial service in 2021, and has already delivered commercial, civil, national security, and international satellites into orbit. Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, and are air-launched from a modified 747- 400 carrier aircraft that allows Virgin Orbit to operate from locations all over the world in order to best serve each customer’s needs.
