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Aeronautical firm building a nano-satellite network in space joins US trade mission

The nine UK businesses joining Innovate UK’s space mission to California in November have been announced, and includes a London-based business which has grand plans to launch a network of nano-satellites in the Earth’s orbit.

The mission, which is due to take place from 5 to 11 November, will provide the space technology companies with the opportunity to pitch to US investors, win contracts and get insight from UK and US space agency personnel.

It follows two previous Innovate UK-organised missions to the US last year which took businesses across to Silicon Valley and the NASA Johnson Space Centre in Houston.

Two London space technology businesses are now set to take part in this third trade mission, including Sky Space and Global, who agreed a deal with Virgin Galactic back in September to launch four satellites as part of a new communications network, and Archangel Aeronautical, which develops advance aerospace systems.

Joining the pair on the trip to California are:

• Atout Process Ltd, developers of innovative products based on non-intrusive electromagnetic imaging and measurement techniques
• E2e Services Ltd, which provides consultancy services to the telecommunications industry
• Goonhilly Earth Station, Oxford-based space communication business
• Open Cosmos, a firm looking to provide open and affordable space access
• Oxford Space Systems, space technology business developing lighter, lower cost, deployable space structures
• REALsafe Technologies, Newcastle-based firm which has developed the REALrider app which connects user to the nearest ambulance services
• TISICS Ltd, developers and manufacturers of high strength lightweight titanium and aluminium matrix composite material.

The UK aerospace industry has grown significantly in the past decade, with initiatives such as the Harwell Space Cluster in Oxford supporting the growth of the UK space sector which now employs over 37,000 and is expected to turnover £40bn by 2030.

Andy German who is leading the mission commented: “This trade mission will see nine of the best UK companies working in this exciting sector pitching their innovative solutions in the US, the world’s key marketplace for technology investment.

“The UK is already a world leader in the space sector, with more than 7% of the global space market. The mission is intended to help UK companies to secure the partnerships and investment they need to help the UK space industry reach its target of a £40bn turnover by 2030.”