The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is funding work to prolong the life of satellites, via in-orbit servicing.

UKSA funds Westcott's In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing facility

Specifically, there will be a £2 million upgrade to the Satellite Applications Catapult’s In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (IOSM) facility at the Westcott Space Cluster in Aylesbury.

The facility will provide unique capabilities, in the UK, for companies to verify, validate and demonstrate a range of in-orbit operations, including manufacturing, servicing, inspection, repair and assembly.

Also, £1.5 million is going into feasibility studies on refuelling satellites in space, to extend their life and reduce the amount of space debris, says the Catapult.

“Tackling space debris and maintaining ease of navigation in space is vital to allowing future exploration and protecting the everyday services we all rely on, from location and financial services to weather forecasting and broadband,” said Andrew Griffith MP, Minister for Space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

“To ensure that long-term sustainability, we are funding new technologies for satellite refuelling, and upgrading this important national facility at Westcott to help bring innovations to market faster, in turn growing our economy.”

IOSM
IOSM - In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing facility The UK’s IOSM facility at the Space Cluster will become the first in the UK capable of verification, validation and demonstration of in-orbit operations.

As well as expanding core capabilities it will enable dynamic tracking, real-time positioning, a gravity off-load system, and enhancing the orbital simulation environment, says the agency. In-orbit simulation robots will benefit from increased digital twin capabilities, which act as a proxy for the space environment and enable testing in the virtual world.

Refuelling
Three new refuelling feasibility studies will support UK efforts for space sustainability, with contracts awarded to Astroscale, ClearSpace and Orbit Fab.

Astroscale will adapt their existing ‘COSMIC‘ debris removal spacecraft to a new refuelling servicer product, partnering with TAS, Airbus Defence & Space, Orbit Fab and GMV.

ClearSpace’s ‘REFUEL.ME’ mission extension will draw on their existing ‘CLEAR’ debris removal mission, partnering with Orbit Fab, Satellite Applications Catapult and Know.space.

Orbit Fab will leverage their unique Rapidly Attachable Fuel Transfer Interface (RAFTI) and the Grappling and Resupply Active Solution for Propellants (GRASP) to develop the ‘RAFTEA’ mission, partnering with MDA, ClearSpace, D-Orbit, and BryceTech.

In-Orbit Servicing and debris
The UKSA highlights that there are now around 37,000 pieces of space debris in orbit measuring more than 10cm, and an estimated one million pieces sized 1-10cm.

IOSM is predicted to be worth £11 billion globally by 2031, and the agency is aiming for the to capture at least 25% of this market.

Images: (Top) Airbus Defence and Space – The IOSM work yard. (Bottom) Satellite Applications Catapult/ShedShooters Ltd – The IOSM facility at the Westcott Space Cluster in Aylesbury.