Astroscale UK has announced the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Ministry of Defence’s Orpheus mission, marking a significant transition from design to the spacecraft integration and readiness phase.
The £5.15 million contract, awarded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) via BAE Systems under the Serapis framework, is a central component of the UK’s strategy to enhance its sovereign Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This milestone, confirmed on 8 April 2026, reinforces the UK’s objective of safeguarding critical national infrastructure, including defence communications and navigation systems, against emerging orbital threats.
The Orpheus mission architecture requires the operation of two small satellites flying in close formation to collect both in-situ and remote-sensing data. While Astroscale UK leads the programme from its base in Harwell, Oxfordshire, the spacecraft will be manufactured by subcontractor Open Cosmos. This collaborative model demonstrates the depth of the UK space supply chain, integrating Open Cosmos’s small satellite heritage with Astroscale’s expertise in Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). For businesses within the defence sector, the programme highlights a growing requirement for high-precision autonomous systems and miniaturised sensor technologies capable of operating in the challenging space environment.
Technical development of the mission is further supported by contributions from international partners, including the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Defence Research and Development Canada. This international cooperation reflects the UK’s broader defence policy, as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review and the Modern Industrial Strategy, which prioritises interoperability with allies to ensure freedom of operation in space. Dstl’s Space Systems Programme has noted that Orpheus is the culmination of over a decade of research into CubeSat missions, providing a platform for mature research and development outcomes that will inform future UK space systems procurement.
Following the successful CDR, the programme will now focus on system integration as it moves toward a scheduled launch in 2027. This next phase offers clear indicators for the supply chain regarding the Ministry of Defence’s future requirements for resilient, deployable space assets. As the government continues to increase its investment in the space domain—aligning with the European Space Agency’s Space Safety Programme – opportunities remain for sub-contractors specialising in data processing, orbital mechanics, and secure digital connectivity. The Orpheus mission stands as a primary example of how the UK is maturing its space defence capabilities through targeted industry partnerships and rigorous technical assurance.
