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Posts Tagged ‘Amanda Solloway’

New satellite propulsion test facility to propel UK into new space age

New satellite propulsion test facility to propel UK into new space age

Air December 22, 2020

A new gold standard national rocket test facility will soon open its doors, Science Minister Amanda Solloway has announced. The new centre will allow UK companies and academics to fire up and test state-of-the-art space propulsion engines at up to 1.5kN in high-altitude vacuum, an equivalent test altitude of 140,000ft. It ...

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The UK has crossed a significant threshold in defence communications capability, with Dstl and Oxford-based SME Archangel Lightworks completing the country's first successful download of data from space using a deployable laser communications ground station. During a 90-second satellite pass over the Mediterranean, many gigabits of data were transmitted from a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite to a ground station - a demonstration described by Dstl as the equivalent of moving from very slow internet to superfast fibre broadband. What the Technology Does Free space optical communications - laser comms - transmit data using narrow, low-power beams of non-visible light rather than radio waves. The shorter wavelength allows far greater volumes of data to be sent per second. Critically for military applications, the beams are extremely difficult to detect or intercept, and the narrow transmission reduces the risk of interference with other systems in an increasingly contested electromagnetic environment. The capability is directly relevant to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, where large volumes of data must be moved quickly to give UK forces an operational advantage. It could also form part of the UK's digital targeting web and is designed to be interoperable with the US Space Development Agency standard. An SME at the Centre of a Sovereign Capability Archangel Lightworks, the Oxford SME that developed and delivered the TERRA-M optical ground station used in the trial, is a notable example of the kind of specialist, sovereign industrial capability the Defence Industrial Strategy is seeking to grow and sustain. The company recently completed a Series A funding round that included investment from the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), and manufactures its systems at a facility in Oxford — positioned to scale production for UK deployment, sale or export. Dstl Chief Executive Dr Paul Hollinshead was clear on the wider significance:

Air - UK Achieves First Optical Data Downlink from Space

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The view and opinions expressed on this web site are solely those of the original authors and other contributors.

These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Defence Media and BiP Solutions.

© 2026 BiP Solutions. All rights reserved.

Defence Online is part of BiP Solutions.

Click here to read our privacy policy