In a significant move towards advancing space capabilities, the UK Space Agency has announced an additional £2 million investment in the In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing facilities at the Westcott Space Cluster. This marks a strong endorsement of the pivotal role that our region and the UK aim to play in enhancing sustainability in satellite usage and maintenance.
Initially supported by funding from the Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, in collaboration with the Satellite Applications Catapult, and delivered through the Government’s Getting Building Fund, the In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing facilities at Westcott have garnered international acclaim.
These facilities provide a unique testing environment and form part of a thriving ecosystem of testing facilities in the Westcott Enterprise Zone. This ecosystem includes the National Space Propulsion Test Facility, Drone Test and Development Centre, and Future Technologies Centre, set to be further augmented by new hub facilities featuring conferencing, social, and workshop spaces due to open in 2025.
This strategic investment underscores the commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in space-related activity in the Oxford to Cambridge region.