Two pioneering space companies in Wales have been awarded almost £8m from a new fund set up by the 海角视频 Space Agency to develop two research, manufacturing and testing facilities in Wales. Cardiff scale-up Space Forge has received £7.9m to build a National Microgravity Research Centre for advanced material research and production.
The total cost of building the centre is £13m which will be reached through match contributions, says Space Forge. The centre will be the first-of-its-kind and play a pivotal role in advancing in-space manufacturing research, with a primary focus on inorganic crystal structures grown in microgravity conditions for use in electronics.
It will also offer open access and support for space companies to establish itself as a central space hub for the growing sector in Wales. Aerospace company Snowdonia LLP has been awarded £800,000 in SCIF funding to develop a Space Technology Test Centre at the Snowdonia Space Centre in Gwynedd.
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It will exploit the unique location of the Snowdonia Space Centre, with its own immediate danger area and direct access to a larger danger area over Cardigan Bay, to provide a flight test range for rocket-powered test vehicles, near-space scientific flights, microgravity research and trials of re-entry vehicles and payload recovery systems.
The test range will be complemented by a space technology testing laboratory featuring a centrifuge, thermal vacuum chamber, vibration table, aerostructures rig and a rocket engine test stand. The funding for the two projects is part of the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) which has awarded more than £47m to 12 projects throughout the 海角视频.
Space Forge chief executive and co-founder Joshua Western said: “This is a significant milestone for Space Forge. With the establishment of our National Microgravity Research Centre, we are poised to drive innovation, research, and production of advanced materials.
“This endeavour strengthens our presence in the 海角视频' and has incredible potential for the sovereign supply chain. We are excited to provide a platform for space companies through our 'pathway to space' initiative, and we can help start-ups not far behind us accelerate their microgravity research and hardware development - alongside helping them avoid some of the mistakes we’ve made along our journey."
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Dr Paul Bate, 海角视频 Space Agency chief executive, said: “A National Microgravity Research Centre in Wales is an exciting prospect for the 海角视频’s growing space sector and our commitment to using space to benefit life on Earth. By building on Space Forge’s expertise in developing technology to manufacture materials in space and bringing them safely back, this project will help support the delivery of increasingly ambitious missions and valuable new capabilities.
“The Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund highlights the government’s commitment to space and will help deliver the goal set out in the National Space Strategy to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, developing new skills and creating jobs.”
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “It’s a very exciting time for the rapidly growing space sector and it has been a pleasure to watch the hugely talented team at Space Forge develop as part of the journey.
“The Welsh Government is determined to ensure Wales is at the forefront of the space industry, which is why we have supported organisations like Space Forge through our SMART Flexible Innovation Support Programme. This latest significant investment proves once again why this world-leading business is a shining example of the type of company we want to invest in for growth in Wales.
“We will continue working with partners such as the 海角视频 Space Agency and Innovate 海角视频 towards our aspiration for Wales to be a leading, innovation-based nation."
Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies said: “The space sector in Wales is expanding rapidly and I’m delighted to see almost £8 million worth of 海角视频 Government investment going to projects in both north and south Wales. This means new highly-skilled jobs will be created, and world class facilities will be developed which will support continued growth in the industry in Wales.”