New space satellite lab 'puts UK on the map'

A new laboratory that will help develop and test space satellite engines has opened in Oxfordshire.

The Disruptive Experimental Electric Propulsion (DEEP) Lab, built by space technology company Magdrive, recently opened at Harwell Campus.

It is hoped the site will give UK firms access to specialist testing facilities to create electric propulsion systems - the technology used to power modern satellites.

The £3.8m lab has been partially funded by the UK Space Agency, and will also be open to start-ups, established aerospace firms and academic researchers.

Space Minister Liz Lloyd said electric propulsion was "shaping the future of how we operate in space" and investment in the new lab was "ensuring that UK innovators can lead the way".

"By opening its doors to the wider space community, the DEEP Lab will accelerate the pace of discovery and help cement the UK's reputation as a global leader in space technology," she added.

Electric propulsion allows satellites to manoeuvre, maintain their orbits, and travel further into space whilst using less fuel than traditional chemical rockets.

To facilitate the technology's development, the new Harwell site features various areas, including a 2-metre-wide vacuum chamber where thrusters can be tested.

The facility was part-funded by the UK Space Agency, which invested £1.8m into the site.

Dr Paul Bate, the agency's chief executive, said the new lab was a "fantastic example of how targeted investment can deliver real impact".

"Electric propulsion is fundamental to the future of satellite technology, and by providing accessible testing capabilities, DEEP Lab will accelerate innovation across the industry," he explained.

Mark Stokes, co-founder and CEO of the main users of the site, Magdrive, added that the new facility would "create new opportunities for collaboration and discovery".

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