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- A new £15m funding round opens today as progress is made towards a potential UK space mission with Axiom Space
- UK Space Agency invites proposals for best British science and technology to fly into space with a team of British astronauts, with funding from commercial sponsors
- Axiom Space confirms active conversations continue with commercial sponsors regarding mission concept
In preparation for reaching an agreement to fly a team of four British astronauts on commercially sponsored missions, potentially to the International Space Station, two new funding appeals – one for science and one (for technology demonstrators) has been launched.
Commercial funding for the project will depend on the progress of the mission, but the UK Space Agency is giving scientists, innovators and businesses the opportunity to submit proposals now to maximize the benefits of the mission in the short term. Masu.
Andrew Griffiths MP, Minister for Space, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
There is great potential for British companies to play an increasingly important role in space exploration and the development of new technologies.
The £15m funding marks a major step forward in our joint mission with Axiom Space, encouraging the UK science and technology community to use this opportunity to drive vital technology discoveries and unleash innovation. I urge you to do so.
Today’s announcement follows a memorandum of understanding signed by the UK Space Agency and Axiom Space in October 2023, which includes plans to advance commercially sponsored UK astronaut missions, as well as scientific and technological ideas. The first request is listed.
Anneliese Look, Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:
We want to keep the UK space sector at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation, and this has been at the heart of our work with Axiom Space since October.
To deliver maximum potential benefit to the UK, we are today launching a call for funding for science experiments and technology demonstrators ahead of the UK astronaut mission.
Funding for science and technology demonstration activities will depend on future missions.
Dr. Lucy Lowe, Principal Investigator of Microgravity Research at Axiom Space, said:
Axiom Space is pleased to support the UK Space Agency’s efforts to recruit high-impact science and technology development projects that can not only advance humanity’s space exploration goals, but also benefit global citizens. Our Axiom space mission to date has enabled researchers around the world to harness the microgravity environment for national research and technology development priorities, and we continue to work together to secure sponsorship for this exciting mission. I will continue to do so.
science experiment
The purpose of Science Call is to support UK-based researchers to plan and carry out scientific research using microgravity and the space environment. Proposals can come from any research area but are encouraged to be aligned with the objectives of the National Space Strategy, the UK Science and Technology Framework and the research priorities identified by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
technology demonstrator
This Technology Demonstrator recruitment will support the UK Exploration sector in testing innovative technologies within the space environment. The UK Space Agency has a particular interest in technologies that support the National Space Capability Objectives, the UK Science and Technology Framework and its five key technologies. Engineering Biology; Future Telecommunications. semiconductors; and quantum technologies, or those that fall into the categories of the agency’s Space Exploration Technology Roadmap, such as advanced manufacturing, on-site resource utilization, life support, and crew performance.
British astronaut Tim Peake, who spent six months aboard the International Space Station in 2015/16 and has supported the development of potential missions with Axiom Space in the role of space ambassador, said: .
The recent Ax-3 mission, from cancer prevention research to research into plasma physics, demonstrated the importance of the science carried out by four European astronauts during the more than two-week flight that commercial human spaceflight can achieve. has set a new standard. and botany.
The UK Space Agency is capitalizing on this new era of commercial human spaceflight, working with Axiom Space and the European Space Agency to create a real focus on high-quality science and innovative technology for the UK’s potential missions. It’s great to see you hitting the mark.
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, said:
The UK space sector is a world leader in the rapidly expanding global space economy and long-term investment is essential to enable the industry to focus on developing cutting-edge capabilities. ADS encourages companies across the space value chain to engage with the latest developments. The UK has long been known as a center of innovation in cutting-edge science and technology, and this will continue to be the case for a long time to come as we take our technology to new heights – literally.
The UK Space Agency is working with Axiom Space to plan the commercial mission, with the full support of the European Space Agency.
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