Satellite Applications Catapult Centre

Governing Board review  8 December 2011

Michael Lawrence

Head of Special Projects

New name, clearer vision

Satellite Applications Catapult:

‘generating growth across the economy through new satellite enabled business’

Satellites have a unique global reach;

• Communications

• Broadcasting

• Positioning

• Observation

Out of scope ‐ Space science, Space exploration, Manned space flight, Expendable rocket launchers, Astronomy

Stakeholder engagement summary• Built on the relationships established by the Space Innovation and 

Growth Team and the International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC)

• Well organised and inclusive industry response– Ukspace Trade Association + Intellect + BARSC

• Connections being made outside Space sector– e.g. IBM, Google, BMT, Willis Re, SGI, TISICS, Reliance Precision

• Strong alignment with new public sector landscape– Space Leadership Council

– UK Space Agency, European Space Agency, Met Office, NPL, DSTL

– Commercially focused University research activity e.g. Surrey, Reading, Nottingham etc.

• Good response to open engagement process– Space KTN Special Interest Group on _connect  (1200 members, 63 in TIC group)

– Orientation workshop (84 attendees)

– Surveys – industry (80 responses), university Business Development (12 responses)

– Conference sessions at UK Space Conf, Earth Observation Conf, Venturefest

– Specialist workshops – Propulsion, MEMS, Entrepreneurs in Space (Innovate 11)

Broad industry engagement Established Space companies

Niche Space companies

Large multi-sector companies

SME’s looking to grow in the Space sectorNew ventures

Non space organisations

4

Market size forecast ‐ 2020

Satellite build and satellite services£125 – 190 bn

‘Space can increasingly be seen as an important potential source of economic growth, social wellbeing and sustainable development’

OECD The Space Economy at a Glance 2011

The challenge – twin valleys of death

Basic Research,Ideas Failure to 

IndustrialiseResearch

Failure to Commercialise

Applied

 resear

ch, des

ign

Multip

le 

applica

tions & s

ervices

Orbital &GroundInfrastructure

SustainedServices &ApplicationMarket

Driving Innovation

 Satellite technology Satellite

technology Data

Downlink & Processing

 Data Downlink & Processing

 Data Exploitation

& Application

 Data Exploitation

& Application

 Satellite Operations Satellite

Operations

SatApps Catapult provides end-to-end capability, with access available to all

Risk reduction

Shorter time to market

Capability demonstrations for new customers

SME access and connections to new players

Benefits:

Technology Demonstration ‐ in orbit 

Low cost Satellite Operations Centre 

SSTL, Guildford

Payload Downlink

TM / TC Link

Spacecraft Operations Engineer

TM / TC Archive

Payload Control CentreMission Manager

Payload Operations Engineer

Payload Data Product Archive

TechDemoSatPayload Management /

Planning System

Spacecraft Control System

TM / TC Link

Payload Downlink

Prototype Applications and Services – on the ground

Summary

A Sat Apps Catapult will ;

• Provide the end to end infrastructure required to link innovative ideas from existing players and new collaborators from outside the Space sector

• Prototype and demonstrate new applications – e.g. Mobile communications, Maritime safety, Air Traffic Management, Climate and Environmental Services, Natural resource management

Recommendation

To establish a Catapult centre in Satellite Applications