Scotland’s cities’ are at the forefront of aerospace innovation.
Featuring robust infrastructure, technical expertise and a highly skilled workforce, the nation’s cities are leading the way as the industry continues to grow at an impressive rate, with recent research from the Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space trade association estimating that the sector contributes £3.2 billion to the Scottish economy and generates £7.3 billion in turnover.
In July, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray announced that Scotland’s space sector is to receive funding worth almost £11m from the UK Government as part of the UK Space Agency’s national space innovation programme further driving the sectors growth. Among the projects benefiting from this funding are a sub-orbital rocket test by Glasgow-based HyImpulse, set to take place at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, and an initiative by Spire Global, also based in Glasgow, to enhance technology that provides unique weather forecasting data to global numerical weather prediction centres.
Alongside unrivalled geographical advantages, growth is driven through Scotland’s cities’ industrial expertise, inventive spirit and established production networks as well as the efforts of policymakers and investors.
The country is home to five strategic launch locations, creating exciting opportunities for Scotland’s cities which are well placed to benefit from their development and continued service, as hubs for economic development.
Scotland’s spaceports
- Prestwick Spaceport, Glasgow – A joint partnership between Glasgow Prestwick Airport and South Ayrshire Council, aiming to become the premier launch location in Europe, offering orbital and sub-orbital mission.
- Sutherland Spaceport, Highland’s – The world’s first carbon-neutral orbital spaceport which will seeScotland become the first European country to provide a complete solution for the manufacture and launch of small satellites.
- Saxa Vord Spaceport, Shetland – Western Europe’s first fully licenced vertical launch spaceport, designed to host a wide variety of launch missions from High Inclination orbits to suborbital flights.
- Spaceport Machrihanish, Campbelltown – Operating to Glasgow’s west, offering commercial launch services to support small-scale rocket launches and spaceflight.
- Spaceport 1, The Hebrides – Affordable access to commercial vertical launch services capitalising on Scotland’s geographical positioning and the experience, capabilities and infrastructure of the Hebrides Range.
3 ways Scottish cities are leading the way:
Beyond proximity to launch sites, Scotland’s cities are taking the industry to new heights on three fronts:
Sustainability
Scotland has committed to a 50% reduction in space sector emissions by 2030 in line with the Scottish Government’s Space Sustainability Roadmap; a global first initiative.
Success stories:
Key players in the sustainability drive, Edinburgh’s Space Intelligence and TownRock Energy have recently received funding from Scottish Enterprise to deliver groundbreaking projects in biomass and geo-thermal fields respectively, supporting Scot Gov strategy.
Data Analysis
Scotland is a world leader in space data analysis and research.
Glasgow currently manufactures more small satellites than any other city in Europe and in Edinburgh alone, there are more than 170 data science and analysis companies, driving sustainable innovation by leveraging AI & big data to optimise fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance flight paths.
Success stories:
Outside of the capital, Dundee’s Bright Ascension blends the most innovative ideas in space software to make missions more accessible and cost effective.
Glasgow’s Clyde Space, pioneers of Scotland’s First Satellite, deliver solutions for some of the most urgent challenges facing our world including weather prediction and precision farming.
Education and talent development
Scotland’s universities across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen play a crucial role in research and talent development across space science, engineering, advanced materials, software development, satellite tracking, mission support and much more besides.
Success stories:
Leading the field for more than 20 years, STAR-Dundee Ltd, born out of the Space Technology Centre at the University of Dundee, has developed specialist technology including SpaceWire, a spacecraft on-board data handling network lauded for its high-speed, simplicity and architectural flexibility.
Space scientists at the University of Aberdeen are building technology which could produce liquid water on Mars for the very first time. The device, known as HABIT, will measure key conditions as part of ongoing efforts to explore the habitability of Mars.
Scottish Cities’ Aerospace Future
Scottish Cities unrivalled geographical advantages, industrial expertise, inventive spirit and established production networks have enabled them to take advantages of the burgeoning aerospace industry. Be part of this extraordinary journey and invest in a future where innovation and sustainability are the cornerstones of success.
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