The first meeting of the North West Space Cluster supported by the Northern Space Consortium was held in the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Liverpool on the 13th October. The date was chosen as date of the founding of the British Interplanetary Society in Liverpool in 1933.
The event was chaired by the North West Space Cluster Development Manager Alan Cross. Ann Swift, MTC Development Manager, welcomed all to the purpose built facility and explained the role of the MTC in helping companies in adopting digital and automation technologies. The MTC has over 800 employees, 100 industrial members and as well as Liverpool has sites in Bristol, Oxfordshire, SE London and Warwickshire.
Bob Morris, Northern Space Consortium (NSC), reminded everyone that a formal space cluster in the region was exactly one of the reasons that the NSC had been formed. In introducing the first speaker Alistair Scott, acting President British Interplanetary Society (BIS), he pointed out that it was hard to overestimate the effect the BIS has had and continues to have on the Space Industry and without it the day’s event may well not have happened. Bob is the third NSC Chairman and all three were members of the BIS.
Alistair Scott providing an overview of BIS history
Alistair Scott then gave an overview of the BIS from it’s very beginning at 81 Dale Street in Liverpool. The aim of the Society remained the same as it was when originally founded. Alistair highlighted some of the early technical ideas that had been created and subsequently adopted by industry. He described the whole range of events and conferences that the BIS is involved with as well as the regular lecture programme, education outreach and technical projects..
David Homfray from The Space Energy Initiative an industrial/government collaboration presented the UK approach to developing space based solar power. Space based solar power would dramatically help the UK in it’s drive to Net Zero. It’s not a new concept but changes in technology such as the massive reduction in launch costs and space hardware and improvements in solar cells along with the urgent need to develop new energy technologies have made it a much more attractive proposal.
Tim Tinsley, National Nuclear Laboratory, talked about the vital role that nuclear power played in the space industry especially planetary exploration and how the UK with it’s technology and materials will be more involved in it. A demonstration system has been manufactured in the UK and work is ongoing to scale up the production as part of the ESA Endure Programme. He then described VULCANS – the UK space nuclear power and propulsion programme, the aim of which is to create a collaborative centre for space nuclear power and propulsion development and would build on the UK’s significant investment in terrestrial advanced nuclear development and skills.
Dr Kai Hoettges from the University of Liverpool describing the MicroAge Mission.
Following a brief break Dr Kai Hoettges from the University of Liverpool described the MicroAge Mission where the effect of micro gravity on human cells that had flown on the ISS earlier in the year are being compared to those seen in aging muscles on Earth. Kai described how a complete tiny laboratory to keep the muscle cells alive and test them had to be designed and built. Further work includes a MicroAge II mission, possible 3D bioprinting in Space and life science on a cubesat. Other space activities in the University are in the areas of solar sails, planetary defence, space debris and manufacturing perovskite solar cells as well as a new student led, university backed space engineering group.
The next speaker was Mitch Hunter-Scullion, CEO of the Asteroid Mining Corporation a company set up in Liverpool to prospect, explore and extract resources from the asteroids. The company plan is to first develop terrestrial robots that can also be used in space then prospect asteroids and finally explore and test mining technologies on the appropriate bodies. Using private investment and in partnership with Tohoku University Space Robotics Laboratory they are developing Space Capable Asteroid Robotic Explorers (SCAR-E). These are hexapedal climbing robots that have a wide range of terrestrial use as well as in space.
Stuart Eves talked about the issue of space debris, from the sources of the space debris to the uncertainty in the actual amount of debris and ways to quantify the issue better. He described a criteria for selecting the debris to be removed as well alternative solutions such as an in orbit satellite disposal facility or using the debris as fuel as proposed by a group in Australia. The Global Network on Sustainability in Space (gnosisnetwork.org) brings together academics and industry to address this ever growing problem and has identified SSA/SDA capability gaps and how an international approach to Space Traffic Control is necessary.
Ralph “Dinz” Dinsley described how after more than 32 years in the RAF he set up Northern Space and Security Limited (NORSS) in 2017 as the only UK company dedicated to Space Domain Awareness and Space Sustainability & Safety. On the 1st October 2022 NORSS became officially part of the Raytheon group. Services include outer space management consultancy, orbital analysis, space traffic management, space policy and law, space situational awareness R&D, ground based sensor operations, and space situational awareness training & operational support. The company works with Government bodies, UK Space Agency and ESA, Academia and Commercial companies including ExoAnalytic Solutions who are a key strategic partner.
Mark Waters from Warrington based 4wardfutures, an award winning careers education charity set up to educate and inspire young people about potential future careers described the various space projects that they had set up and run. The initial project CALOM (Create a Life on Mars) was to research and design a Mars habitat and this involved pupils thinking about the social issues as well as the technical issues to be solved. This developed from a classroom activity with industry professionals involved to online activities and led to a virtual Space Expo where many leading space companies, societies and organisations participate with a wide range of space careers advice available and was used during last year’s Space Week to host a week long series of career webinars. The Expo continues to grow to include topics such as sustainability.
Dr Helen Jermak from Liverpool John Moores University talked about the New Robotic Telescope (NRT), the world’s largest robotic telescope, that the university is building. It is a collaborative project with the Instituto de Astorfiscia de Canarias and the University of Oviedo. The telescope will be located in the Roque de los Muchachos observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands. It’s 4 metre primary mirror of 18 hexagonal segments will be able to slew to any location in the sky and begin observations in less than 30 seconds thus offering unprecedented fast follow up of transient phenomena. One of the key developments is the software required to handle such requirements.
There then followed a series of ‘lightening pitches’ of 5 minutes.
Dr Yianan Wang, University of Liverpool described the development of distributed stratospheric solar platforms. Ewan Schafer, Lumi Space talked about the commercial satellite laser ranging capability that they had developed. Dr Anuradha Ranasinghe, Liverpool Hope University, described the visuo-tactile sensing devices that were under development. John McDonald, RFIDiom, described the more than 25 years experience they had in providing systems including using RFID for asset tracking. Dominic Coy gave a brief overall summary of Jacobs and it’s role and experience in the space industry.
Muti award winning Liverpool born science fiction author Stephen Baxter delivering the final keynote speech
The final and keynote speaker was acclaimed muti award winning Liverpool born science fiction author Stephen Baxter. A chartered engineer and BIS Fellow he has degrees in Mathematics and Engineering and an MBA. Before becoming a full time author in 1995 he taught maths, physics and information technology. His wide ranging talk was entitled “Collaborations, Calculations, Companionship, Communications and Fast Spaceships.”
He talked about his fascination with space, some of the BIS projects he had worked on, fast spaceships, space stations and space habits, Arthur C Clarke’s contribution to the BIS and why he believed some of the 1950’s Dan Dare space rockets had been designed by Clarke. He described how he sees himself as a continuing link in the science fiction world going back to H G Wells. Stephen was inspired by Arthur C Clarke, got to know him and eventually co-wrote several books with him.
Closing the formal part of the meeting Alan Cross reminded everyone of the importance in completing this years Size & Health of the UK Space Industry 2022 survey as the results helped to influence decisions. It was interesting to note that based on space related turnover the North West had gone from 11th place in the UK in 2018/2019 to 6th place in 2019/2020.
The remainder of the evening was spent networking. A very successful and interesting first North West Space Cluster meeting.