In-Orbit Demonstration Programme Missions 1, 2, 3 and 4

The In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) Programme offers you a low-cost opportunity to test your service or technology on a CubeSat mission launched from the International Space Station (ISS).

IOD will help you accelerate to ‘proof of concept’ stage by providing an affordable in-orbit testbed and a range of operational and business support services to exploit the commercial potential of the mission. Innovate UK’s £1.5 million IOD investment will give you flight-heritage on one of four missions.

We are offering:

• a CubeSat platform from Clyde Space including assembly, integration and testing
• a launch opportunity with NanoRacks from the ISS*

Who can apply?

IOD is open to any company or consortium who can clearly demonstrate the commercial potential of a service and a route to market.

The programme is looking for commercial services and technologies in areas such as:

• climate applications
• agriculture and maritime
• environmental monitoring
• internet of things
• location-based services
• communications applications
• logistics and fleet management
• smart cities

Support for your mission

We can help you:

• Build your business case and define your mission
• Find a technology or service partner
• Deliver mission operations
• Access data processing facilities to test service prototypes
• Develop the commercial potential of the service or technology

How do I take part?

• IOD is an open call with periodic review dates every 4 months or so. The next deadline for the review date will be Autumn 2018.
• Applications can be made at any time, with the Catapult including your proposal for the next review

Submit an application

Entities submitting entries are expected to:

• Lead the demonstration of a service, support payload integration, collaborate on operations, and provide a payload FM and EM
• Contribute to the cost of the IOD mission
• Deliver a direct ROI to the UK through the post IOD mission plans

To submit an IOD application, please complete the proposal documents below and email them to  iod@sa.catapult.org.uk by the next deadline:

• IOD Business Proposal Template
• IOD Technical Proposal Template together with IOD Technical Proposal Guidance Notes

More information:

If you have any questions regarding the IOD programme, please contact the team at iod@sa.catapult.org.uk

The IOD programme is run by the Satellite Applications Catapult as a collaborative research initiative. Each successful applicant will need to contribute according to the scope and scale of the mission. Support is available to help identify potential sources of funding.

*the launch with NanoRacks from the ISS is via its Space Act Agreement with NASA’s US National Lab.