Beyond Earth

The Beyond Earth mission is advancing the UK’s in-orbit capabilities, unlocking economic opportunities for businesses, bolstering our safety and security and helping solve the grand challenges on Earth.

Why This Mission?
What We Do
Interventions
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Mission Statement

The goal of our Beyond Earth mission is to drive the growth of the UK space sector by opening new commercial opportunities arising from the in-space economy. The Catapult is helping establish the UK as a leader in the growing global ISAM market, particularly in in-space logistics, servicing, and manufacturing technology and capability.

WHY 'BEYOND EARTH'?

The International Space Station orbiting Earth with solar panels extended, against the backdrop of space and the planet below.

The Beyond Earth mission harnesses space technology to leverage the opportunities presented by space to tackle the challenges of today and unlock the potential of tomorrow.

By building on existing space technologies and advancing new ideas to implementation, our focus on in-orbit logistics and services, and manufacturing and R&D is supporting the UK’s involvement in the new space economy.

A satellite orbiting Earth with bright lights visible on the planet's surface against a starry background.

In-orbit refuelling, servicing, manufacturing and debris removal are all crucial to the next phase of growth for the space industry. We are championing new approaches and technologies to deliver in-space servicing that will support efficient and sustainable use of space, helping avoid the potentially catastrophic ‘cluttering’, of near-Earth space.

The Beyond Earth mission is focused on using advances in areas including robotics and AI to deliver the essential elements to support the development of a vibrant orbital economy. Through our work, we are creating opportunities for UK organisations to excel and thrive in this fast-emerging sector.

What We Do

The Catapult acts as a catalyst to the UK space industry, driving research and development and linking supply chains and service providers. We are stimulating growth in the UK space sector and benefitting the many adjacent industries enabled by space.

To drive the future space economy, the Catapult offers facilities and expertise to support organisations of all sizes. With our assistance the UK space ecosystem is advancing technologies and products from idea through testing and validation to successful commercialisation.

By championing technological advancements, we aspire to not only create material gains for the UK, but also to elevate the quality of life on Earth.

INTERVENTIONS

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In-Space Logistics and Services

In-Space Manufacturing and R&D

In-Space Logistics and Services

In-Orbit Service, Assembly and Manufacturing or ISAM, is a rapidly growing field that encompasses a wide range of activities conducted in space, including the inspection, repair, assembly of satellites and other structures in space.

This emerging segment will revolutionise the way we utilise space assets, extending their lifespan, reducing the cost of space operations, and enabling new, previously unimaginable, capabilities.

ISAM is a key component of the future space economy. By enabling satellites to be serviced and repaired in orbit, ISAM helps mitigate issues of asset longevity, replacing failed components, refuelling satellites, or even upgrading their capabilities with new hardware and software. By extending the lifespan of satellites, ISAM will help to reduce the number of satellites launched into space, minimising the amount of space debris, improving safety, enhancing the sector’s sustainability and improving profitability.

Through the Beyond Earth mission, the Catapult has prioritised ISAM, with programmes dedicated to In-Space Logistics and Services and In-space Manufacturing and R&D.

We are providing access to expertise and class-leading facilities that are helping UK organisations to meet the challenge, and reap the rewards, of this rapidly emerging sector.

RELATED FACILITIES

In-Space Manufacturing and R&D

In-orbit manufacturing and R&D offer unique opportunities due to the microgravity environment, vacuum conditions, and exposure to space radiation.

These factors have already enabled advances in various fields, including:

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology – Where Microgravity allows the development of purer protein crystals, leading to more effective drugs.
Advanced Materials – Space-based manufacturing can produce high-quality fibre optics, semiconductors and alloys.
3D Printing & Assembly – Space-based fabrication can reduce launch costs by producing components ‘on demand’ in-orbit.
Human Spaceflight Support – R&D in orbit aids in the development of life support systems, radiation shielding, and other technologies crucial for future, deep-space missions.

As access to space becomes more affordable, these opportunities will revolutionise industries on Earth and beyond. Our work on In-Space Manufacturing and R&D is already helping existing space sector organisations provide services to enable non-space businesses to capitalise on the orbital environment.

To learn more about the Advanced Materials and In-Orbit Accelerator (ESA BSGN) and the Phase One participants please click here