UK Space Agency News

Tim Peake to be first British Astronaut in space for over 20 years

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:58:03 GMT

Former Apache helicopter pilot Tim Peake is to become the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station, making him the first UK astronaut in space for over 20 years.

Should the Galileo satellite navigation system be mandatory?

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:39:39 GMT

The European Commission has launched a public questionnaire on how to maximise the market uptake of the EU's satellite navigation systems Galileo and EGNOS.

European Space Agency opens its doors in UK

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:34:39 GMT

David Willetts, UK Minister for Universities and Science, and Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, today unveiled the Agency’s first UK facility: ECSAT, the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications, located at the Harwell Oxford campus.

UK Space Agency and NASA join forces to explore the Solar System

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:54:48 GMT

The Sun and our neighbouring planet Mars are two destinations that the UK and US will be exploring together in the coming years, following recent agreements for collaboration on three big space projects.

Herschel shows galaxies had cool beginnings

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:27:50 GMT

Observations from the Herschel Space Observatory have shown that galaxies in the early Universe were cooler than those we see around us today. This indicates that early galaxies were more bloated, containing more dust, distributed over larger regions.

Cassini eyes a hurricane

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:10:26 GMT

The international Cassini spacecraft has found a powerful hurricane at Saturn's north pole, surrounded by a curious rotating hexagonal band of clouds.

Image of the week: The branching of beauty

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:52:51 GMT

As night blankets the Northern hemisphere, the UK and Ireland shimmer brightly as networks of lighting branch across the landscape.

Herschel loses its cool, but the work continues

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:50:59 GMT

Europe's Herschel Space Observatory has exhausted its supply of liquid helium coolant, after three and a half years of scientific observations. Using Herschel data, astronomers have already made ground-breaking discoveries about the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies and planets. But this has only scratched the surface, and there is far more still to come from the immense archive.

Bring Your Own Board - CubeSat workshop

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:38:36 GMT

Surrey Space Centre (SSC) and AMSAT-UK invite anyone with CubeSat equipment to a ‘Bring Your Own Board’ (BYOB) workshop. The aims are to demonstrate your latest CubeSat developments, to foster new partnerships and links within the UK and EU community, and encouraging more interaction with AMSAT-UK and the Colloquium.

Image of the week: Green planet

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:59:25 GMT

The French SPOT-4 satellite captured this image of the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo on 26 June 2011. The satellite image shows contrasts been settlements, forested and deforested areas, giving us a glimpse of our changing planet.

Early galaxies were ahead of their time

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:39:51 GMT

Astronomers using Europe’s Herschel Space Observatory have discovered a distant galaxy that challenges the current theories of galaxy evolution. Seen when the Universe was less than a billion years old, it is forming stars at a much faster rate than should be possible according to existing predictions.

Image of the week: One born every megaannum

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:35:09 GMT

The Herschel Space Observatory's view of W3, an enormous star-forming cloud spanning 200 lightyears. This stellar nursery, some 6,200 light-years away, is helping Herschel tell the story of how massive stars are born.

Retired star found with planets and debris disc

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:22:28 GMT

Europe’s Herschel space observatory has provided the first images of a dust belt – produced by colliding comets or asteroids – orbiting a subgiant star known to host a planetary system.

Bringing Space to Earth at the Big Bang Fair 2013

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:47:09 GMT

Thousands of school children got a satellite’s eye view of the Earth during Science and Engineering Week at the Big Bang Fair. The UK Space Agency was one of hundreds of organisations providing code breaking activities, explosions and robotics.

MARSBalloon mission launch success

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:46:58 GMT

On Friday 22 March, 120 student experiments were launched 30km up into Earth's atmosphere on two high altitude balloons. The experiments experienced temperatures as low as -50°C, pressures 0.6% of that at sea level and increased levels of radiation - conditions which are very close to that of the surface of Mars.

New Chairs for two UK Space Agency Advisory Committees

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:20:10 GMT

The UK Space Agency is pleased to announce new chairpersons for two of its advisory committees: the Science Programme Advisory Committee (SPAC) and Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC).

The Open University hosts UK Space Agency Steering Board

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:55:25 GMT

The Open University hosted the UK Space Agency's Steering Board for its meeting on 19 March.

Planck challenges our understanding of the Universe

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:03:24 GMT

Europe’s Planck satellite - a flagship mission for the UK Space Agency - has compiled the most detailed map ever created of the cosmic microwave background (the relic radiation from the Big Bang). The new map refines our understanding of the Universe’s composition and evolution, and unveils new features that could challenge the foundations of our current understanding of its evolution.

Science Minister launches first ever higher apprenticeship in space engineering

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:14:11 GMT

The launch of the first ever Higher Apprenticeship in Space Engineering was announced today (15 March 2013) by Loughborough College and the National Space Academy.

ESA announces winners of Cassini Scientist for a Day 2012

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:46:01 GMT

Students from across Europe have been selected as winners of the Cassini Scientist for a Day 2012 competition. Coordinated by ESA, national competitions were held in several European countries, including the UK.

Tweet the Expert! – Climate Week and National Science and Engineering Week

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:40:54 GMT

Tweet the Expert is back for Climate Week and National Science and Engineering Week. Get your questions answered live by our experts!

International Space Apps registrations opening shortly

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:46:57 GMT

Over the weekend of the 21st and 22nd April, teams around the UK will be participating in the International Space Apps Challenge, bringing together people on every continent to find innovative uses for satellite data in solving everyday problems.

World’s first Smartphone in space on UK's first CubeSat

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:24:01 GMT

The UK's first CubeSat, STRaND-1, successfully launched into space today, flying the world's first smartphone in orbit. Launched from India, on the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) PSLV launcher, the satellite hosts a Google Nexus One smartphone, a new Linux-based high-speed processor and attitude & orbit control system, and two novel propulsion systems (8 pulsed plasma thrusters and a water-alcohol propulsion system).

Image of the Week: At the mouth of the red valley

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:23:28 GMT

This image captured by ESA’s Mars Express on 13 January shows some of the similarities between regions on Mars with those on our home planet. This natural colour view of the southeast corner of the Amenthes Planum features craters, lava channels and a valley from which water may have once flowed.

Alphasat passes thermal vacuum testing

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:23:10 GMT

Astrium has successfully completed thermal testing of the Alphasat telecommunications satellite.

UK-led instrument selected for Europe’s Jupiter mission

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:22:41 GMT

A UK led-led instrument has been selected to fly on Europe’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, due for launch in 2022.

A cool discovery about the Sun’s next-door twin

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:22:15 GMT

Europe’s Herschel space observatory has detected a cool layer in the atmosphere of Alpha Centauri A, the first time this has been seen in a star beyond our own Sun. The finding is not only important for understanding the Sun’s activity, but could also help in the quest to discover proto-planetary systems around other stars.

Moon and Jupiter Watch

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:15:56 GMT

Mission X registered schools are invited to a special stargazing evening at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge.

The James Webb Telescope - Space as a Context for Teaching Science

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:16:16 GMT

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is due to be launched from French Guiana in 2018, is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and the biggest space astronomy project for a generation. It is an international project involving NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. The telescope will look for the first bright objects in the universe and for the chemical signatures of life on distant planets.

CryoSat reveals major loss of Arctic sea ice

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:49:28 GMT

An international team of scientists using new measurements from Europe’s ice mission has discovered that the volume of Arctic sea ice has declined by 36% during autumn and 9% during winter between 2003 and 2012.

Scholarship funding available for International Space University (ISU)

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:35:33 GMT

The UK Space Agency has just announced the new round of its competitive scholarship scheme to support UK citizens who wish to attend the International Space University's nine-week Space Studies Programme and one-year MSc programme.

Massive stellar winds are made of tiny pieces

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:40:57 GMT

Europe’s XMM-Newton space observatory has completed the most detailed study ever of the fierce wind from a giant star, showing for the first time that it is not a uniform breeze but is fragmented into hundreds of thousands of pieces.

Betelgeuse braces for a collision

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:40:08 GMT

Multiple arcs are revealed around Betelgeuse, the nearest red supergiant star to Earth, in this new image from Europe’s Herschel space observatory. The star and its arc-shaped shields could collide with an intriguing dusty ‘wall’ in 5000 years.

Climate markets to be driven by space technology

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:08:20 GMT

The UK is set to build on its success as a leader in the provision of climate data and services, with a new strategy to increase the use of space technology in this growing market.

Image of the Week: Inside Planck

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:06:41 GMT

This image shows the complex set of detectors that make up Planck’s Low Frequency Instrument and High Frequency Instrument.

Building on the UK’s success in space

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:05:30 GMT

£25 million investment targets growth in UK space industry.

ESA Council approves the accession of Poland

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:28:49 GMT

On 13 July, ESA Member States unanimously approved the accession of Poland to the ESA Convention. ESA’s Director General is now mandated to sign the Accession Agreement together with the Minister of Economy of Poland, Mr Waldemar Pawlak.

New Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency Appointed

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:13:32 GMT

Dr. David Parker has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.

The Huygens experience - Eight years since touchdown on Titan

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:54:47 GMT

It’s now eight years since ESA’s Huygens bounced, slid and wobbled its way to rest on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan - the first time a probe had touched down on an alien world in the outer Solar System.

Image of the week: Collage of paradise

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:25:41 GMT

This stunning picture, taken by the MERIS instrument on Europe's recently retired satellite Envisat, is stitched together from a set of 3 images forming a collage of paradise - an almost cloudless view of Cuba.

Image of the week: A summary of 2012 for the UK in space

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:34:08 GMT

2012 was a remarkable year for the UK space sector, with historic celebrations of past missions, scientific achievements for missions and landmark investments for the future. The images below represent some of the year’s highlights month-by-month.

New Year Honours for STFC's Richard Holdaway

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:59:44 GMT

The UK Space Agency congratulates Director of RAL Space Professor Richard Holdaway who has been awarded a CBE in recognition of his remarkable services to Science and Technology.

Cubesat workshop registration now closed

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:51:58 GMT

Registration for the Cubesat Community Workshop on Tuesday, 22nd January has now closed.

Seasons greetings

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:51:00 GMT

Best wishes for the festive season from the staff at the UK Space Agency.

Herschel confirms the origin of cosmic dust

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:50:11 GMT

The Herschel space observatory has produced an intricate view of the remains of a star that died in a stellar explosion a millennium ago. It has provided further proof that the interstellar dust which lies throughout our Galaxy is created when massive stars reach the end of their lives.

Image of the Week: Sungrazing comets plunge into the Sun’s corona

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:49:18 GMT

A number of solar system bodies can be seen clustered around this image of the Sun captured the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

Cubesat Community Workshop

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:51:21 GMT

The UK Space Agency will be running a Cubesat Community Workshop in January. Registration for the workshop is now open. This is a free event and is open to all, hosted by the Open University, Milton Keynes, on 22 January 2013. Please note that space is limited and places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

UK secures £1.2 billion package of space investment

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:47:05 GMT

The UK Space Agency is set to invest £1.2 billion in some of Europe’s biggest and most lucrative space projects, providing the UK with increased leadership in a rapidly growing global sector and building on the UK space industry’s £9.1 billion contribution to the economy.

Image of the week: The cloud almost a million times the size of our Sun

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:50:15 GMT

The Carina Nebula is a star forming nursery of giant bubbles, towering pillars and cascading clouds of dust and gas, some 7500 light-years from Earth.

UK space hub to host innovation teams in new Agency competition

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:27:47 GMT

Inspired teams seeking a place to collaborate need look no further. The UK Space Agency is calling forward multi-disciplinary, multi-organisational groups for the Space Collaborative Innovation Team Initiative (Space CITI). Successful teams with innovative ideas will be provided with up to £0.5M funding and world class facilities to call home.

Image of the Week: Podium view of London 2012

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:58:50 GMT

The London 2012 Olympic Games have drawn to a close with another spectacular show. Team GB exited triumphant from the Olympic Stadium with after a golden fortnight at the games.

Image of the week: A natural wonder of the world

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:40:34 GMT

The world's largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres. Located in the Coral Sea off the east coast of Queensland, Australia, it can be seen from space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms.

Europe’s billion-star surveyor gets a frosty welcome at space test facility

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:42:38 GMT

Europe’s Gaia mission to survey a billion stars has passed a gruelling test to prove it can withstand the extreme temperatures it will experience in space when it is launched next year.

Winners of prestigious space awards announced

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:50:19 GMT

The winners of the prestigious Sir Arthur Clarke Awards were announced today (26th October 2012) at an awards ceremony at the House of Lords. Each award was presented to its winner by UK impressionist Jon Culshaw, an avid amateur astronomer and a contributor to Sky at Night and Stargazing Live. The awards recognize notable contributions to the UK space sector.

Competent PRS Authority - Regulating PRS use & manufacture

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:56:55 GMT

Galileo is the satellite navigation system currently being built by the European Union and the European Space Agency.

UK Space Agency Holiday Card Competition

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:47:30 GMT

The UK Space Agency will be sending out an electronic holiday card this December and that card could be carrying your design.

UK Space Agency issues ‘Size and Health of the UK Space Sector’

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:31:02 GMT

The Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, today announced the release of the UK Space Agency’s latest report on the progress of the UK space industry. The announcement was made at the OECD Space Symposium in Paris where the Minister delivered the keynote speech on the role of space in monitoring global threats.

‘Astronaut training’ to blast off at schools across the UK

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:43:08 GMT

With the Olympics just behind us and the next generation inspired to follow a fit and healthy lifestyle, astronauts will be picking up where Olympians left off, inspiring UK students to get off the sofa and start training.

World Space Week

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:29:43 GMT

It's World Space Week and this year's theme is Space for Human Safety and Security.

Vacancy: Chief Executive, UK Space Agency

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:27:52 GMT

The UK Space Agency seeks to appoint a new Chief Executive to build the profile and presence of the Agency as it pursues an ambitious growth target for the industry.

Tweet the Expert! - World Space Week 4th-10th October 2012

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:09:22 GMT

If you have ever wanted to chat to an astronaut, find out about stars and galaxies or ask how a Mars rover is built then tune in to the UK Space Agency twitter feed (@spacegovuk) for World Space Week 4th-10th October.

New Webb Telescope video takes viewers ‘beyond the visible light’

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:09:23 GMT

By looking beyond visible light at infrared light, the James Webb Space Telescope is going to open up another world in the way we look at the cosmos. This is the focus of a new light-hearted, educational video by STScl.

Successful launch for Europe’s newest weather satellite

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:08:11 GMT

MetOp-B, the European polar orbiting weather satellite, was successfully launched on 17th September 2012 from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Image of the week: Summer holiday snaps…

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:07:08 GMT

This stunning image of the island paradise Bora-Bora is the first captured from the new Earth observation satellite SPOT 6.

Watch the winning Space Lab experiments live from 400 km above the Earth

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:06:27 GMT

Winners of the YouTube Spacelab competition will get to see their experiments performed live in space today at 15:50 BST.

From space theatre to Mars buggy racing: UK Space Agency outreach scheme is bringing space to all

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:57:28 GMT

With the Agency’s ‘Space for All’ scheme now in its fourth year, and going strong, space isn’t just the business of astronauts and scientists; it’s now up for grabs in many different guises all across the nation.

Success for Space at the Farnborough Airshow

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:02:26 GMT

A packed programme of space events was held at the Farnborough International Airshow 2012. The space and aerospace community and the public turned out in force to the Space Zone for a programme of conferences, meetings and workshops. This has acted as the backdrop to the UK Space Agency news that the UK space sector contributed £9.1B to the economy for the 2010/2011 period as well as a number of other exciting announcements from the UK Space Agency and partner organisations throughout the week.

Digging deep: New Mars mission to take first look at what’s going on deep inside the Red Planet

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:06:19 GMT

A UK Space Agency-funded instrument, designed to investigate the interior structure and processes of Mars, has been selected to travel to the Red Planet on NASA’s newly announced InSight mission.

Image of the Week: Piecing together the Titan puzzle

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:27:26 GMT

This image is a composite of several images taken during two separate flybys of Titan on 9 October (T19) and 25 October (T20) 2006. It demonstrates the work planetary scientists do to piece together information from exploration satellites to interrogate the past processes and current conditions on a planet or moon.

UK scientists follow Curiosity

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:25:49 GMT

Today the world watched as NASA’s Curiosity rover was lowered to the surface of Mars using the newly developed ‘sky crane’ method. The rover landed safely and will now travel to its destination on the slopes of ‘Mount Sharp’ where it will begin its two year mission to investigate the planet’s ‘habitability’ using the onboard Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). UK scientists will be involved in the study.

Hylas-2 launch: UK provides communication capability to Africa.

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 08:23:15 GMT

On 2 August, British company, Avanti communications launched Hylas-2 from the European spaceport in French Guiana. The satellite will expand the company’s digital communications coverage across the remote areas of the Middle East and Africa.

Mission accomplished, GIOVE-B heads into deserved retirement

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:55:24 GMT

ESA's GIOVE-B experimental navigation satellite is gradually raising its orbit as it prepares for well-earned retirement at the end of its four-year mission paving the way for Europe's Galileo constellation.

Momentous first year of the UK Space Agency - Annual Report and Accounts 2011-2012

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:41:50 GMT

The first UK Space Agency Annual Report and Accounts (2011-2012) has been published and was laid before the House of Commons on Monday 16 July 2012.

Space solutions flying high

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:14:13 GMT

The Farnborough Airshow provided a timely opportunity to show current industry members and potential partners that the space sector is still growing in the UK. At an average of 7.5% over the last two years, it has huge potential for further development. Growth and the future of space exploitation were the themes of the week. The UK Space Agency is focused on enabling businesses and individuals benefit from space.

Mapping out growth in the UK space sector: UK Space Agency publishes Civil Space Strategy

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:03:13 GMT

The ‘Civil Space Strategy’ setting out the direction for the UK space sector over the next four years was published Tuesday 10th July at the Farnborough International Airshow. The Strategy sets out the UK Space Agency’s framework supporting the growth of the sector over the next four years.

Space Insight scientist appointed new deputy chair of IADC Measurements Working Group

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:24:54 GMT

Phil Herridge appointed deputy chair of Working Group 1 on Measurements of the IADC.

Vacancies on the UK Aurora Advisory Committee

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:12:57 GMT

The UK Space Agency is seeking two new members to join its Aurora Advisory Committee. The Committee is responsible for advising the Agency on matters relating to the Aurora space exploration programme and meets four times a year. The next meeting is scheduled for September 2012.

Out of this world design receives commendation

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 10:15:36 GMT

British schoolboy Navonil Neogi won third place in the prestigious NASA Ames Space Settlement Design Contest. His design was selected from 474 submissions from over a thousand students from around the world.

UK Space Agency makes stellar investment in mission to the Sun

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:53:05 GMT

The UK Space Agency has announced a planned £11.5M investment for the scientific payloads for Solar Orbiter - the first medium (M-class) mission in the European Space Agency's (ESA) Cosmic Vision programme. The funding is being shared between British institutions for the development of four of the mission’s instruments to study the Sun.

Illuminating the dark: Ahead with the Euclid mission

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:09:42 GMT

UK teams working on the mission to study the “dark Universe” are being granted a planned £8.5M by the UK Space Agency to develop scientific instruments. This is following the formal adoption of the largest collaboration of astronomers in the world by the European Space Agency (ESA) to help build the Euclid satellite.

UK Space Environments Conference

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:35:19 GMT

“UK Research & Education for Space & Terrestrial Benefit”

Image of the Week: Diamond Jubilee – the view from space

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:42:25 GMT

This week, to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee our Image of the Week shows Buckingham Palace (centre left) captured by NigeriaSat-2 on 30th March 2012. It is a reminder of how far space technologies have come since the start of her reign.

European Space Agency reveals forthcoming Announcement of Opportunity for the JUICE spacecraft

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:12:27 GMT

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that in June 2012 it intends to release in an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) inviting the broad scientific community to propose instruments to be flown onboard the Jupiter Icy moons Explorer spacecraft.

Reform of the Outer Space Act 1986: Consultation

Thu, 31 May 2012 08:56:06 GMT

The UK Space Agency has issued a consultation seeking views of stakeholders on proposed changes to the Outer Space Act 1986. This is in response to the Government Growth Review published in March 2011. In which the Government set out its wish to reform the Outer Space Act 1986 by introducing an upper limit on liability for UK operators.

Image of the Week: Eyes in the Sky

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:16:14 GMT

These shape-shifting galaxies have taken on the form of a giant mask. The icy blue eyes are actually the cores of two merging galaxies, called NGC 2207 and IC 2163, and the mask is their spiral arms.

Scholarship funding available for International Space University (ISU)

Mon, 28 May 2012 08:37:53 GMT

The UK Space Agency has just announced the 2012 round of its competitive scholarship scheme to support UK citizens who wish to attend the International Space University's nine-week Space Studies Programme and one-year MSc programme.

First instrument for the JWST is completed and handed over to NASA

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:12:06 GMT

After more than ten years of work by more than 200 engineers, the Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), a camera so sensitive it could see a candle on one of Jupiter’s moons, has been declared ready for delivery by the European Space Agency and NASA. The MIRI Optical System, an instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that will eventually take up a position four times further away from the Earth than the Moon. It will now be shipped to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where it will be integrated with the other three instruments and the telescope.

New funding for martian science

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:26:22 GMT

The UK Space Agency has announced nine funding awards, totalling £2M, for science associated with Mars exploration. This scheme will enhance the UK’s science capabilities; help us to understand the Martian environment and to search for traces of past and present life.

Destination: Jupiter’s Frozen Moons

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:06:55 GMT

Jupiter’s icy moons are the focus of Europe’s next large science mission, as ESA announces the next of its L-class missions.

Mission X London 2012 International Event

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:06:04 GMT

Budding astronauts from across the world landed in London last week for the closing event of Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut. The UK Space Agency hosted the international visitors for three days of space, fitness and nutrition educational activities from 26-28 April.

50 Years of the UK in Space

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:05:26 GMT

The UK is celebrating 50 years since it joined the exclusive ranks of space faring nations. On 26 April 1962 Ariel-1, the first satellite to be designed and operated by the UK, was launched.

Cassini sees new objects blazing trails in Saturn ring

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:05:07 GMT

Strange objects that are half a mile long and leave glittering trails behind them have been discovered punching through part of Saturn’s F ring, one of the more recently discovered rings around Saturn. The objects, termed ‘mini-jets’, were found by scientists from Queen Mary University of London as they were working with images from NASA’s Cassini Spacecraft. They fill a missing hole in our understanding of the curious behaviour of the F ring. The results are being presented at the European Geosciences Union meeting in Vienna (24 April 2012).

Latest CryoSat result announced

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:04:32 GMT

After nearly a year and a half of operations, CryoSat has yielded its first seasonal variation map of Arctic sea-ice thickness. Results from ESA’s ice mission were presented at the Royal Society in London.

How space can help to prevent another Titanic

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:24:54 GMT

When the Titanic entered the iceberg infested waters 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in April 1912 a number of factors contributed towards making this the tragedy that has made the name of the cruise ship infamous.

£6 million for UK space technology industry

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:27:38 GMT

As part of the National Space Technology Programme, the Government is to grant nearly £6 million to co-fund major new British research that will develop commercial products and services using space technology and data from space-based systems.

A cannibalistic galaxy with a powerful heart

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:30:31 GMT

Observations by two of the European Space Agency's space observatories have provided a multi-wavelength view of the mysterious galaxy Centaurus A.

Image of the Week: A Rare Clear View of Europe

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:05:52 GMT

Just over a month ago the images we were seeing of the British Isles were cloud covered and snowy. Here we have a very rare image showing most of Europe remarkably free from cloud cover.

European Satellite Navigation Competition opens for app developers

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:26:13 GMT

The 2012 European Satellite Navigation Competition (ENSC) launches to the UK public to find the home-grown ideas that will drive innovation in the space sector and the everyday application of its data in technologies like smart phone apps and location-based services.

Mission X 2012: UK has landed!

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:26:27 GMT

Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut 2012 has come back down to Earth after two months ‘in space’. This health and fitness challenge has seen 38 British schools compete nationally and internationally to be the first school to ‘walk to the moon’.

Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) - UK PRS Demonstrator programme

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:17:35 GMT

The UK Space Agency is taking a prominent role in the European Commission’s programme to prepare UK Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) Users for the PRS Initial Operational Capability (IOC). The UK Space Agency, as the Competent PRS Authority (CPA), intends to establish a secure platform that will enable PRS access management.