Spirit AeroSystems and Astraius Ltd. announced a collaboration to enhance future satellite launch capabilities from Prestwick Spaceport.
During a visit to the Spaceport by Scottish Government Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism, and Enterprise Ivan McKee, the companies commemorated the announcement with a signing ceremony.
Prestwick Spaceport, a joint partnership between Glasgow Prestwick Airport and South Ayrshire Council, aims to become Europe’s premier location for carrying small satellites into orbit via “air launch,”.
Spirit and Astraius – both located within Prestwick’s developing space cluster – are working to advance and accelerate the system components and key processes required for the Astraius horizontal launch platform.
The U.K. government has made orbital launch a key priority, with the National Space Strategy outlining plans to secure an increased portion of a global space economy expected to be worth £490bn by 2030.
Scott McLarty, Spirit Senior Vice President, Airbus and Regional/Business Jet Programs, said Spirit’s sites in both Scotland and Northern Ireland are well placed to support and develop a robust and sustainable space sector.
Astraius’ horizontal launch solution leverages the accessibility of C-17 transport aircraft, combining technology with delivery platforms that remove the reliance on individually modified aircraft and increase responsiveness.
The company brings together an international team with experience in commercial space launches and operations, to offer a solution that caters to the growing demand for payloads designed to carry out a variety of tasks from orbit, such as monitoring climate change and supporting disaster relief efforts.
