Satellite Applications
Aurora
Newsletter
February 2014
sa.catapult.org.uk
Contents
Welcome2
Refining our Strategy and Business Plan
2
Satellites for Everyone
2
CEMS Update
3
Enhanced Communications for Remote Communities
3
Ideas Accelerator
4
In-Orbit Demonstration
5
Space Vision 2030
5
VIP Visits
6
European Satellite Navigation Competition
6
Deputy Prime Minister visits Harwell
6
Events Round-Up
7
Welcome –
Stuart Martin
Refining our
Strategy and
Business Plan
In recent months, we have been updating
our strategy and business plan to ensure
we continue to focus on the activities that
will deliver most benefit to business, and
growth to the economy.
Welcome to the fourth edition of
Aurora. It’s been an incredibly
busy start to 2014, with a series
of major initiatives kicking off,
and several exciting engagements
with new and existing partners,
each with very significant
potential.
In this edition, you will find news
of the innovative ‘Satellites for
Everyone’ initiative and the launch of
a new collaboration with Highlands
and Islands Enterprise, an update
on CEMS, following significant
recent changes, and details of the
Business Innovation team’s ‘Ideas
Accelerator’.
Finally, we are just weeks away
from our first anniversary and I
want to take this opportunity to
thank you all for your enthusiastic
support and contributions during
our early months of operation.
We look forward to many more
years of working together, and
contributing to continued growth
and development.
Informed by the recently published
Space IGS Growth Action Plan, we are
restructuring our programme activities
to concentrate on the Maritime and
Transport sectors, where we are seeing
immediate demand and an appetite to
use satellite data to enhance safety,
increase productivity, and/or improve
communications.
Alongside this, we will run smaller
technology-driven projects to develop the
potential of new satellite technologies,
and market-driven activities in areas such
as agri-tech, water management and
energy, where there is potential to prepare
for medium to long-term requirements,
and where satellite services will deliver
enhanced value.
Author: Stuart Martin
Satellites for
Everyone
In response to the recently revised
Innovation Growth Strategy (IGS) and
Innovation Growth Plan (IGP), the Catapult
has started working on a ‘Satellites for
Everyone’ (S4E) programme, with the
objective of generating awareness of
the capabilities of satellites and space
technologies.
Several internal workshops have been held
as part of the initial scoping stage, with an
associated S4E scoping document being
produced in due course. The Catapult will
then look to work with industry, academia
and governmental agencies, with the
ambition to provide an interactive toolkit
for non-space experts. Its aim will be to
explain:
• What satellites do
• H
ow satellites impact people’s every
day activities and work
• What type of data satellites can provide
• What satellite data can be used for
• Opportunity areas in the industry
• W
hat satellites will be able to do in the
future
The first part of this activity is anticipated
to be rolled out during the second quarter
of 2014.
Authors: Helen Harrison
sa.catapult.org.uk
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CEMS is now
benefiting from a
marked improvement
in resilience, reliability
and communications.
CEMS Update
During the past nine months, the Climate
and Environmental Monitoring from
Space (CEMS) facility has seen some
significant changes. Inherited from ISIC,
the facility had to be incorporated into the
Catapult infrastructure. This has now been
completed, and with additional investment
and a lot of hard work from the CEMS
team, the facility now offers a considerably
improved service.
The hosting environment located within
the Electron building is now benefiting
from a marked improvement in resilience,
reliability and communications, as well as
potential for expansion and the ability to
link to other initiatives – both internal to
the Catapult and externally. Examples of
this include a dedicated link to the Astrium
Geoinformation Services archives in
Farnborough; the aim is to access Sentinel
data from the European Copernicus
Programme, linking to the future European
Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system for
near-real-time data access, as well as
links to the COSMO-SkyMed activities in
the UK. In addition, linkages to end-user
systems, such as those currently being
built in Milton Keynes as part of their
Future Cities evolution, are being pursued.
The system capacity has been increased
so that more customers can be
The issue of good
communications to
remote communities
is a 102-year-old
itch still waiting to be
scratched!
supported, which has allowed an overall
reconfiguration of the system to provide
better performance for users.
The update had recently been completed
and existing customers migrated across.
In the future, we will be focussing on
expanding the content and usage of the
system, as well as incorporating a major
update to the functionality and usability
of the whole system.
The level of interest in CEMS has
continued to grow over the past year
from a wide variety of organisations across
many sectors, and we believe this will
increase significantly moving forward.
2014 has already seen an important step
change for CEMS, and its future is looking
very bright.
Author: Richard Hilton
Enhanced
Communications
for Remote
Communities
On 28 January 2014, Stuart Martin met
with Alex Patterson, CEO of Highlands and
Islands Enterprise (HIE) – one of the two
Scottish economic development agencies
– to formalise arrangements for future joint
working between both sides in providing
enhanced communications for remote
communities. The Highlands and Islands
region of Scotland has suffered from poor
communications for time immemorial
and is therefore ‘the place’ to bring new
capabilities to fruition; indeed one of the
principle findings of a major study on
provision of healthcare in the Highlands
from 1912 found that a ‘lack of telephones’
caused significant difficulties in doctors’
ability to deliver health services. Put
simply in this case, the issue of good
communications to remote communities
is a 102-year-old itch still waiting to be
scratched!
Alex Patterson (left) and Stuart Martin (right) ©HIE/John Paul
In the healthcare domain, many targets
relating to lifesaving care are still being
missed today. For example, in instances
of stroke events, simply because of
distances involved and / or lack of modern
day communications infrastructure. The
inability to transmit medical imagery
securely from ambulances back to
expert clinicians in centres of expertise
has led to poor patient outcomes in
strokes. In another domain, distance
learning and education strategies
suffer from lack of bandwidth in current
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way in delivering lifesaving interventions
in stroke events; further applications such
as mini X-Ray machines and diabetes
monitoring systems are being considered
for a future development pipeline.
HIE is developing
plans for a multidisciplinary innovation
centre that will bring
together all potential
stakeholders of
enhanced remote
communications.
Deployed with paramedics, the OmniHub
system and its future derivatives have the
potential to enable a positive disruption
to how healthcare-related services are
provided to people located away from
centres of population and sources of
expertise. But this is only the start.
Stuart Martin
©HIE/John Paul
systems, or even, in the worst cases, a
total lack of connectivity, and the same
symptoms pertain within a broad range
of communities and agencies involved
in both emergency and non-emergency
applications.
The Catapult and HIE are now setting out
together to resolve some of these issues.
Enabled by the OmniHub communications
system, which had its early development
sponsored by the Catapult, and which is
now being nurtured by HIE, the Centre
for Rural Health in Inverness is now
integrating a ground-breaking intra-cranial
ultrasound capability that should go a long
The Ideas Accelerator
starts with the initial
development of an
idea and broadly
covers all the aspects
required to take it to
market.
HIE is now developing plans for a multidisciplinary innovation centre that will
bring together all potential stakeholders
of enhanced remote communications,
including, and most importantly, the endusers involved. It is hoped to develop an
interim facility at the Centre for Health
Sciences in Inverness, by autumn 2014,
with a permanent home on the new
Inverness Science and Technology
Campus being ready by mid-2016.
The Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) that Stuart and Alex signed on 28
January is only the first step, with much
planning yet to be done. But we look
forward to the arrival of the innovation
centre, which will harness the Catapult’s
ability to be the critical enabler to the
realisation of a wide variety of benefits
across society (including the development
of a considerable supply chain of
associated applications), and to working
with HIE in this highly important field.
Author: David Livingstone
Ideas Accelerator
New for 2014, the Catapult’s Business
Innovation team is developing the ‘Ideas
Accelerator’. This comprises eight hourlong workshops that outline a process
and the skills to take an idea from initial
concept to successful business. It is
aimed at people with early stage ideas or
with the ambition to start a business. It
includes workshops addressing key areas
such as idea generation, prototyping,
investor pitches, financial modelling,
sales and marketing. Each workshop
uses the experiences of the group so
that businesses can help each other, and
includes practical elements and real world
examples.
The Ideas Accelerator is delivered to a
diversified audience rather than one-onone tailored support. It starts with the
initial development of an idea and broadly
covers all the aspects required to take
it to market.
The workshops are supported by
standalone documents. Initially this
programme will be trialled and iterated
from February to April 2014 in Harwell,
with a final product set available by the
end of April 2014. This will then be made
available to SMEs and other interested
parties, as well as being run biannually in
Harwell.
If you are interested in learning more
about this programme or joining the first
cohort, please contact
[email protected].
Author: Nicholas Thomas
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The Catapult is
working on a study
for the Technology
Strategy Board and
UK partners to define
a resilient, sustainable
and iterative IOD
program.
In-Orbit
Demonstration
In Q2 2014, two flagship In-Orbit
Demonstrator (IOD) satellites –
TechDemoSat (TDS) and UKube-1, will
be launched on a Soyuz launcher from
Bailkonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
define a resilient, sustainable and iterative
IOD programme, to develop both upstream
and downstream markets.
The study has a number of objectives,
which include:
• G
ather and consolidate the lessons
learnt from the TDS-1 and UKube-1
missions
• U
nderstand the technology
development process and define
means to offer quick access to space
• Identify the future high growth markets
and drive innovations toward their
exploitation
TDS-1 Spacecraft
These two spacecraft, which are
considered within the small mission range
(SSTL-150 platform from Surrey Satellite
Ltd for TDS-1 and CubeSat-3U platform
from ClydeSpace for UKube-1), will be
hosting more than a dozen experimental
payloads together.
Validating technologies in space is one of
the last critical milestones a technology
supplier needs to pass successfully
before establishing a route to market.
UK academia and industry players have
both expressed great interest in these two
programmes.
The Satellite Applications Catapult
is currently working on a Technology
Strategy Board study with UK partners to
• F
ederate the Technology Strategy
Board and UK Space Agency around
the same objectives to deliver growth
in the upstream and downstream
sectors
• D
efine a collaborative program led
by the Catapult, to offer a wide range
of opportunities such as platform
technologies development (Small
missions, CubeSat, Open Hardware),
scientific payloads testing, or new
services operations
• S
upport technology development with
access to world class facilities and
external funding
• Identification of future IOD missions
launch opportunities (inc. hosted
payload) to align technology roadmaps
If you would like further information on the
study, please contact [email protected].
Author: Corentin Guillo
Space Vision 2030
Space Vision 2030 –
how space will play
a major role in our
everyday lives.
Space is a vibrant industry, guaranteeing
independence and security for the UK
including food, energy and commercial
security. It helps us to address major
societal challenges, both at home and
abroad, such as climate change, scarce
resources, health, or the ageing of our
population.
In 2007, the UK space community
developed a ‘Space Vision 2025’ that
painted a picture of how space would
underpin our activities in the future. As the
landscape for space has changed quite
dramatically over the past five years, and
in response to the IGS Innovation Growth
Plan, we are now working with the UK
space sector to develop a Space Vision for
2030. Its aim is to incorporate the societal
challenges identified by the European
Union, and to identify how we envisage
space will play a major role in our everyday
lives.
Author: Karen Rogers
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Since the beginning
of 2014, the Catapult
has experienced
a whirlwind of VIP
visitors.
VIP Visits
After a quiet month in December in the
much needed wind down before the
festive period, the start of 2014 has
witnessed a whirlwind of activity, during
which time we have welcomed a host of
VIPs.
One of the highlights was the unexpected
but highly successful visit from the Deputy
Prime Minister, Nick Clegg. He was visiting
Harwell to sign a contract to bring more
money into the area and redevelop the
science park and other nearby facilities.
Catapult supporting
the European
Navigation Satellite
Competition 2014 –
launching in March
2014.
We were also delighted to welcome Derek
Hanekom, South African Minister of
Science and Technology, who spent the
Together with our ‘business as usual’
activities, we’ve had a very busy start to
the new year
Author: Carol Kelly
their ideas, we believe this competition is
a great way to help entrepreneurs
and innovators get their ideas off the
ground.
The European Satellite Navigation
Competition (ENSC) has been running for
the past 10 years as part of an initiative to
help drive new ideas and businesses that
utilise satellite navigation technology, be
it for positioning, timing, navigation or any
other application. The UK leg of this year’s
competition will be run as a joint venture
between the Catapult and the University of
Nottingham, who have run it successfully
for the past five years.
The UK has been a strong contender
in this European Competition, winning
five times out of its 10-year history. With
the imminent launch of Galileo and the
increasing opportunities and support for
start-ups and small businesses to develop
Catapult hosts Deputy
Prime Minster Q&A
session at Harwell.
afternoon with
us; visitors from
Tokyo-based
Earth Observation
Research Centre;
and local business
neighbours Aurora
who successfully
hosted a meeting
Derek Hanekom
of 90 delegates,
that will hopefully
lead to new collaborative opportunities
and projects.
The competition will be launched in March.
Entries should be submitted between
1 April and 30 June 2014.
Alongside the Catapult and the University
of Nottingham, other sponsors include
the UK Space Agency, the Technology
Strategy Board, CGI, Airbus Space
and Defence Ltd, Royal Institute of
Navigation, and ESA BIC Harwell. We are
also delighted to announce that Marks &
Clerk, one of the UK’s largest patent and
trademark law firms, is a new sponsor for
the competition.
For more information on the ENSC,
please visit sa.catapult.org.uk/esnc.
Author: Doug Watson
Deputy Prime
Minister visits
Harwell
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg,
visited the Catapult in January after
signing the landmark Oxford City Deal.
The City Deal announced a £600 million
cash injection into the Oxford area to
create 18,000 long-term jobs, and improve
transport links in and around the area.
Mr Clegg said: “The Oxford City Deal will
provide the improved roads and public
transport links the area needs to make the
most of its world class universities and
innovative science facilities.”
Members of the Catapult, as well as other
employees based on the Harwell campus,
Nick Clegg addresses Catapult staff
attended an hour-long Q&A session with
the Deputy PM about the City Deal and life
in Oxfordshire. Several issues were raised
ranging from local topics to his personal
view on the political system.
Author: Lorrie Fry
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Events Round-Up
Satellite Finance Network
Conference
19 March 2014
Inmarsat, London
The Catapult is supporting the first of this
year’s Satellite Finance Network (SFN)
conferences which is focussed at the SME
and finance communities. The aim of this
conference is to deliver:
• T
he SME journey – showcasing
industry success stories and how to
access information, skills, advice and
finance to stimulate growth.
• W
hy invest in space? Returns on
investment for the finance community –
showcasing UK success stories.
A trade show will be run in parallel, where
suppliers are invited to showcase their
companies and services, and demonstrate
products.
If you would like to deliver an elevator
pitch or sponsor this event, please contact
[email protected].
Space for Smarter Government:
Environmental Monitoring
Workshop
21 March 2014
Harwell, Oxford
This workshop, run by the UK Space
Agency for the FEOA community, UKEOF
Management Group Members and other
users of space products and services,
is to help enhance their environmental
monitoring programmes.
The aims of the workshop are to:
• P
rovide the opportunity to discuss
how environmental monitoring can be
enhanced using space products and
services
• D
emonstrate how government
programmes (particularly SSGP), new
data streams and funding mechanisms
can help organisations take action.
To register for this event, please visit
www.sa.catapult.org.uk/events.
UK CubeSat Conference
13 May 2014
Oxford Harwell
CubeSat activities and communities from
the academic, industrial, amateur and
education / outreach sectors.
The conference will provide an update
on progression and recommendations,
and the opportunity to discuss CubeSat
operations, technologies, development
and business innovation, with specialists
and experts. For more information, please
visit www.cubesatforum.org.uk.
Antenna Workshop
14 May 2014
Oxford Harwell
Due to interest from satellite operators,
satcom terminal manufacturers, antenna
manufacturers and research institutions,
we are organising a workshop entitled
“State-of-the-Art in Antenna Design for
Satellite Communications”.
The workshop will aim to understand
the state-of-art in antenna technology
for satellite communications; explore the
market and future technological needs;
understand how any gaps can be filled;
and discover whether the UK is lagging
behind in antenna technologies and what
can be done to catch up with the rest of
the world?
If you would like to participate in the
workshop as a presenter, exhibitor and/or
participant, please contact
[email protected].
Hackathon
17-18 May 2014
Oxford, Harwell
Our next Hackathon is planned for the
weekend 17-18 May. Catapult Hackathons
are focused on using space technologies
and data to identify how they can be
used to benefit other market sectors. The
weekend will provide participants with the
opportunity to access the latest space
data, intellectual property, challenges and
technology to create the solutions and
businesses of tomorrow.
The high energy ‘Hackathon’ will bring
together entrepreneurs, scientists,
technologists, makers, hackers and
mentors to generate new ideas, new
processes and/or prototypes, and new
businesses. For more information, please
contact [email protected].
This is the UK’s first Nano-satellite/
CubeSat Conference which will bring
together the broad UK Nano-satellite and
Aurora | February 2014 | Page 7
Electron Building
Fermi Avenue
Harwell Oxford
Didcot
Oxfordshire, OX11 0QR
T: +44 (0)1235 567 999
For more information:
W:sa.catapult.org.uk
E:[email protected]
Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd is an independent technology and innovation company. It is one of a network of elite centres established by the Technology Strategy
Board to accelerate the take up of emerging technologies and drive economic growth. The Satellite Applications Catapult is a company limited by guarantee, registered in
England and Wales. Company Registration Number 07964746. Registered office: Electron Building, Fermi Avenue, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QR, UK.