A UK SPACE technology company focused on providing Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services has been awarded gainful contracts with UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency.
Spaceflux has won contracts to provide tracking data about satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) and to build a new, national, ground-based SDA sensor in Cyprus.
SDA enhances high-quality optical data from its proprietary global network of optical sensors.
The satellite tracking data will be acquired using Spaceflux’s global optical sensor network with 10 locations across the globe.
The data gathered will be used by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and Space Command to monitor various satellites in geostationary orbit and to protect UK space assets from collisions and adversarial actions.
Spaceflux was set up in 2022 with the aim of leveraging their ground-based telescopes, in combination with a unique AI-driven analytics platform, to tackle the problem of space congestion in view of rising satellite deployment.
The company will use its expertise to build, maintain, and routinely operate the commissioned sensor, which will monitor objects in GEO, approximately 36,000km above Earth’s equator, with its primary mission being the provision of information on UK satellites, helping to prevent collisions and protect critical space assets.
The system will also allow data to be shared with partner organisations and international allies, developing the UK’s contribution to strategic space relationships, and increasing opportunities for collaboration in the space domain.
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command said: “Space Domain Awareness underpins our ability to protect and defend UK and allied interests in space.
“The UK has critical assets in geostationary orbit, and Project Nyx Alpha will help us to monitor them more closely.
“It is great to see that UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency are working with some of the most innovative UK space companies to develop our nation’s space capabilities.”
With the sensor site being positioned in Cyprus, this allows a better view of the geostationary orbit than sites on the UK mainland.
The compay says these procurements will play a key role in helping UK Space Command protect and defend UK interests in space.
The CEO of the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate said: “With more than 8,000 operational satellites and more than 30,000 pieces of trackable debris, the ability to operate safely in space is growing increasingly challenging.
“Operating a sensor in Cyprus enhances our vital national capability to track objects in space to help avoid collisions and protect the satellites we depend on.”
On the important milestone for Spaceflux, Founder and CEO Dr Marco Rocchetto said: “Space Domain Awareness is vital for the safety and security of in-orbit assets and is becoming increasingly foundational in space operations.
“As a company based in London, we’re thrilled and deeply proud to support the Space Agency and UK Space Command in enhancing this sovereign capability, protecting the safety of our national space assets, and promoting a secure and sustainable space environment.
“These contracts will not only allow us to further advance our technologies, but also contribute to the growth of the UK space ecosystem.”
Spaceflux currently operates 10 satellite tracking ground-stations, with the company’s goal being to build the most advanced optical sensor network for SDA in the world.
Throughout 2024, the company intends to expand to 15 more locations, enabling them to deliver a remarkable increase in daily observations, offering global coverage, unparalleled accuracy, and reliability of data, and ultimately making space a safer place for everyone.
