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Space agreements

Science Minister David Willetts announces closer collaboration with US and Russian space agencies.

From:
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and 皇冠体育app Rt Hon Lord David Willetts
Published
21 July 2010
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Speaking at Space Day at Farnborough Airshow, announced the signing of agreements with NASA and the Russian Federal Space Bureau during his first major speech on space.

Key announcements in the speech included:

  • 皇冠体育app signing of a Statement of Intent with NASA to work closely together on areas including space exploration and earth science.
  • 皇冠体育app signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia, which will see greater collaboration and help UK firms compete for work in Russia.
  • 皇冠体育app launch of the CubeSat satellite programme.
  • A 拢4.9 million contract to build an Earth Observation Hub at Harwell, Oxfordshire.
  • 皇冠体育app awarding fellowships totalling 拢38m.

CubeSat

皇冠体育app CubeSat project is a one year pilot programme to design and launch a shoebox-sized satellite.

Dubbed the UKube1, the satellite will allow the UK to test equipment and conduct research in a relatively cheap way.

Mr Willetts said:

鈥淏ritain鈥檚 first CubeSat will bring major benefits to the UK space industry. Firms will now have a cheap and quick way to test their latest prototypes.

鈥淩unning a completion to see which experiments will go up with UKube1 is an inventive way to ensure it is fitted with the most creative and innovative payload ideas.鈥�

Earth Observation Hub

Mr Willetts announced that the Government has signed a contract worth 拢4.9 million with Astrium to establish the hub at the International Science and Innovation Centre (ISIC) at Harwell.

He said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Earth Observation Hub will help UK scientists make the most of the wealth of information we are collecting about our home planet, in vital areas such as monitoring the effects of climate change so we can respond quickly to natural disasters throughout the world.鈥�

Airshow

Mr Willetts attended the Farnborough Airshow as part of its dedicated Space Day activities. Following the speech, he toured the Space Zone area and spoke with UK SME鈥檚 involved in the space sector.

Business Secretary Vince Cable and Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk .

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Published 21 July 2010