Whether it is bringing people closer together through communications, providing new perspectives on our planet or enabling us to explore new frontiers in the solar system – space technology is a powerful force for innovation, collaboration, and discovery.

As the largest space company in the UK, Airbus Defence and Space develops and manufactures space technology mainly at its key sites in Stevenage and Portsmouth. The company works closely with academic institutions and companies on research and development. Not to mention various UK suppliers.

Partnering on cutting-edge research

Academic institutions play an important role in driving and validating innovations – especially in the space sector. This also makes them essential partners for us at Airbus: in the UK alone, Airbus is funding PhDs and research projects at 17 different universities.

Glyndwr Innovations, Wrexham University

An expert in hyperspectral imaging, Wrexham University is exploring the potential space applications through its commercial arm, Glyndwr Innovations. (Image source: Wrexham University)

At Wrexham University in North Wales, for example, cutting-edge research and development of precision optics and optical systems led to the creation of a commercial arm, Glyndwr Innovations. One of its areas of expertise is hyperspectral imaging.

A hyperspectral imager is a device that takes 300 images of a scene simultaneously across many narrow spectral bands (colours). It provides comprehensive image data, allowing you to spot even the tiniest colour variations and distinguish the composition of the scene in much greater detail. It has a wide range of applications, including the detection of skin cancer in humans, blight in crops, and even the presence of mineral deposits in landscapes.

As a university, we can be a facilitator. Projects like this are what make the direction of our research both tangible and commercially viable.

Professor Caroline Gray OBE, Director of the OpTIC Technology Centre Wrexham University

Paired with satellite imagery, hyperspectral imaging can also play a major role in environmental monitoring, as Professor Caroline Gray OBE, Director of the OpTIC Technology Centre at Wrexham University is well aware. “Tracing pollutants in air, water and soil, or detecting disease and insect infestations in forests are just a few examples of how we can benefit from hyperspectral imaging from space,” she says.

To further explore this potential, Glyndwr Innovations joined forces with Airbus. So far, the partnership has produced a lab based technology demonstrator that proves the system works as expected. “The next step will be to produce a flight-ready system,” Gray says.

For Professor Gray, this collaboration is a prime example of how the relationship between academia and industry should work: “As a university, we can be a facilitator. Projects like this are what make the direction of our research both tangible and commercially viable. This in turn helps us build our reputation and fund our work, while at the same time contributing to the growth of the skills and knowledge needed by the UK industry.”

Reliance Apprentices

The cleanroom of Reliance Precision in Huddersfield, UK. (Image source: Reliance Precision)

Developing new products and technologies

Developing new products for the space industry can come with a steep learning curve, making collaboration a must. That is why Airbus is working with businesses across the UK to co-develop new space technologies.

A company that has recently increased its involvement with the space sector is Reliance Precision. Based in Huddersfield, UK, the company has over 100 years’ experience in manufacturing high quality gears and precision actuation components.

As a specialist manufacturer, the company works with customers in a variety of industries, but space was more or less new territory for them. “Back in the 90s, we made a large Solar Array Drive Mechanism gear that was later used in the Rosetta probe to chase down Comet 67P,” says Andrew Butt, Head of Business Development & Commercial.

In the space sector there is a real sense of cooperation and consistent support that I haven’t experienced in any other industry.

Andrew Butt, Head of Business Development & Commercial Reliance Precision

In 2017, a new challenge arose for Reliance Precision when Airbus approached the team to develop a new stepper motor gearbox (SMG) for Airbus Stevenage’s solar array drive mechanisms. In brief, this motor is responsible for pointing the solar arrays of large geostationary satellites towards the sun. This resulted in the development of the NeoSMG for the Eurostar Neo based satellites, which was first launched into space in October 2022 as part of the Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F.

“Our thought right from the start was: ‘This project is literally written in the stars for us,'” Andrew Butt says. But at the same time, the project meant a big change in the way Reliance Precision worked. “We had to deeply engage with the unique requirements of the space sector and adapt our product assurance and quality standards to its needs.”

Euro- SMG 2

Together with Airbus, Reliance Precision developed the NeoSMG, a stepper motor gearbox for Airbus Stevenage’s solar array drive mechanisms. (Image source: Reliance Precision)

In the end, Reliance Precision went through a huge learning curve – an experience Andrew Butt would not want to miss: “Compared to other industries, I was surprised at how collaborative the relationships are. There is a real sense of cooperation and consistent support that I haven’t experienced in any other industry.”

Looking towards the future, Reliance’s space journey has only just begun: the company has secured a second space contract with Airbus to produce a further 26 NeoSMGs.

Leveraging the UK supply chain