Up to £15 million commercial funding could be made available for British science and technology to fly to space, should the proposed mission with Axiom Space proceed, the UK Space Agency announced today
Two new funding calls – one for science and another for technology demonstrators – have opened, in preparation for an agreement being reached to fly a team of four British astronauts on a commercially-sponsored mission, potentially to the International Space Station.
While the commercial funding for projects is dependent on the mission proceeding, the UK Space Agency is giving scientists, innovators, and businesses the opportunity to submit proposals now to maximise the benefits of a mission in the near term.
Andrew Griffith MP, Minister for Space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
Today’s announcement follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the UK Space Agency and Axiom Space in October 2023, which outlined the plans to pursue a commercially-sponsored UK astronaut mission, and an initial request for ideas for science and technology.
Annelies Look, UK Space Agency Deputy CEO, said:
Funding for the Science and Technology demonstrator calls is dependent on the mission going ahead.
Dr Lucie Low, Chief Scientist for Microgravity Research at Axiom Space, said:
Science Experiments
The aim of the science call is to support UK-based researchers to design and execute scientific research which uses microgravity and the space environment. Proposals can be from any research area but are encouraged from those that align to the goals of the National Space Strategy, UK Science and Technology Framework, and research priorities identified by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Technology Demonstrators
The technology demonstrator call will support the UK’s exploration sector to test innovative technologies within a space environment. The UK Space Agency is particularly interested in technologies that support the National Space Capability Goals, the UK Science & Technology Framework and its five critical technologies: Artificial Intelligence; Engineering Biology; Future Telecommunications; Semiconductors; and Quantum Technologies, or that fall under the Agency’s Space Exploration Technology Roadmap categories, which include Advanced Manufacturing, In-Situ Resource Utilisation, Life Support and Crew Performance.
UK astronaut Tim Peake, who spent 6 months on board the International Space Station in 2015/16 and, in his ambassadorial role for Space, has been supporting the development of the potential mission with Axiom Space, said:
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:
The UK Space Agency is working with Axiom Space on plans for a commercial mission with the full support of the European Space Agency.