THERE was a double lift-off into space in Oxfordshire last night.

But there were no rockets soaring into the skies above Harwell.

Instead, it was the launch of two major facilities that will act as centres of research to take scientists and businesses beyond the final frontier to bring space age technology into everyday life.

The Duke of York was on hand to unveil the Satellite Applications Catapult, a Government-backed organisation to help commercialise space and satellite technology.

Prince Andrew said: “The whole reason for the Catapult is to give people the opportunity to make use of the vast range of knowledge and applications they may not know about but which could be used in their business.

“This is the preserve of the transfer of knowledge and the ability to be able to grow businesses in the future.”

Work is due to start on the new European Space Agency (ESA) building shortly, with plans for 100 staff to be based there by 2015.

Already about 30 staff are based in Harwell, preparing the way for the establishment of the agency’s first UK facility.

Science Minister David Willetts also announced plans to establish a new European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications operated by the ESA.

He said: “Harwell is a very important centre for space activities – we really have lift-off here.

“We have an enterprise zone to encourage industrial partnerships and a combination of world class science and hi-tech activity.

“This mixture of scientists, academics, researchers and business people provides an environment for innovation.”

ESA director general Jean-Jacques Dordain declined to say how much the centre will cost.

But he revealed the research would use satellite technology and data to tackle major issues such as climate change, weather forecasting and crop productivity, as well as improving the global positioning system used in satellite navigation systems and mobile phone technology.

Meanwhile, the Catapult, which is one of seven centres around the UK, will cost £10m a year to run and will be funded by the Government’s Technology Strategy Board, although bosses hope it will generate revenue itself from hiring out facilities and experts.

One of the small firms feeding into Catapult, Rezatec, is also officially launching this week after taking premises at Harwell.

It uses satellite data to measure levels of carbon in the world’s forests to prevent commercial deforestation by rapidly industrialising countries such as Brazil.