MILLIONS of pounds worth of contracts have been awarded to provide major testing facilities for the UK space industry in Oxfordshire.

The contracts are seen as the first steps towards providing the industry across the UK with all the major testing facilities they need under one roof, without incurring expensive international shipping costs.

Some £19 million worth of contracts have been awarded for a large space test chamber, vibration facility and the combined electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and antenna measurement system.

These major facilities will form part of the National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) which is to be built and operated by the Science & Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) RAL Space on behalf of the UK government.

Satellite test facilities at this scale, in one location, do not currently exist in the UK and will support the UK’s space sector as it seeks to capitalise on the estimated 3,500-10,000 satellites that are due to be launched by 2025.

The NSTF is intended to expand and complement the existing RAL Space facilities at the heart of the Harwell Space Cluster on the Harwell Campus.

Sean Stewart, NSTF project manager said, “Alongside the existing RAL Space assembly, integration and validation facilities, the NSTF will put all the test equipment needed by industry and academia in one place and accessible to everyone.

“Awarding these contracts is one of the early and hugely significant milestones towards building the NSTF.”