Spaced-OoooO-Out ::

An interesting article at the BBC this week reporting an initial proposal to develop a UK developed/based satellite launcher. As the article reports, the UK last launched a satellite 38 years ago as part of the Black Arrow series. Unfortunately the programme was canceled a few months before the first successful launch of a satellite on the grounds of cost. As ever, it was decided that all further launches could be bought cheaper in the US.

What makes this interesting is that it is a purely commercial proposal leveraging UK excellence in low cost engineering and business. The companies behind it are, not surprisingly, SSTL and Virgin Galactic. SSTL have a proven track record in micro-satellites, whilst Virgin helped bankroll the development of White Knight Two produced by Scaled Composites (and based upon the US Pegasus system). This is an air launch system and is intended to provide “tourist” flights in to space. Virgin clearly want to make the most out of the system and see the potential for low-cost satellite launches. And low cost? Well rather than the $5-10M currently quoted, they reckon they can get closer to $1M. And it does remain a proposal at the moment, but with two such big names with proven track records there is considerable potential.