A new national facility set to boost the UK’s thriving Earth Observation sector with access to world-leading instrumentation and expertise is open for business.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council‘s (STFC) RAL Space and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have combined expertise to build a new national centre – the Small Satellite Calibration Facility – for testing and calibrating instruments on small, cube, and nano satellites.

In the era of ‘new space’, a growing number of start-ups and SMEs are venturing into the development of small satellite instruments for diverse Earth Observation (EO) applications. Calibrating sensors for these applications is vital to ensure the accuracy and utility of data collected in orbit. While large satellite missions and programmes might invest in bespoke calibration solutions, this would present a significant barrier for smaller companies, many of which lack the capacity, budget or expertise to develop their own calibration testing facilities.

Supported by experts from RAL Space and NPL, the Small Satellite Calibration Facility, which was announced at the 20th Appleton Space Conference, will be based among RAL Space’s existing facilities at Harwell Campus – an already bustling space cluster with over 100 local and international space organisations.

This new facility is set to empower start-ups and SMEs by providing access to world-leading calibration services at short notice and a fraction of the cost. This initiative not only lowers the barrier to entry for aspiring space companies but also gives them a competitive edge through enhanced data quality and more reliable missions.

The Small Satellite Calibration Facility forms part of the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology‘s £200M ‘Earth Observation Investment Package’ announced in 2022. It will build on existing RAL Space and NPL programmes that support the UK’s thriving EO sector, with a particular focus on how EO technology and data can help solve global challenges such as climate change.

Ultimately, this facility will further boost the UK’s thriving Earth Observation sector, supporting critical data that helps us monitor and protect our planet.

Dr Dan Peters, STFC RAL Space Technical Lead for the Small Satellite Calibration Facility, said: “RAL Space is excited to be working with NPL on this new facility, and to hear from small space companies about how we can support to ensure they’re getting the best possible data from their instruments. Ensuring these instruments are calibrated effectively means we can be confident in the information they send back to us on Earth, helping us make better decisions about our planet.”

Mr Christopher Baker, NPL Technical Lead for the Small Satellite Calibration Facility, said: “By working together on the SSCF, RAL Space and NPL combine our complementary expertise. This collaboration allows us to offer world-class calibration services to enhance data quality and mission reliability, lower barriers to entry for new space companies, and strengthen the UK’s position in the Earth Observation sector.”