LONDON, Feb. 6 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
The Disruptive Experimental Electric Propulsion (DEEP) Lab, built by space technology companyMagdrive, gives British businesses access to specialist testing facilities for electric propulsion systems - the technology that allows satellites to manoeuvre,maintaintheir orbits, and travel further into space using less fuel than traditional chemical rockets.
The £3.8 million facility has beenestablishedwith £1.8 million from the UK Space Agency's Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund and £2millionof company investment. WhileMagdrivewill be its largest user, the 10,000 square foot laboratory is open to start-ups,establishedaerospace firms and academic researchers across the UK space sector.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd said:
From ambitious start-ups toestablishedaerospace firms, this facility will give British companies access to testing capabilities that were previously out of reach. Electric propulsion is shaping the future of how weoperatein space, and by investing in infrastructure like this we are ensuring that UK innovators can lead the way.
By opening its doors to the wider space community, the DEEP Lab will accelerate the pace of discovery and help cement the UK's reputation as a global leader in space technology.
Mark Stokes, CEO and co-founder ofMagdrive, said:
We'redelighted to officially unveil the DEEP Lab to the UK space community. A huge thanksgoesto the UK Space Agency forsupportingus settingup a world-class R&D facility.This milestone accelerates the commercialisation of our next generation And DEEP Labisn'tjust forus,it'sopen to companies,startupsand academics across the sector, it will also create new opportunities for collaboration and discovery, and to boost national capability and put the UK on the map as a leader in electric propulsion technology.
UK Space CEO Dr Paul Bate at Magdrive. Credit: Stuart Harrison / Magdrive
Supporting UK space sector growth
Electric propulsion is increasingly vital for satellite operations, offering greater efficiency and manoeuvrability in space. The new laboratory features six key capabilities, including cleanroom assembly areas, a mechanical prototyping workshop, and advanced plasma diagnostic testing chambers.
Thefacility's centrepiece is a 2-metre diameter vacuum chamber that enables comprehensive thruster testing and validation.Magdrivehas brought plasma diagnostics commonly used in the fusion industry to the electric propulsion sector, allowing users to image andmonitorplasma evolution from multiple angles.
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:
The opening ofMagdrive'sDEEP Lab is a fantastic example of how targeted investment can deliver real impact for the UK space sector.Our fundingwillnot onlyhelpcreate 50 highly skilled jobs but has alsoestablisheda world-class facility that addresses a genuine gap in our national infrastructure.
Electric propulsion is fundamental to the future of satellite technology, and byprovidingaccessible testing capabilities, DEEP Lab will accelerate innovation across the industry.We'reparticularly pleased to see this facility supporting start-ups and smaller companies who previously faced barriers to testing and developing their technologies.
The UK Space Agency's Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund has awarded more than £45.6million for 13projects since it launched in 2023. This funding iscomplemented byover £43.8million inmatch funding from the sector,generating a total of £89.6millionof private/public investment in space research and development infrastructure.
On top of that,SCIFfundingawards have bolstered organisations' ability to attract investment, helpingto secure venture capital, privateequityand follow-on public funding,and hasalready helped catalyse over £50millioninadditionalinvestment.
A collaborative approach
The laboratory can accommodate start-ups,establishedaerospace companies, and academic researchers.
Individual rooms and capabilities can be rented separately under different pricing models designed to cover operational costs rather than generate profit. Enhanced security infrastructure ensures users can access only their booked facilities.
The on-site workshop, equipped with aHurco5-axis machine and 3D printers, enables rapid prototyping and iteration. A full-time machinist supports users in operating specialist equipment, significantly reducing development timescales.
UK Space Agency CEO, Dr Paul Bate, and Anotonia Yendell, Head of Space Ecosystem at the UK Space Agency on a tour of Magdrive's facilities. Credit: Stuart Harrison / Magdrive
Building on success
Founded in 2020,Magdrivehas attracted over£10 millionin funding, including support from the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency. The company is developing next-generation spacecraft propulsion systems at itsOxfordshirebase.
As part ofthe Harwell Space Cluster,Magdrivehasproximity tomore than 100 other space organisationswhich helpsfostercollaboration and knowledge exchange within the space ecosystem.
The DEEP Labrepresentsa significant enhancement to the UK's space infrastructure,providing domestic companies with world-class facilities to develop technologies that will power future satellite missions.
Jim Stretton, Managing Director of Harwell Campus, said:
Magdriveshows what's possible when public and private investment align within a strong innovation ecosystem. Supported by Harwell's unique mix of government, academic and commercial partners, the company has scaled from incubator space to a new campus base and has now opened the DEEP Lab.
We're delighted to seeMagdriveoperating world-class infrastructure that will help smaller space companies accelerate the development of new technologies across the space sector.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
