Tag: space tug

Finding Prospero

Skyrora launch mission challenge to seek and de-orbit historic Prospero satellite

Edinburgh-based rocket company Skyrora has called on the UK space industry to support its efforts to find Prospero – the first British satellite to have been launched successfully by a British rocket – and remove it from orbit.

Skyrora CEO Volodymyr Levykin was joined by British astronaut Major Tim Peake (above) in issuing the call to government agencies, space companies, and academia to develop a technical plan to de-orbit the 66kg (145lb) satellite.

Skyrora’s own Space Tug orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) is set to play a significant role in the mission, which could be Skyrora’s first full deployment of its OTV to help address the “space junk” problem. 

Prospero was launched on the Black Arrow rocket from Woomera, South Australia on 28 October 1971. Hidden within the fairing, Prospero would be the first British satellite launched from a British rocket. The successful launch stood as testament to British engineering and became a talking point of national pride. In 2018, Skyrora recovered the first stages of Black Arrow-R2 and R3 from its landing site in the South Australian outback. 

Half a century later, Prospero continues to orbit over our heads whilst, back on Earth, the UK space sector continues to speak of its significance. Prospero remains the only British satellite launched from a British rocket. The satellite could be heard transmitting on 137.56 MHz as late as 2004. It’s longevity, however, retrospectively serves to represent the importance of de-orbital services.

Speaking at the launch of Finding Prospero, Volodymr Levykin, Skyrora’s founder and CEO, said: “It’s 50 years since the UK launched a British satellite into orbit from a British rocket.

“The UK is a world leader in space technology, and today as a country we are embarking on a new chapter of space innovation. By recovering Prospero, we are not only coming together as a space nation and taking responsibility for what we have launched into orbit, but also confirming our commitment to the sustainable use of outer space.”

Earlier this year, Skyrora successfully completed trials of the third stage of its XL rocket, including its OTV, a vehicle that can refire its engines around 15 times to complete tasks such as de-orbiting defunct satellites. A mission to de-orbit Prospero could be the Space Tug’s first real-world deployment and a demonstration of its long-term potential in removing “space junk”. Space junk – the ever-increasing volume of redundant satellites orbiting Earth – is one of the biggest problems facing the global space industry. 

The OTV is just part of Skyrora’s efforts to lead the space industry in sustainability. The company uses 3D printing in the manufacture of its rockets, and has also developed its own green rocket fuel, Ecosene. Made from waste plastic, Ecosene could prevent more than 3,000 tons of unrecyclable plastic going to landfill by 2030.

The launch event was hosted by TV presenter Dallas Campbell and other speakers included ESA Astronaut Major Tim Peake, Black Arrow Engineer Terry Brooke, Senior Advisor Lord David Willetts and Joanne Wheeler, a leading practitioner in satellite regulation.

The mission to retrieve Prospero will also seek to engage and inspire a new generation by shining a spotlight on one of the UK space industry’s greatest achievements.

A number of Year 13 pupils from Allestree Woodlands School in Derby also attended the Finding Prospero launch event.

These students won the European Space Agency’s National Cansat competition, and will represent the UK at the European CanSat competition in Bologna, Italy at the end of June.

Demonstrating responsibility for the unborn and future generations is fundamental to the core values of Skyrora.

Skyrora’s ‘space tug’ gives space sustainability dream a lift

SKYRORA has revealed it has conducted successful trials of a ‘space tug’ which can play a key part in ensuring the UK becomes a world leader in tackling the issue of space junk.

The Edinburgh-based rocket development company believes the Orbit Transfer Vehicle – part of its Skyrora XL rocket due to launch in 2023 – could clear debris, reposition satellites and remove defunct satellites from orbit. 

In the week that the UK and UN sign a historical agreement on space sustainability, Skyrora have thrown its support behind the initiative.

The company recently showed its own commitment towards a sustainable space industry with the launch of its space tug, which is one of many initiatives that will allow the government to meet its goals.

Its announcement comes after a directive was signed this week between the UK Science Minister and the UN to agree a new approach to sustainability in space, as well as equipping authorities with the power to act against firms responsible for creating space junk. 

The agreement commits the UK government to a series of events and outreach efforts, ultimately aimed at promoting the Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTS Guidelines).

Those guidelines ensure “the conduct of space activities indefinitely into the future”, an ability now under threat from the growing cloud of space debris. Developed and published by the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the voluntary rules had come under criticism for their lack of enforcement mechanisms.

However, with the UK now actively endorsing the guidelines, there is to be increased awareness and prominence within the industry.

Skyrora is already establishing itself as a key innovator not just in the UK space race, but in ensuring it places space sustainability as a crucial element in its planning and company vision.

It has developed a new way of launching satellites without damaging the environment as well as creating an eco-friendly fuel that ensures the UK has the most environmentally friendly space industry in the world.

The latest chapter in its investment in sustainable technology – and signalling another crucial milestone for the entire UK space industry – is the successful test on an innovative “reignitable” rocket engine or space tug, capable of manoeuvring once in orbit. 

The test – at its engine development facility in Fife – involved a full mission duration static fire test (450 second burn over three firings) of the upper (or third) stage of their orbital-class vehicle, Skyrora XL.

Skyrora now believes this provides for a full mission-ready Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV – or space tug) that can perform a number of in-space missions once it has delivered its payload.

This includes tackling the issue of space junk by removing redundant space objects from orbit. There are around 34,000 objects above 10cm in size in Earth’s orbit that would be considered space junk – 3,000 of which are redundant satellites. Moving at around 10km/s, these objects could produce debilitating damage to operational satellites or even the International Space Station.

And as we see increasing numbers of constellations being placed into orbit, with the likes of OneWeb and SpaceX planning on sending thousands of satellites up, then as those numbers grow, so does the demand for a vehicle that can make multiple stops and functions in space without the need for multiple launches.

Skyrora CEO, Volodymyr Levykin, said: “Our goal was always to be mission ready once all the regulations and permissions were in place, and this development not only brings us closer to that point but also takes us beyond simply launch readiness.

“It’s important to show that even in these challenging times we are still a nation that continues to innovate and take the lead in some of our most lofty ambitions.

“We aim not only to conduct efficient launches from UK soil in the most environmentally friendly way, but ensure that each single launch mission has the possibility of conducting the level of work that would have historically taken multiple launches. With this approach we enter a whole new level of efficiency with full consideration of environmental impact taken into account.

We are delighted that members are discussing these matters in Parliament imminently on the 4th February and expect due attention to be made given and further action to be taken to adapt the regulations to reflect the UK’s commitment to sustainability.”

Last January, the company achieved the first ever eco liquid-fuel rocket engine ground tests take place using their own Ecosene fuel derived from unrecyclable waste plastics that would otherwise be disposed of in landfill. The fuel itself emits around 45% less greenhouse gases and is particularly suited to cope in the Scottish weather.

And Skyrora have also pioneered a bespoke Mobile Launch Complex which allows them to never leave a footprint when launching. All launch infrastructure is carried in containers, even their mobile erector, where the launch vehicles takes off from, not harming any land environments.

Mr Levykin added: “We have found a way to not only sustain our operations in orbit, but also clean up the way on how we get there.

“Thanks to our Ecosene fuel and our Mobile Launch Complex, we are not just committed to playing our part but we are committed to being responsible and responsive to the on-going threats of global climate change. This is the right way to go forward.”