UK Space Agency invests £4m in National Propulsion Test Facility

UK researchers will be able to test and develop space propulsion technologies at a new National Propulsion Test Facility that is to be based at a key location for British rocketry research.

The UK Space Agency is investing £4.12m in the new facility that will be located at Westcott in Buckinghamshire, a location with a strong history of propulsion research for defence and space development.

Government funding will help create a new vacuum facility at the Westcott propulsion test site. When used together with the existing industry owned rocket firing test cells, this will allow the simulation of high altitude testing of thrusters up to 2kN. The funding will also help to upgrade an existing industry owned test chamber to improve capabilities in the 25N thrust range.

The UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), through its RAL Space facility will act as an independent broker for facility access. The European Space Agency (ESA) will be advise and oversee the initial detailed design phase before a review in the autumn to move to full implementation.