Comment: Supercharging the space sector

The UK has a long history of aerospace innovation and we shouldn’t lose sight of this success. Just five decades ago, we saw the launch of Black Arrow and the development of iconic aircraft like Concorde and the Harrier Jump Jet. While these milestones should not be forgotten, we shouldn’t rest on our laurels and rely on nostalgia and historic excellence when it comes to aerospace. We risk falling further behind in the global space race if we don’t rethink how and where the next innovations are going to come from.

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Worth over £16.4 billion to the UK each year, the space sector presents the country with a fresh opportunity to restore its engineering glory days. The UK is home to many impressive engineering startups, however what can be done to further this innovation?

Going above and beyond

It is clear the UK knows how to design and manufacture rockets from the ground up. While the ways in which we conceive and build state-of-the-art engines have changed in line with technological advancements like AI and 3D-printing, the UK remains a hub of scientific and engineering talent. We have all the skill sets and talent to innovate and eventually achieve sovereign launch capability, but the breakthroughs are not happening on the scale or at the speed that was once experienced.

The UK space sector employs nearly 50,000 people and, if the right steps are taken, it can attract even more talent. A larger workforce would help stimulate the wider economy and facilitate the growth which the new government is looking for, while also propelling domestic engine design forward with new ideas.

Apprenticeships and new funding for STEM will positively impact the pool of potential employees. However, it is worth noting that there is a challenge of producing graduates with space engineering backgrounds - especially those with hands-on manufacturing and testing experience as this is not offered widely as part of aerospace degrees. Rectifying this experience gap will make these prospective employees much more useful for our space companies.

While salary may not be the main draw for candidates, an aligned value proposition often is. If a company has a set of principles that resonates with graduates, this is a solid foundation for attracting the right talent. Getting to space sustainably and making space an enabler for the wider high-tech economy is an appealing draw for those early in their careers.

Collaboration is key

The engine is the heart of a rocket but could a centralised body - an engine design bureau or national design labs and testing houses - ensure that this heart keeps beating? Or do we just need more propulsion and engineering skills to propel space technology innovation in the UK? Any centralised body must prioritise enacting what’s been discussed. Otherwise, these organisations and bureaus are merely talking shops. Perhaps we need further collaboration between universities and industry to foster talent and the sharing of ideas, as well as successes and failures.

Numerous companies across the UK are working to create rocket engines or test space materials. We’re seeing innovation all over the country happening quickly and effectively. There are businesses like Monumo, a Cambridge and Coventry-based business coupling deeptech innovation and machine learning with traditional engineering expertise to reinvent the electric motor. And there are more space-focused companies such as Protolaunch, which is developing novel chemical propulsion technology.

We already have great initiatives like Race 2 Space, a national education initiative to boost the UK space sector. Imagine what could be achieved if we had a better-established graduate-to-startup pipeline so that these skilled people had easier access to engineering jobs in the space industry.

Putting it to the test

A vertical rocket launch from UK soil is imminent, with the most recent attempt made by Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) at SaxaVord. The ultimate failure of the attempt showed us that innovation is never a straight path and that setbacks are a natural part of future success. What we can do is learn how to do it better next time. How do we alleviate the pressure that’s causing a bottleneck between graduate talent and private companies? How can the government fund innovation?

Perhaps a centralised body like an engine design bureau isn’t the solution but something must change. A closer look at our current system, our university programmes and redressing how we back apprenticeships, and STEM can answer these questions and bring the UK back into contention for a resurgence in space engineering.

Dr Jack-James Marlow is Head of Engineering & Operations at Skyrora