Electronics Weekly
Funding of £400,000 from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) enabled the change. The aim is to make the centre more accessible to a wider range of space companies and technology SMEs.
Facilities
The facilities – to qualify space hardware – include including vibration, thermal, vacuum, optical, SpaceWire, electromagnetic compatibility, and radio frequency testing capabilities. Specialist advice and guidance will also be offered to clients. For example, helping to design test regimes and enabling post-test data analysis.
“After nine months of hard work we are thrilled to throw open our doors once again and invite companies to access our bigger and better range of dedicated space testing facilities at the Higgs Centre,” said STFC’s Dr Julian Dines, Head of Innovation at the Higgs Centre.
“This upgrade means an even broader range of space testing can now take place on site here in Edinburgh, increasing the reliability of satellites in orbit”, he added. “We look forward to supporting the further expansion of the burgeoning space sector in Scotland – particularly as we approach the next phase in the sector’s development with space launch from Scotland.”
Scotland
For its part, the UK Space Agency highlighted the strategic importance of the centre for the Scottish space industry.
“The relaunch of the Higgs Centre for Innovation’s Space Testing Facility will benefit Scotland and the UK as a whole, catalysing investment and strengthening our end-to-end space sector capabilities,” said Annelies Look. She is the Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Delivery Officer at the agency.
“By providing affordable world class testing equipment and specialist guidance, the Higgs Centre is empowering early-stage tech start-ups and space SMEs to innovate, reduce risks, and bring their products to market faster. This will ensure that Scotland and the UK remain at the forefront of space exploration and technology, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”
Royal Observatory
The Higgs Centre for Innovation is located at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. It shares the site with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre and the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Astronomy. Not coincidentally, the new facilities meet the specifications set by STFC and UK ATC.
Pictured top is the Electro-Magnetic Compatibility chamber and pictured below is the Vibration (shaker) test facility.
Note that 180 space companies are located in Scotland.
Image: Higgs Centre for Innovation
See also: UK welcomes arrival of West of Scotland Space Cluster
