1. The Future of UK Space Science Missions
Chris Castelli
Head of Space Science
http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency
12 Oct 2012, RAS

2. Growth through innovation
New
technologies Science as an
and
Growth through applications of
space enabler of growth
Exploring
exports space to gain
Winning a new
larger share of knowledge,
the global
market Growth Strategy train the next
generation and
create new
technology
Growth through Education for
New uses of space
space such as
and
exploiting climate change
services space for Education
education
new opportunities for growth
Using space
across the
public sector
to deliver more
efficient
services
Growth through smarter government

3. Space science is at the heart of the UK Space Agency’s programme
Half of Government space spending is on space science
No national programme so everything is delivered through ESA – Mandatory
Science Programme and UK’s National Programme
ESA space science programme is designed to undertake frontier scientific
research – science driven by community
Advancing science by creating new knowledge & inspiring us to achieve –
Societies that invest in knowledge have always been able to lead & achieve more
Driving innovation and growth - new technologies, data analysis techniques
and applications, supporting a competitive industry and through training and
inspiration

4. • By the end of decade Gaia, LISA Pathfinder. BepiColombo, JWST and the
first 2 ‘Medium’ class missions in Cosmic Vision will be launched
• UK ready to play a key role – Fully exploit return on investment through a
coordinated programme with STFC – ‘dual key’

5. Herschel (2009) has
revolutionised
Sub-mm survey
astronomy
Herschel - 7,000 galaxies in 16
hours
Planck (2009) will produce the most accurate map
of the CMB & revolutionise our understanding of the
origin of the Universe
Gaia (2013) will produce the largest and most
precise 3Dchart of our Galaxy
measurements of 1 Billion stars!
JWST (2018) - Infrared optimised
successor to Hubble largest and
most complex space telescope

6. ESA’s Cosmic Vision
• Long term decadal planning 2015-2025
• March 2007 was the first call
• Continues Europe’s achievements and builds
on Horizon 2000+
• Building blocks are S, M and L class missions
• UK is second largest contributor (based on
GDP share of ~16%)
• >£60M/yr subscription and ~£14M/yr national
programme

7. Solar Orbiter – First Medium Class mission in Cosmic Vision
Exploring the Sun-heliosphere connection (Launch 2017)
Science goals
• Origin of the solar wind and
coronal mass ejections
• Acceleration of energetic
particles
• Nature of the solar dynamo
Optimised payload of 10 remote sensing and in situ instruments
• UK lead on SWA and MAG, and SPICE and major role in EUI
• Direct involvement of 11 UK scientific institutions
• Unique near-Sun (0.28AU), inclined orbit
• Make the connection between Sun and space
• First good view of the Sun’s poles

8. ESA Small Class Missions
S class was introduced to provide flexibility
Ø Increase launch frequency of CV to achieve 1 launch
every 18 months
Ø 120M€ CaC and 4 yr development cycle
Ø VEGA launcher
Ø High science quality
Ø Flexible 50M€ contribution from ESA
Ø Assist in re-balancing georeturn for smaller countries i.e.
those outside ‘big four’
UK well placed to exploit small missions
Ø SSTL’s world leading small satellites
Ø ISIC EO hub ground stations and operations
Ø Strong science community
Ø RAL CDF for Phase A?

9. National Programme – Commitments and Future Planning
18000
16000
14000 L2 technology
S missions/Bi-Laterals
Supports the
Expenditure (£k)
M3 mission
12000
development of
JUICE
CUBESAT
Euclid (VIS + SGS)
10000
Solar Orbiter
JWST - MIRI + PDS
payloads and
8000 Operations support + Data Centres
BepiColombo associated ground
Lisa Technology Packages (LTP)
6000 GAIA Data Centre development
S1 Mission Operations
based data systems
4000 Community support + Admin
and in-orbit
2000
operations
0
Advice from SPAC
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
/1
/1
/1
/1
/1
/1
/1
/1
/2
/2
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Financial Year
and STFC SB
• Maintained our commitment to all instruments under development and operations
• Additional £1.6M into Herschel and Planck
• £21M commitment to Solar Orbiter and Euclid
• Planned commitment to fully support 2 UK led instruments on JUICE
• Planning for UK leadership in M3
• AO for bi-laterals next year
• AO for out of a national cubesat programme next year

10. Dual Key Mechanism
ESA
subscriptions • Share decision making
Generic space process and achieve an
technology R&D overall coherence
Early R&D for space science
Mission-specific (non-mission specific) • Respecting individual
instruments* Studentships/fellowships
Scientific exploitation of authorities
Operation of UK missions
instruments* • Ensure STFC’s priorities
(PLS) reflected in new missions
Extensive coordination ( dual key for grants; cross
Aurora integrated advisory panels etc.)
representation on supported by agency
national
* Includes programme
mission data systems such as GAIA DPAC and Euclid
• UK Space Agency has no remit on its own to support space science for its
own sake – UKSA strategy is about growth
• STFC through the community needs to hold the science strategy and be the
champion/voice of the community
• Need STFC to support the continued participation of the UK in ESA as
delivering a high quality science programme for the UK community
• Sought Science Board’s view on new opportunities (e.g. M3, JUICE etc)

12. Why the Dual Key is important?
Astronomy is not only multi-wavelength it is multi-facility
New space missions will return data of a quality that is unprecedented and
with extensive sky coverage space missions are/will create a powerful
resource for astronomers long after the mission has ended
In particular survey data will remain unique & valuable for decades to come
Scientists working on current missions (e.g. Herschel/Planck) have only
scratched the surface of what can be done!
The data from space missions will also strongly influence what's done with
ground based and in most cases require extensive coordinate with ground
facilities e.g. ALMA and ESA) - make a powerful combination

13. National Space Technology Programme
Five technology roadmaps
1 Telecommunications Space for growth
2 Sensing
Flagship, fastrack,
3 Position, Navigation & Timing
pathfinder (low TRL) &
4 Exploration and Robotics
‘Star Tiger’
5 Access to Space
Partnership
A new
with
National Programme
Technology Total
Space is matched ISIC is a key
Strategy investment =
Technology with delivery
Board and £27M (32M€/
Programme industrial mechanism
the $42M)
launched in funding
Research
2011
Councils
Delivery Plan - Strategic partnerships (50/50) that show how technology
will lead to real economic benefit to the UK

14. Other National Space Programmes
Basic R&D through to flight demonstrations and applications

15. Benefits of a National
CubeSat Programme
Ø Cost effective, fast access to space for
a wider range of potential space users
Ø Barriers to entry are lower providing
opportunities for SMEs
Ø An enabling technology with countless
applications still to be imagined –
putting innovation into action Technical Review & Support
Ø The ability to foster more industry & Platform &
academia partnerships and knowledge Subsystems Mission Computer
exchange
Ø Try out new and ambitious ideas in
space for less S-Band Transponder
Ø Help prepare our future spacecraft
engineers, underpinning growth by
having a skilled workforce
Ø Schools and universities can get
involved through specific experiments Software and Radiation
Test Support
Ø A perfect fit for the Space Innovation
and Growth Strategy
Ground segment & operations

16. In summary
The dual key
... And in with STFC is
new science working and
missions will be
We are making strenghtened
a major for the future.
investment in
We have great space
programme of technology ...
operational
missions
The UK Space
Agency is up
and running

17. UK Space Agency
+44 (0)207 215 5000
info@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency
@spacegovuk