Space: defence science and technology capability

Dstl’s space expertise ensures the UK fully exploits the potential of space for defence and security. We research and develop the latest science and technology and give advanced space engineering to support future UK defence missions in space missions,and the UK’s Defence Space Strategy and the UK’s National Space Policy. Some of the areas we’re focusing on include:

• satellite communications, intelligence and surveillance from space
• monitoring and tracking objects in all orbits, to protect and defend UK interests
• a series of satellite missions to trial prototype systems and technologies for future space operations, to support the government’s ambition to form a ‘digital backbone’ in space
• developing novel science and technology ideas for active service and future use, including looking outwards to 2030 and beyond

Pioneering space technology developments

We work with more than 100 businesses and organisations and 11 international partners to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the latest space developments worldwide.

FutureIn years2022 we will seelaunch usour buildfirst uponsatellites, pioneeringhelping scienceto andgrow technologyUK throughspace satelliteresearch launches,capabilities. implementationThe ofPrometheus new2 equipmentCubeSats andwill refinementoperate ofin existinglow tools.Earth We’reorbit, working550 tirelesslykilometres withabove a range of partners across government, the military and our suppliers to make this happen.planet.

WeDstl workworked with world-leadingOxford industrySpace andSystems academic partners to develop a pioneering technologies.new Recent innovations include space antenna technologiestechnology. thatThis will enable the the UK to to deploy a number of antennae in space providing more accurate and frequent satellite images. ThisIt will allowpermit all-weather Earth observation at fine resolution, gaining unique advantages with both civil and defence applications.

WeAnd collaboratewe withhave thepioneered Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to develop revolutionary advances in novel space technology.technology, Competitionsworking arein frequentlypartnership launchedwith andthe thereDefence isand alsoSecurity anAccelerator open call(DASA) to enable innovators to come to us at any time if you’re interested in helpingareas tosuch developas thesatellite nextprotection bigand thingoptical in(laser) defence Space.communications.

Operational advantage

Dstl is is the science inside the newest part of the armed forces, forces, UK Space Space Command. As the the UK increasingly increasingly operates both as a joint force, and in partnership with our allies, an advanced space capability is essential to underpin our combat systems and support the other defence domains: air, land, sea and cyber.

Space technologies can give the the UK operational operational advantage over potential adversaries. SinceIn 2020,2020 DSTLDstl hasconducted had the abilityfirst to tasktasking of a commercial satellite by providinga a UK government-owned government-owned and operated ground station . for nearly 20 years. The Hermes relocatable ground station and mission operations centre improves how satellite imagery can be used by frontline commands.

A world-leader in space science

Dstl leads  leads UK involvement involvement in key international space science and technology activities. With these important ‘burden-sharing’ partnerships the (such as our agreement with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA) the UK is is better able to respond to future opportunities and threats, with an enhanced and valuableaffordable defence and security capability:capability.

• a

  For example, Dstl-headed recently headed an international group of defence space scientists observing the the docking of 2 active orbiting satellites, in order to help improve performance and space safety

• safety. In the culmination of a space domain awareness experiment enabledknown as ‘Phantom Echoes 2’, scientists captured data that will improve sensors, processing and intelligence for the the UK and and allied governments

governments.

• the

  In development2020 ofwe  newpartnered space weather sensing suite in partnership with the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL),)  developedto develop a new space weather sensing suite in a year. The joint mission, CIRCE, developed miniature sensors to improve the in-space measurement and modelling of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, which can affect satellite communications

• communications.

  Initiatives like International Space Pitch Day, lasthelp heldus infind, Novemberfund 2022, stimulate the finding, funding and fast-trackingfast-track of space innovation and technology alongside our allies

• we’veallies.

  We hostedeven exchange staff to help deepen cooperation and collaboration,collaboration: includingCaptain secondeesJake fromSingleton theis a United States Space Force,Force withofficer Dstlwho employeesworked havingon theInternational opportunitySpace toPitch benefitDay fromduring thishis reciprocalsecondment arrangement

with Dstl.

Future focus of space science

Through discovery and experimentation, Dstl’sour space capability will help to ensure the the UK is a is a meaningful actor in space by 2030.

To facilitateenable this wework, willDstl bringhas togetherset space-relatedup scienceour very own Space Science and technologyTechnology Hub as a centre of excellence in defence and wider government, bringing together space-related work from across across Dstl and and beyond. WeThis partnerincludes withestablishing frontlineSpaceworks, commandsworking and collaborate with Space Command and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) to deliver the engineering prototypes necessary to enable first-of-a-kind space demonstration.

Our researchkeystone oftenfuture hasproject applicationsis outsideMinerva, defence.creating Wethe workarchitecture alongsideto the UK Spacemake Agency,any Defra andspace-borne the Departmentsatellites forable Transport toto providetalk scientificto each other autonomously and technicaloptimise expertise.communication. It links to all our other exciting developments such as space-based radar and space-to-ground laser communications.

We Strategy,have werecently arecommissioned the building of a new satellite, Titania, with our partners In-Space Missions, to undertake vital research on the pioneeringnext science,generation emergingof technologiescommunications technology.

We are designing an exciting range of ground-based sensor and novelinformation conceptssystems weto generatedtrack and characterise objects in ourorbit. firstThis phasewill ofenable operation,us utilisingto thatmonitor experienceUK and lessonsAllied learnedinterests in space and potentially deter unwanted action.

Our research often has applications outside defence. For example, we work alongside the UK Space Agency and the Department for Transport to provide robustscientific and effectivetechnical advice,expertise. We also work with the UK Space Agency on joint technology anddevelopment innovationinitiatives, through DASA.

We are planning the future of science in collaborationspace with our partners –Defence beScience theyand internationalTechnology, orwith acrossa government,renewed industryprogramme orstarting academia.in April 2022.

Themes

Our staff, industry and academic partners work across a range of space scientific and technology themes including:

• space situational awareness
• the space environment
• space intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
• space control and resilience
• military satellite communications
• satellite launch, infrastructure and operations
• space architectures and advice
• space-based positioning, navigation and timing

Work with us

CareerJob opportunities

We’reWe are always looking for talented individuals to join us, particularly those with experience in development of satellite technology. Our staff have a broad range of skills, and are at all stages of their careers.

Dstl offers, apprenticeships,who studenthelps placementspush andthe graduateboundaries opportunitiesof inspace atechnology.

Explore broad range of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) disciplines, including opportunities to work within our spacecurrent science and technology capability- have a look here for information on early careers with Dstl, including role profiles and application cycles.  

vacancies

We also regularly reachwork outwith to schools, colleges and universities,universities to engageencourage with young people into STEMstudy subjects,science, technology, engineering and encouragemaths them(STEM) tosubjects and take up space careers.

We’ve visitedFor careersexample, fairs at local colleges and universities, workedwe withasked  studentsstudents from from UTC Portsmouth Portsmouth to devise innovative ideas to solve space challenges such such as debris and populating the moon, and tasked other UTCmoon.

Dstl’s withoffers planningapprenticeships, astudent missionplacements toand onegraduate ofopportunities Jupiter’sin moons,a Callisto.

Opportunitiesbroad forrange suppliers

Ourof suppliersSTEM aredisciplines, aincluding keyopportunities partto ofwork unlockingwithin our space science and technology.technology capability.

Opportunities for suppliers

There are several several routes to working with us. We particularly welcome companies who have not worked with defence before and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The main supplier framework  is is Serapis lot 2, ‘Science in space’,space’.

Calls while calls for innovation organised on on Dstl’s behalf by by DASA, help find, fund and fast-track innovation and technology.  ForFor moreexample informationthe onSpace DASAto competitions,Innovate [gocompetition Bravo Drop looked for innovative solutions to ouraddress funding2 page].(https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/apply-for-funding)specific challenges with the development of future space technologies.

Partnerships and projects

Internationally,We we work closely with ainternational widepartners rangesuch ofas governmentalJAXA and academicthe institutions. Nationally,US  weAir collaborateForce withResearch Laboratory, other parts of government,government includingsuch as Space Command the and the UK Space Agency,Space departmentsAgency. such as DEFRA and DFT. We also partner with a range of academic institutions including the universities of Warwick, Strathclyde and Birmingham. We also lead the Astrodynamics Community of Interest, a collaboration to track objects in space.

Talk to us about potential future partnerships and projects at at DstlSpaceProgramme@dstl.gov.uk