Hertfordshire space sector light-years ahead in UK space industry

Hertfordshire is home to several leading research institutions and space and defence companies that are at the forefront of space exploration and climate science.

The University of Hertfordshire and the Bayfordbury Observatory

Hertfordshire’s university offers an abundance of courses aligned to space science from astrophysics to aerospace engineering. Last month, as part of its graduation celebrations, the university honoured Dr Nicola J Fox, associate administrator at NASA and one of the foremost scientists in the world, with an Honorary Doctorate in Science. Nicola is the de-facto head of the famous space agency, overseeing its considerable $7.8 billion portfolio of space missions.

The east of the county is home to the university’s Bayfordbury Observatory, one of the largest and best-equipped teaching observatories in the UK. Located in the countryside near Hertford, it offers a range of facilities for both astronomical and atmospheric physics research. Key features include seven large optical telescopes with some that are operated robotically, four radio telescopes, a high-definition indoor planetarium and two inflatable planetariums and is equipped with remote sensing instruments for atmospheric research.

Airbus

Whilst we all know Airbus as the makers of jets that fly us off to idyllic destinations around the world, the space and defence arm of the organisation, which has its headquarters in Stevenage, is responsible for a third of the world’s geostationary satellites – with manufacture starting in our county.

Airbus’ Stevenage site is responsible for building the Aeolus satellite. Aeolus was the first satellite to measure Earth’s wind profiles on a global scale, from the ground up to the stratosphere. This data has been crucial for improving weather forecasting, climate research, and understanding atmospheric dynamics.

Last month Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia hosted an event in Westminster to meet with companies from the Airbus UK Space Accelerator programme, delivered under its Community for Space Prosperity (CUSP) initiative. CUSP has also empowered schools like The Sele School in Hertford by providing a ‘We Build It Better’ toolbox that allows Year 8 and 9 pupils to construct their very own aeroplane and learn more about the science and engineering that goes into each stage of the build. The success of this programme has been monitored through an impact report that shows persistent absences fall to 0%, a rise in the uptake of triple science GCSE to 60% and a significant increase in girls taking up triple science at 50%.

Hertfordshire County Council

With so much space research and technology happening in Hertfordshire it’s no surprise that Hertfordshire County Council utilises satellite and LIDAR technology in many of our services that support residents and the county’s resilience against climate change.

The council’s Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) teams make extensive use of aerial and satellite photography in planning and delivering land management activity. This is an essential day to day part of discovery when researching sites, before producing management plans and ensuring they are spatially accurate. Accessible documents can then be produced to share proposed activities to the public. In addition, the team regularly use LIDAR and derived data sets to identify characteristics within the landscape, like overland water flow patterns, to make decisions on land management and mitigate risk.

Cllr Stephen Boulton, Executive Member, Sustainable Economic Growth, Hertfordshire County Council said: “In Hertfordshire we are proud to host such revolutionary institutions and organisations that work towards innovating the space industry in the UK. From the University of Hertfordshire, which nurtures the next generation of scientists that are making groundbreaking discoveries, to Airbus which not only innovates in space exploration but is also committed to working with Hertfordshire schools to enrich further the learning experience of pupils. Not forgetting the work of the County Council’s expert officers who use this technology to aid flood resilience and highly efficient land management for the benefit of residents and communities.”

Hertfordshire Futures

Hertfordshire Futures sector specialists work closely with industry and the Department for Business and Trade to drive investment and innovation, accelerating employment and training opportunities. The STEM Discovery Centre, received £1m funding from Hertfordshire Futures, in a joint partnership with Airbus and North Herts College. It was opened by British ESA astronaut Tim Peake in 2017, and has welcomed thousands of young people to find out more about careers in space and STEM. 

Paul Witcombe, Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences Lead at Hertfordshire Futures, said:

"Hertfordshire is truly at the forefront of space exploration, from leading the search for life on Mars to developing the wind-sensing satellite Aeolus at Airbus in Stevenage. Hertfordshire Futures has also invested in educational programmes to inspire the next generation of scientists, such as the STEM Discovery Centre, developed in partnership with North Herts College and Airbus.

“Hertfordshire is uniquely positioned to drive growth, not just in space, but across a convergence of globally leading sectors. This includes advancements in health, the built environment, and cutting-edge technology. The Invest Hertfordshire service leverages our world-renowned reputation to attract further investment, ensuring Hertfordshire remains at the forefront of innovation.”

For more information on council services visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/weare