The Future of UK Space Science Missions Chris Castelli

Head of Space Science

12 Oct 2012, RAS http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency

New technologies

and applications of

space

Exploring space to gain

new knowledge,

train the next generation and

create new technology

Education for space and

space for education

Using space across the

public sector to deliver more

efficient services

New uses of space such as climate change

services

Winning a larger share of

the global market

Growth through

exploiting

new opportunities

Growth through smarter government

Science as an

enabler of growth

Growth Strategy

Education

for growth

Growth through

exports

Growth through innovation

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

Space science is at the heart of the UK Space Agency’s programme

•  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’

Herschel - 7,000 galaxies in 16 hours

Herschel (2009) has revolutionised

Sub-mm survey astronomy

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

Planck (2009) will produce the most accurate map of the CMB & revolutionise our understanding of the origin of the Universe

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

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

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?

National Programme – Commitments and Future Planning

•  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

Supports the development of payloads and associated ground based data systems and in-orbit operations

Advice from SPAC and STFC SB

0

2000

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6000

8000

10000

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14000

16000

18000

11/12

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Financial Year

Expe

nditu

re (£

k)L2 technologyS missions/Bi-Laterals

M3 missionJUICECUBESAT

Euclid (VIS + SGS)Solar OrbiterJWST - MIRI + PDS

Operations support + Data CentresBepiColombo

Lisa Technology Packages (LTP)GAIA Data Centre developmentS1 Mission Operations

Community support + Admin

ESA subscriptions Generic space

technology R&D Mission-specific

instruments* Operation of UK

instruments* (PLS)

Aurora integrated national

programme

Early R&D for space science (non-mission specific)

Studentships/fellowships Scientific exploitation of

missions

Extensive coordination (‘dual key’ for grants; cross representation on advisory panels etc.)

* Includes 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)

Dual Key Mechanism

•  Share decision making process and achieve an overall coherence

•  Respecting individual authorities

•  Ensure STFC’s priorities reflected in new missions supported by agency

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

Five technology roadmaps 1 Telecommunications 2 Sensing 3 Position, Navigation & Timing 4 Exploration and Robotics 5 Access to Space

A new National Space

Technology Programme launched in

2011

Programme is matched

with industrial funding

Partnership with

Technology Strategy

Board and the

Research Councils

Total investment = £27M (32M€/

$42M)

ISIC is a key delivery

mechanism

National Space Technology Programme

Delivery Plan - Strategic partnerships (50/50) that show how technology will lead to real economic benefit to the UK

Space for growth Flagship, fastrack,

pathfinder (low TRL) & ‘Star Tiger’

Other National Space Programmes

Basic R&D through to flight demonstrations and applications

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

Ø  The ability to foster more industry & academia partnerships and knowledge exchange

Ø  Try out new and ambitious ideas in space for less

Ø  Help prepare our future spacecraft engineers, underpinning growth by having a skilled workforce

Ø  Schools and universities can get involved through specific experiments

Ø  A perfect fit for the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy

Technical Review & Support

Platform & Subsystems

S-Band Transponder

Mission Computer

Software and Radiation Test Support

Ground segment & operations

... And in new science missions

The UK Space Agency is up and running

We have great programme of operational missions

We are making a major investment in space technology ...

The dual key with STFC is working and will be strenghtenedfor the future.

In summary

UK Space Agency

+44 (0)207 215 5000

 info@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk

http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency

@spacegovuk