Space Age arrives in Wales as rocket launched from new testing facility
A high-altitude balloon was also dispatched to the edge of space
The airfield's new Space Test & Training Centre (STTC) blasts off in style
(Image: Snowdonia Aerospace Centre )
The Space Age has officially arrived in north Wales following the formal opening of cutting-edge testing facilities in Eryri (Snowdonia). Excitement soared at Llanbedr, Gwynedd, during the grand opening of the Space Test and Training Centre (STTC), with a rocket launch among the displays on show.
A host of demonstrations featuring state-of-the-art equipment left dignitaries in awe, with the UK Space Agency's launch director Matt Archer, hailing the STTC as a "significant step forward for the UK's space capabilities".
The STTC proudly showcased its impressive arsenal of tools for space exploration including a centrifuge and a vibration table. The newly built centre also has a sophisticated thermal-cycling vacuum chamber among other cutting-edge utilities geared to ensure that Britain's space-bound tech can endure the harsh climes of space environments.
With both vertical and horizontal launch options thanks to its versatile rail launchers, the centre is geared up for an array of space missions. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Preparing for lift-off
(Image: Snowdonia Aerospace Centre )
In celebration of this significant milestone, Norfolk-based company Launch Access impressed attendees with a live rocket firing show, while a high-altitude balloon ascended into the sky, by Sent Into Space from Sheffield.
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Visitors to the newly-launched space centre were thrilled by the ability to track a CubeSat nanosatellite's journey towards the brink of space from the comfort of the STTC mission control room, reports North Wales Live.
The state-of-the-art facility is the result of a collaboration between the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre and Newton Launch Systems. Its establishment was bolstered by £820,000 funding from the UK Space Agency, contributing to over £1.3 million in overall funding.
Novel space and near-space technology will be developed at the new testing centre
(Image: Snowdonia Aerospace Centre )
UK telecoms minister Sir Chris Bryant heralded the Llanbedr site as a pivotal step for Britain's "space superpower".
He said: "The opening of the Snowdonia Space Centre cements our commitment to building a space ecosystem right across the UK.
"The centre will not only drive economic growth in North Wales but also inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers through its outstanding educational facilities, strengthening Britain's position as a space superpower."
The new centre presents companies with affordable entry to high-grade testing grounds, fostering hopes that it will enable the innovation and creation of new tech and products.
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans expressed her delight at attending the official opening of a new centre, describing it as a "real privilege".
Alongside representatives from Space Wales, she remarked: "This is a landmark moment not only for the local community – bringing new opportunities, skills, and investment to the region – but also for the wider UK space sector.
"Facilities like this will play a crucial role in delivering our National Space Strategy for Wales, strengthening Wales' position as a hub for innovation and helping drive forward the UK's space ambitions."
The Snowdonia Aerospace Centre (SAC), situated at the former Llanbedr Airfield, already provides access to Special Use Airspace (SUA) for the development of innovative aerospace systems in the UK, with approval from the Civil Aviation Authority.
The SUA has been expanded over Cardigan Bay to support the centre's space testing programme, which includes a larger area for various activities.
Additionally, the SAC boasts a flight test range that caters to different aspects of space flight, including rocket-powered vehicles, near-space scientific flights, microgravity research, and trials for re-entry vehicles and payload recovery systems.
The centre also plays a vital role in education, offering facilities to support university-level research and STEM learning for primary and secondary students. It has already hosted numerous events focused on rocketry and cansat projects for Welsh pupils.
Jeremy Howitt, SAC's technical director, expressed his hopes for the centre by saying: "As well as providing much needed testing facilities to the UK space industry, we hope the centre will help to stimulate local and national interest in the space industry and inspire more young people to engage in a career in the space industry."
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Plans for expanding educational facilities are also on the cards, with ambitions to eventually introduce a new Space Discovery Centre that would include observatories and a planetarium, aimed at boosting astrotourism.
Lee Paul, SAC's CEO, enthused about the location's potential: "We are in one of the most accessible and spectacular Dark Skies settings in the world!"
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