Does the UK still have its adventure spirit? With other countries getting the jump on UK launch, can the nation take advantage of the pathway forged in Cornwall? What commercial opportunities arise when the government plays a more active role in launch? Should a spaceport just be viewed as a normal piece of infrastructure, and how can it connect to its local setting? How can the space industry take on climate challenges head-on?

Spaceport builder Melissa Quinn joins Alice and Jonners to talk launch, alignment, and whether the UK can get back into its groove as the rest of the world looks to take off. The powerhouse behind Spaceport Cornwall’s first launch and Spaceport Nova Scotia’s ambitious plans tells her inspiring story about achieving big things. This episode is a must-listen.

Contributors:

Alice Bunn, President of UKspace

Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn

UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn

Jonathan Daves, The Karman Line

Jonathan Daves | LinkedIn

The Karman Line | LinkedIn

Melissa Quinn, Vice President Spaceport Operations, Maritime Launch Services

Melissa Quinn | LinkedIn

Maritime Launch Services | LinkedIn

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How have skill requirements in the UK space sector shifted from foundational engineering to critical system architects and project managers? How does a landscape of over 1,900 specialised companies compare to vertically integrated giants like SpaceX? What impact will the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and UK Space Agency (UKSA) re-merger have on scaling up space businesses? How can the UK leverage international partnerships and domestic "national champions" to accelerate defence and civil space capabilities?

Join Alice and Jonners as they talk with Andrew Stanniland, Managing Director of MDA Space UK, about building talent pipelines that reward new visions and ideas, defence alignment through the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), being humble and respectful of international markets and communication skills “on steroids”.

Contributors:

Alice Bunn, President of UKspace

Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn

UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn

Jonathan Daves, The Karman Line

Jonathan Daves | LinkedIn

The Karman Line

Andrew Stanniland, Managing Director, MDA Space UK

Andrew Stanniland | LinkedIn

MDA Space UK | LinkedIn

Key topics covered:

• Space sector skills & recruitment strategies
• UK space industry structure & 1,900+ company ecosystem
• Collaborative industry culture
• DSIT & UK Space Agency structural changes
• Defence Investment Plan (DIP) and military space
• National champions and M&A trends
• Regulatory & technology sandboxes
• International space partnerships & pace of execution

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is the orbital region between 10 km and 500 km currently empty? How can operating in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) transform Earth observation, direct-to-device mobile connectivity, and telecommunications? How does VLEO solve the LEO problem of satellite collisions and failures creating space debris that lingers for decades? How do you solve the extreme engineering challenges of atmospheric drag, atomic oxygen corrosion, and continuous propulsion? And how is the UK positioning itself as a global gateway for this emerging space domain?

Join Alice and Jonners as they talk with Anatolii Papulov, CEO and Co-founder of New Orbit, about pioneering VLEO satellite platforms, high-speed experimental iteration, and bringing "American velocity with European depth" to the UK space ecosystem.

Contributors:

Alice Bunn, President of UKspace

Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn

UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn

Jonathan Daves, The Karman Line

Jonathan Daves | LinkedIn

The Karman Line

Anatolii Papulov, CEO and Co-founder of New Orbit

Anatolii Papulov | LinkedIn

New Orbit | LinkedIn

Key topics covered:

• Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO)
• Direct-to-device connectivity
• Atomic oxygen corrosion
• Electric propulsion systems
• Self-cleaning orbits & Space sustainability
• Rapid iteration & In-house testing
• Sovereign space manufacturing
• UK space talent & Scale-ups

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.