£8.4m UK satellite upgrade to let us talk to Mars missions

THE satellite that beamed Live Aid around the world will be upgraded to allow Britain to communicate with space missions to the Moon or Mars.

The £8.4 million project at Goonhilly Earth Station, in Cornwall, will help create the world’s first commercial deep-space communications station, capable of tracking future missions to Earth’s satellite or the Red Planet.

The two-year project will see the satellite, based at the oldest commercial satellite station in the world, have “the ability to track and control forthcoming robotic and human missions”.

The scheme will be the first time the UK has had the capability to communicate directly with deep-space missions. Sam Gyimah, the science minister, said: “We’re working hard to ensure the UK thrives in the commercial space age as part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, so it’s fantastic to see the world’s first commercial deep space communications network in Cornwall.

“The UK Space Agency has played a vital role in supporting this partnership and will continue to work alongside industry, local leaders and international partners to grow the UK’S share of the global space market.

“We already play a significant role in satellite manufacturing.”

As well as Live Aid, Goonhilly famously beamed images of the Moon landings to millions of TV viewers.