CORNWALL’S SPACE INDUSTRY ACTIVITY

THERE are now more 55 businesses and organisations using space technology, space services, satellite data or satellite applications in Cornwall.

Flann Microwave in Bodmin is supplying satellite components to US space agency NASA for the first global survey of Earth’s surface water aimed at improving ocean circulation models, weather and climate predictions.

Goonhilly Earth Station counts SpaceX, NASA, European Space Agency, UK Space Agency, Google, IBM, Airbus and the University of Oxford among its collaboration partners. Since 2014 it has created 50 jobs with an average salary of almost £47,000, more than twice the Cornwall average.

Goonhilly, Flann and Teddington Controls in St Austell are working together to create miniaturised components for the next generation of tiny communications satellites, known as nanosatellites and cubesats.

The mining company, Cornish Lithium, is using satellite imagery of vegetation and minerals on the ground to detect a lithium ‘fingerprint’ to inform further investigations. Lithium is an essential component of battery technology, especially for electric vehicles. The University of Exeter uses satellite imagery to identify unusual patches of vegetation and detect possible leaks for South West Water. It has helped establish marine protection zones for sea turtles by using satellite data to track migration routes, and is working with the European Space Agency on global water security.

Penryn-based company Paddle Logger has developed an app that uses GPS data to help water users track their activity on the water. The app, which includes a safety alert feature, sells worldwide. Apple, has named the app as one of the best for its Apple Watch.