Goonhilly to Boost Global Space Missions: New £2M Contract with UK Space Agency Announced

Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd, based in Cornwall, has secured a new contract with the UK Space Agency to enhance deep space communications, supporting both national and international space missions. Announced on 16th October at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, this agreement will allow Goonhilly to play a crucial role in managing the increasing demand for communications between Earth and spacecraft.

A Growing Need for Deep Space Communications

Space agencies and private companies rely on a global network of antennas to transmit data between spacecraft and controllers on Earth. As space missions beyond Earth orbit, particularly those heading to the Moon, continue to increase, the current communications infrastructure is struggling to keep up. While space agencies have already been pooling resources to manage demand, this system is expected to reach capacity soon.

Cornwall’s Goonhilly Earth Station, which has been at the forefront of commercial lunar and deep space communications since 2021, is uniquely positioned to step in. Having supported over 17 spacecraft beyond geostationary orbit, including CubeSats on NASA’s Artemis-I mission, Goonhilly is well-equipped to provide additional capacity to space agencies across the globe.

UK’s Competitive Edge in Space

The contract, worth up to £2 million for the current financial year, will help Goonhilly expand its services to international partners, including the European Space Agency (ESA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Intuitive Machines. Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant, highlighted the UK’s advantage in space, emphasising the potential for more investment and high-quality job creation through innovative commercial models like Goonhilly’s.

“This government-backed contract will play a vital role in supporting humanity’s next steps to the Moon and beyond,” Chris said, stressing the importance of expanding the UK’s space capabilities.

Supporting the Lunar Economy

With the rapid rise in lunar missions, including upcoming ventures like Intuitive Machines’ IM-2, Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One, and NASA’s Artemis-II, the UK Space Agency is keen to support the development of the lunar economy. This agreement with Goonhilly will help the UK and its international partners handle the increasing demand for deep space communications.

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said the partnership represents a step forward in using commercial opportunities to boost the UK’s space sector and strengthen international partnerships. Goonhilly’s advanced capabilities are expected to help enable future missions by demonstrating its telemetry and navigation services, with the long-term goal of controlling spacecraft in flight.

Cornwall’s Growing Space Industry

Goonhilly is part of a growing space cluster in Cornwall and the South West of England, which now includes over 300 space organisations. The sector generates an annual income of £600 million and employs 3,200 people. Matthew Cosby, Chief Technical Officer at Goonhilly, expressed excitement about the role Goonhilly will play in expanding the UK’s leadership in deep space communications.

“As the demand for deep space communications continues to grow, this new contract enables us to expand our capacity, support more missions, and play a key role in the next chapter of space exploration,” Matthew said.

With this new contract, Goonhilly is set to strengthen its role at the heart of the global space ecosystem, enhancing the UK’s position as a key player in deep space exploration.