From 21 to 23 November, the International Convention Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, hosted the latest edition of the UK Space Conference, one of the country’s leading events for the space sector. 

The biennial conference is held at different locations, and this year it took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, bringing together all the stakeholders in the sector (government, academia, clients, suppliers, researchers, etc.) for three intensive days of networking and sharing ideas, breakthroughs, technological developments, and news from the space community, as well as perspectives on how this knowledge can bring about social, political, and economic change.

GMV, with a subsidiary in Oxfordshire, the United Kingdom, is committed to the development of the British space sector, and participated as an exhibitor, showcasing the products and services it currently offers in the space segment (guidance, navigation, and control systems), the ground segment (control centers for telecommunications satellites, data processing systems for Earth observation missions, and applications using space technology and data), and robotics. GMV also presented the EMRS (European Moon Rover System), a new European rover capable of carrying out exploration missions to different parts of the lunar surface. The rover was visited by MP Steve Baker, Minister of State for Northern Ireland; Annelies Look, Deputy CEO at the UK Space Agency; and British astronaut Tim Peake, among others.

GMV's business in the United Kingdom is focused on Earth observation activities, surveillance and tracking of space debris, mission planning, flight dynamics, navigation, autonomy, and robotics. Its main clients include the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC), the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Innovate UK, Satellite Applications Catapult, and the Science Technology Facility Council (STFC), as well key commercial clients.

This conference attests to the United Kingdom’s commitment to the development of forward-looking space technologies. The country’s goal is to achieve a 10% share of the global space market by 2030, amounting to 500 billion euros.

The event reflected the milestones and developments in several areas of the space sector in the United Kingdom, where this industry is particularly active and enjoys considerable support from the government. It is highly involved in European Space Agency programs and domestic projects to develop space applications and technologies. In this regard, the conference has been a success and is cementing its place as a key networking opportunity for clients, partners, and suppliers.