Last week I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the Cornwall Space Cluster conference at Goonhilly Earth Station to learn more about the amazing opportunities on offer for Cornwall from our emerging space industry.
The event showcased why Cornwall is the natural fit for a space cluster and the steps being taken to ensure the county becomes an integral part of the UK’s space sector. It was great to hear of Cornwall’s ambition to be a leader in the UK’s national space programme by 2030, something I am sure we would all love to see.
While I know space is not new in Cornwall, the Ground Station at Goonhilly is celebrating its 60th year of satellite communications, I do believe that now is the time for us to really push Cornwall’s thriving space sector further than we’ve ever gone before and seize on what could be a huge opportunity for Cornish people and businesses.
Cornwall is already leading some of the biggest innovations currently taking place in space. We have the dedicated horizontal launch site at Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, the satellite ground station at Goonhilly Earth Station, UAV flight testing sites, and businesses and local government using Earth observation and data to solve global and local challenges, such as climate change.
The global spotlight will also be on us this summer when the UK’s first ever satellite launch – the Prometheus-2 mission - blasts off from Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay. This is an incredible achievement for the Cornish space sector and something I have worked hard to ensure happens since I was first elected in 2015. I have long realised the potential and importance of this sector for us here in Cornwall and am over the moon to see this project finally come to fruition.
As part of this three-year mission, two
satellites will operate close to Earth experimenting and test imaging and
interoperability. The Cubesats will be carried on Virgin Orbit’s Launcher One
rocket which takes off horizontally from a modified Boeing 747 jet, named
Cosmic Girl. They will operate in low Earth Orbit, around 550km above the Earth
and 50-100km apart at 17,000mph.
While we are now
counting down to the summer to see this historic event take place, hundreds of businesses
and organisations in Cornwall have been, and are, working hard collaboratively
to shine a spotlight on the county and its space assets and capabilities,
putting millions of pounds into the Cornish economy.
As
the industry grows, it will not only ensure Cornwall is placed at the heart of
the UK space industry, but also bring huge benefits to the county through
investment and the creation of highly skilled, well-paid new jobs.
By 2030 more than 600 people will be employed
directly in the space sector in Cornwall, which has the potential to bring in
£150 million to the Cornish economy. There are also the hundreds of secondary
businesses and tertiary suppliers in the Duchy who are also benefitting from
the space industry in Cornwall.
The number of people currently employed by Cornish businesses who work in
the data and space sectors is estimated at 1,367 – up 24% since 2018. But there
is the opportunity for this number to grow to make up around 2.2% of all people
employed in Cornwall.
However, it’s important to remember that the space
industry in Cornwall is not only revolutionising our local economy, but also bringing
intangible benefits for our youngsters here in Cornwall.
I really do believe that the expansion of the space
sector in Cornwall will lift the aspirations of Cornish school children by not
only inspiring them but equipping them to become the next generation of
astronauts, scientists, software developers, environmentalists, engineers and
entrepreneurs. This is truly transformational and will leave a lasting legacy
for future generations to come in Cornwall.
We face a number of major challenges here in Cornwall,
including the affordability of housing for local people. Whilst I continue to
work to find ways of immediately improving the housing situation, part of the
long term and sustainable answer will be in growing our local economy and
providing better paid jobs. The space sector can play a significant role in
helping to achieve this and that is precisely why I have been championing its
potential in Cornwall and will continue to do so.
I believe this is only the start of some of the huge opportunities we
will get to see here in the Duchy as the space sector continues to grow and
expand. I want us to grasp this chance to put Cornwall on the world space map
with both hands and I am looking forward to working with the Government and
businesses and organisations in the Cornish space industry to ensure we make
the most of this exciting and unique opportunity.
As ever, of I can be of any further assistance, my office
is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel. 01726
829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk
