Space missions are key to responding to major global challenges such as providing connectivity to the remotest places on the planet and the UK is investing heavily in this high-tech, high-impact industry, as highlighted at the OxfordshireLEP Annual Event.
Invested £4 million in 5 years
In this regard, Open Cosmos, an Harwell, Oxfordshire startup is a space company that operates satellite missions from start to finish. The space mission provider has invested £4 million in Research and Development in Oxfordshire over the last five years.
The resulting technologies enable the company to design, manufacture and operate in orbit small satellites, which are used by Open Cosmos customers to solve big global challenges such as providing connectivity to remote challenges.
‘Gateway to the UK Space Sector’
Open Cosmos is located Harwell Campus, an ecosystem driven by collaboration, talent and innovation that has become a seedbed of startups located in Oxfordshire, which houses an investment of more than £1000 million in infrastructure and research experience. As a globally recognised hub, the Harwell International Space Cluster is regarded as the ‘Gateway to the UK Space Sector’.
Delivers satellite-based solutions
Founded in 2015 by Rafel Jordá Siquier, Open Cosmos delivers satellite-based solutions designed to tackle Earth’s biggest challenges. The company offers everything needed to bring actionable information from space; ranging from mission development software and payload qualification kits to ready-to-launch small satellite platforms and supporting services.
Open Cosmos invested in the development of innovative satellite infrastructure, meaning building and operating complete space missions that address the manufacturing, mission management and launch of nanosatellites.
Aims to make satellites accessible to all
The UK company aims to make satellites accessible to all types of industries, businesses and end users. Among the multiple services that Open Cosmos promotes in this new ‘useful space’ are those related to the connection of IOT objects anywhere, urban mapping or the use and monitoring of land, infrastructure or environment, making possible the early detection or prevention of critical situations such as the leakage of harmful substances.
The company also seeks to make other applications accessible from space, such as surveillance of forests and woodland areas, for the automatic detection of any type of anomaly such as flooding, attempted fires or illegal logging. And even the surveillance of coastal areas, border or conflict zones or the detection of illegal activities such as smuggling, illegal immigration or even the analysis of the dynamics of refugee camps.
In this mission of opening up space to end users, Open Cosmos works closely with companies, institutions and governments around the world.