INNOVATIVE SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY SET TO IMPROVE WEATHER FORECASTING

With the world increasingly experiencing climate emergencies such as flooding and hurricanes, the capability to predict weather events more accurately will save lives.

Now new technology offering more frequent and higher-resolution atmospheric monitoring will soon be available for use in resilience planning, flood warning and by the shipping industry.

The Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder (HYMS) is an advanced millimetre wave technology that delivers enhanced weather forecasting data. The instrument was developed at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) RAL Space in Oxfordshire and has been licenced for space deployment with the USA space-based data and analytics company Spire Global Inc.

Satellites are the most important tool in modern weather forecasting, providing more than 90 per cent of the data that goes into forecasting models. Truly global weather data can only be gathered from the vantage point of space.

Old meteorological satellites are large, cost hundreds of millions of pounds and are expensive to launch. Because of the sheer size and mass of these traditional satellites, typically only two or three are in orbit at any time. They orbit the Earth twice a day – not ideal for monitoring fastmoving global weather events.

Spire and STFC are now working on a demonstrator mission of the HYMS, with the objective of launching a full constellation for atmospheric monitoring. This could allow meteorological agencies and markets all over the world to access an additional space-based weather data set for more accurate weather forecasting.

Start Me Up: Countdown to first UK satellite launch

Virgin Orbit’s carrier aircraft, ground support equipment, and rocket arrived in Cornwall in October ahead of the first satellite launch from the UK.

Made possible by funding from the UK Space Agency, the mission, which is on track for a launch from Spaceport Cornwall, has been named Start Me Up in tribute to iconic British band, The Rolling Stones.

Start Me Up will mark the first orbital launch from the UK, meeting a key ambition of the government’s National Space Strategy, as well as the first commercial launch from Europe and the first international launch from Virgin Orbit.

The flight manifest includes payloads from seven customers, based in the UK and internationally, with companies from England, Scotland and Wales involved in their development and manufacture.

Ian Annett, Deputy CEO at the Oxfordshire-based UK Space Agency, said: “We are close to the first launch from UK soil and first launch of a satellite from Europe.

“This will be an iconic moment in the history of UK space endeavours.

“Developing new launch capabilities will build on the strengths of our space sector and attract companies from around the world to benefit from these commercial opportunities. This will catalyse investment, bring new jobs to communities and organisations right across the UK, as well as inspiring the next generation of space scientists and engineers.”