What Satellite Applications Catapult does

Satellite Applications Catapult is an independent, not-for-profit UK research and innovation organisation, founded in 2012/2013 and operating from Harwell Campus (Didcot, Oxfordshire) and the Westcott Venture Park (Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire). It exists to grow the UK economy by helping organisations make use of and benefit from satellite technologies, and organises its work around three strategic missions: Beyond Earth (commercial in-space economy and ISAM leadership), Autonomous and Connected Earth (autonomous systems and satellite-terrestrial network integration), and Resilient Earth (space-enabled sustainability). It is one of the Catapult Network centres supported by UK Government and operates as a neutral convenor across industry, academia, and regional space clusters.

The organisation provides a portfolio of purpose-built R&D facilities backed by £15M of capital investment, including the ISAM Testing Facility (robotics yard with gravity off-load systems and advanced simulation), Drone Test and Development Centre, Antenna and RF Testing ranges, Satellite Assembly Integration and Testing, and the Future Networks Development Centre. It operates the Space Commercialisation Engine and Westcott Business Incubation Centre to support SMEs, the Earth Observation DataHub as a single point of access to UK EO processing infrastructure, and the Space Capabilities Catalogue, Cluster Directory, and Space Enterprise Community platform for ecosystem navigation. It runs satellite In-Orbit Demonstration missions (IOD-1 GEMS with Orbital Micro Systems; IOD-5 TARS with Kepler Communications) and develops specialised software such as BRIGITAL (SAR-based bridge structural monitoring, jointly with National Research Council of Canada).

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of UK Government core funding, competitive grants from UK Space Agency and Innovate UK (e.g., £6.5M International Bilateral Fund, £2M ISAM facility upgrade), fee-for-service facility hire, ESA co-funded programmes (ARTES, Sunrise Partnership), and Business Incubation support. The customer base is highly distributed across 835 supported companies, 485 academic collaborations, and regional clusters spanning the North East, South West, South East, Scotland, and Wales, with selected international partnerships in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Lithuania, and the USA.

Name

Satellite Applications Catapult

Legal name

Satellite Applications Catapult Limited

Website

https://sa.catapult.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Technology R&D Services

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Satellite Telecommunications (5174)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ground Segment Systems (Ground Stations, TT&C, Mission Ops) (IMABACAJ), UAS Launch/Recovery & Support Equipment (Catapults, Nets, Docking) (IMABAIAN), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• Satellite applications research
• Space technology testing
• Earth observation data
• In-orbit servicing facilities
• Space business incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Swindon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. R&D Facilities and Business Support Services: The Catapult provides purpose-built R&D facilities including Antenna and RF Testing, Satellite Assembly Integration and Testing, Drone Test and Development Centre, Future Networks Development Centre, and ISAM facilities to space sector companies on a fee-for-service basis. Revenue is generated through facility hire, testing services, and technical support.
2. Business Incubation and Acceleration Programmes: The Catapult runs incubation programmes at Westcott Business Incubation Centre and the Space Commercialisation Engine. Companies receive support through structured programmes, with some funded by grants from UK Space Agency, Innovate UK, and other government bodies.
3. Government and Public Sector Contracts: As a not-for-profit research organisation, the Catapult is partially funded through UK Government commitments including funding from UK Space Agency for facility upgrades (e.g. £2 million ISAM testing facility upgrade) and project funding through IBF and other mechanisms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Satellite Applications Catapult operates purpose-built R&D facilities (ISAM, Drone Test and Development Centre, Antenna/RF, Satellite AIT, Future Networks) and runs business incubation and acceleration programmes for UK space sector companies. It also maintains community platforms (Space Enterprise Community, Cluster Directory, Space Capabilities Catalogue, Earth Observation DataHub) that connect industry, academia, and government to drive adoption of satellite data and technology across the UK economy.

Product overview

Satellite Applications Catapult is an independent UK innovation and technology organization that supports growth across the space economy through the exploitation of satellite data and technology. Rather than a single unified product, it operates as a platform-plus-services organization offering specialized testing facilities (ISAM, DTDC, Antenna/RF Testing, Satellite AIT, Future Networks), data platforms (Earth Observation DataHub, Space Capabilities Catalogue, Cluster Directory), and collaborative community platforms (Space Enterprise Community). The organization also runs targeted programmes including the Space Commercialisation Engine for SMEs, the Business Incubation Centre at Westcott for startups, and the Researchers in Residence scheme for academic collaboration. Additionally, it has participated in satellite missions (IOD-5 TARS with Kepler Communications, IOD-1 GEMS with Orbital Micro Systems) and developed specialized software such as BRIGITAL for infrastructure monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Space Commercialisation Engine (SCE): A programme designed to support innovative SMEs through product development cycle to transform ideas to viable products, de-risking the product lifecycle and reducing time to market of innovative geospatial ideas.
• Space North East England (SNEE)
• Drone Test and Development Centre (DTDC)
• Future Networks Development Centre (FNDC)
• ISAM Testing Facility

Products and services

• Space Commercialisation Engine (SCE)

Quantifiable outcome

• 835 UK companies supported; £783M total private sector funding secured by supported companies; 25% average annual turnover growth of supported companies
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

44 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Anglesey Mining plcminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Satellite Applications Catapult provides satellite imagery analysis for Anglesey Mining's Parys Mountain copper-zinc-lead-silver-gold exploration project in North Wales. The analysis supports exploration work identifying Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide extensions along flight paths.
• Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Partnership to develop compact antenna technology for Low Earth Orbit satellite systems designed for CubeSats. The project resulted in a high-gain reflectarray antenna prototype. Additional funding secured from Airbus Endeavr and Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
• UKRI Innovation Launchpad NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Research partnership with UKRI Innovation Launchpad Network supporting the development of compact antenna technology for CubeSats at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
• Astroscale UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Testing campaign for ELSA-M spacecraft at multiple UK facilities including RAL Space, Airbus Stevenage, and the Satellite Applications Catapult at Westcott. The mission is the world's first commercial end-of-life service for prepared satellites, funded primarily through Astroscale's private investment with UK Space Agency co-funding via ESA under the Sunrise Partnership Project with Eutelsat.
• UK Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025UK Space Agency announced 23 new projects under International Bilateral Fund (IBF) providing £6.5M boost for UK companies and universities to collaborate internationally on space innovation with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Lithuania, and USA.
• The Aerospace Corporation UK LtdcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 April 2025Collaboration to link robotics testing facilities at Westcott, UK and El Segundo, California for faster validation of in-orbit servicing capabilities. The integration aims to benefit the entire space sector by reducing product development time and delivering proofs of concept more quickly for funders, investors, and insurers. The IOSM Yard facility is undergoing a £2M UK Space Agency-funded upgrade.
• WholeShip LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSatellite Applications Catapult and WholeShip Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on strengthening the UK's test and evaluation network for autonomous systems and connectivity capabilities.
• Kepler CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOD-5 TARS mission partnership delivering Kepler's final prototype satellite for a constellation of 140 LEO communications satellites. The partnership builds a UK supply chain for the satellite constellation and a European sales operation based in the UK.
• EnSiliciacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASSIS project (Connected Automotive Satellite Service Integrated System) developing Ka-band transceiver IC for automotive satellite connectivity. EnSilicia brings over 20 years of IC design experience with a fabless semiconductor business model, serving global automotive OEMs. Listed on AIM market of London Stock Exchange.
• Celestia UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of CASSIS project, Celestia UK (part of international Celestia Technologies Group, based in Edinburgh and Oxford) is designing innovative phased-array antenna solution allowing HTS connectivity for automotive applications.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA supports CASSIS project as part of ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) activities. Also supporting ELSA-M mission through ESA Sunrise Partnership Project with Eutelsat and UK Space Agency.
• Swansea UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in CASSIS project contributing research expertise to the development of Ka-band SATCOM terminals for LEO satellites.
• Orbital Micro SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOD-1 GEMS mission partnership delivering the first satellite in OMS's weather monitoring constellation. The Passive Microwave Sounder instrument is less than a quarter the size of existing equivalents, reducing deployment costs by 95 percent. Satellite successfully captured Super Typhoon Hagibis data.
• Excelerate TechnologycoreTechnology or IntegrationConsortium partner in Trusted Bytes £2.8M project for hybrid satellite/terrestrial communications in agri-logistics. Excelerate provides ubiquitous connectivity solutions tested at Catapult's Future Networks Development Centre at Westcott.
• Produce Logistics LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead of Trusted Bytes consortium (£2.8M, two-year project) for next-generation supply chain management with hybrid satellite and terrestrial connectivity for fresh-produce freight monitoring.
• High Value Manufacturing CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Trusted Bytes project contributing advanced manufacturing expertise to agri-logistics solution development.
• LIA AerospaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with LIA Aerospace at Westcott Innovation Centre using MetalFab1 3D metal printer to design and manufacture Inconel 718 thruster chambers for green propulsion systems. Three thrusters designed and manufactured in under one month.
• Loughborough UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Aakash Bansal's secondment to Catapult's Future Systems Team resulted in development of cost-effective antenna systems for ONEWEB hybrid PNT solutions. Supported through Royal Academy of Engineering UK Intelligence Community Fellowship (£250K) and EPSRC ILN+ Researcher in Residence programme.
• Royal Academy of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Intelligence Community Fellowship (£250,000) awarded to Dr Aakash Bansal with Satellite Applications Catapult as key project partner. Additional Researcher in Residence Scheme support valued at £50,000.
• University College London (UCL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Eloise Marais from UCL worked as Researcher in Residence developing TRACE tool for air quality monitoring using Earth Observations. Led to follow-on Defra Clean Air Grant and Copernicus Accelerator programme participation.
• Business DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in establishing North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence (NESACoE), now Space North East England (SNEE), coordinating growth in the region's space sector.
• North East Local Enterprise Partnership (Invest North East England)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NESACoE/SNEE regional space cluster development, attracting investment and new companies to create skilled jobs and supply-chain growth in the North East.
• Five North East Universities (Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of five local universities in Knowledge Exchange programme linking university research with businesses to turn research into commercial opportunity. Led to Responsible Space Innovation Centre at Durham University and NESST at Northumbria University.
• Offshore Renewable Energy CatapultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-Catapult partnership to create an advanced 5G-enabled living lab supporting offshore autonomy projects through collaboration between space and offshore renewable energy sectors.
• Connected Places CatapultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to work with Port of Tyne on satellite-enabled smart logistics as part of North East space cluster development.
• Lockheed Martin UK and RTC NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatapult facilitated collaboration bringing the first major global space prime to the North East region through Lockheed Martin UK and RTC North partnership.
• Western Australian Companies (AtomicSky, Agristart, Quantum Technology Exchange)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-Australia Space Sector Collaboration workshops hosted in partnership with Western Australian companies, focusing on agricultural technology and quantum technology exchange.
• ERTICO (ITS EUROPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSatellite Applications Catapult membership of ERTICO enabled participation in core team shaping and securing H2020 ICT-18 funding for 5G-MOBIX project with 58 partners across 13 countries.
• VEDECOM (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 5G-MOBIX cross-border connectivity trials shaping CCAM (Cooperative Connected and Automated Mobility) use cases and satellite connectivity solutions.
• Space Commercialisation Engine PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCE programme supports companies including Minviro, Origin Integrity Management, Agreed Earth, Agtelligence, SaWIE, Previsico, Intelligent Ai, and Carbonbit through technical guidance, business modelling, and prototype development using Earth Observation data.
• AAC Clyde SpacecoreTechnology or IntegrationGlasgow-based partner building and integrating Kepler's IOD-5 TARS satellite payload developed by Kepler at Satellite Applications Catapult facilities.
• Defra / UK GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefra Clean Air Grant and NE/R016518/1 funding for collaborative projects with Leicester City Council on air pollution source understanding, and UK National Centre for Earth Observation on agricultural air pollutant emissions.
• Innovation Launchpad Network+ (EPSRC Funded)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPSRC-funded programme run by consortium of five UK leading space universities (University of Leicester lead, plus Open University, Edinburgh, Southampton, Surrey) supporting Researchers in Residence scheme at Catapult centres.
• University of StrathclydecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Daniel Oi's Researcher in Residence placement developing Satellite Quantum Key Distribution (SatQKD) roadmap. Led to ViSatQT project led by Airbus with UK companies, academia, and Satellite Applications Catapult.
• Airbus (ViSatQT Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirbus-led ViSatQT (Viable Satellite Free Space Optical Quantum Key Distribution Technologies) Innovate UK project exploring advanced SatQKD concepts and technologies with Satellite Applications Catapult, UK companies, and academic partners.
• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Steven Reece's Researcher in Residence placement developing machine learning techniques for satellite data analysis, disaster management, and conservation applications. Led to successful joint funding bids to UKSA, Innovate UK, and private funders.
• National Research Council of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of BRIGITAL software for satellite-powered bridge monitoring with millimetre-accurate displacement detection using SAR satellite data.
• 5G RuralDorset Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBournemouth University, Dorset Council, University of Strathclyde, Vodafone, Wessex Internet, and other partners in ground-breaking 5G rural connectivity project addressing agriculture, coastal safety, and rural business challenges.
• Energy Systems CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership in Innovating for Clean Air (IfCA) project addressing air pollution in Bengaluru, India through pedestrianisation trials and satellite-based emissions mapping.
• Connected Places CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in IfCA project and Smart Port North East Testbed, exploring satellite-enabled smart logistics and port operations.
• Cornish LithiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSatellite-based lithium exploration project using Earth Observation techniques to identify lithium-bearing brines in Cornwall, demonstrating remote sensing for mineral exploration.
• The Open University (SPRINT Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRINT (Space Research and Innovation Network for Technology) programme provided Total Carbide with funded access to StressMap materials characterisation facilities at The Open University.
• Cranfield UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostgraduate student collaboration through Westcott Space Cluster events, with apprentices teaming with students from Cranfield University for Spaceport America Cup competition.
• Oxford Sustainable Finance Group (Spatial Finance Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration using InVEST tool and satellite EO data for natural capital accounting, demonstrating peatland ecosystem services impact on power plants and industrial facilities in Northern England.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aerospace Corporation: US-based not-for-profit RTO that serves as the federally funded research and development center for national-security space. Direct peer because it operates neutral, trusted test and evaluation infrastructure for in-orbit operations and is now a formal partner of the Catapult at Westcott and El Segundo.
• RAL Space (STFC): UK national space laboratory within the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Direct peer because it operates government-funded space R&D facilities in the UK (including co-test on the Astroscale ELSA-M mission) and competes for the same UK Space Agency grant allocations.

Broad incumbents

• High Value Manufacturing Catapult: Sister organisation in the UK Catapult network. Direct peer because it is a UK not-for-profit RTO with a comparable operating model, multi-site facilities, and consortium leadership — already co-delivers programmes with Satellite Applications Catapult (e.g., Trusted Bytes).
• Digital Catapult: Sister organisation in the UK Catapult network. Direct peer because it is a UK not-for-profit innovation centre with similar mission to accelerate emerging-technology adoption — operating from comparable facilities with public funding and consortium programmes.
• Fraunhofer Institute (Space domain): Germany's leading applied-research organisation with multiple institutes serving satellite testing, RF, EO, and in-orbit technology. Direct peer because of the comparable RTO operating model, multi-site facilities, and dependence on national/ESA funding — competing for the same European space R&D mandates.
• European Space Agency (ESA): Pan-European intergovernmental space agency. Closely related as the principal supranational R&D counterpart, co-funder of multiple Catapult-supported missions (CASSIS, ELSA-M), and competitor for the same downstream contract research market.

Emerging players

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch not-for-profit applied-research organisation with a Space unit covering satellite communications, EO, and ISAM. Direct peer because of the shared RTO model, public funding mix, and pan-European space-sector focus that competes for the same ESA and EU contract research budget.

Regional players

• Space Park Leicester: University of Leicester-led space innovation cluster, part of the SPRINT academic network. Direct peer because of the comparable university-convened space R&D model, Earth Observation focus, and shared role in UK academic-industry space collaboration.
• Surrey Space Centre (University of Surrey): UK academic research centre with heritage in small-satellite engineering and EO. Direct peer because of the shared research-and-incubation model, SME support role, and partnership with the UK Catapult network through SPRINT and RiR programmes.

Others

• UK Space Agency: UK government agency responsible for UK civil space policy and the principal funder of Satellite Applications Catapult. Closely related as the principal grantor and policy counterpart, and as a co-investor in Catapult facilities (e.g., £2M ISAM upgrade).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/satappscatapult
• Facebookfacebook.com/SatAppsCatapult
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2836411

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Satellite Applications Catapult