Europe is pouring billions into space. Can Glasgow's satellite industry keep up?
Summary
Glasgow has become a leading city in Europe for making small satellites called CubeSats, which are much smaller and cheaper than traditional satellites. The space industry in Scotland earned £335 million in 2022-23 and employed nearly 3,000 people, but growing investments in other European countries may challenge Glasgow’s position.Key Facts
- Glasgow’s space industry specializes in CubeSats, which are small satellites about the size of a Rubik’s Cube.
- CubeSats can be combined and equipped with cameras or sensors for various uses like weather forecasting and GPS.
- The Scottish space industry earned £335 million in 2022-23, growing 69% in five years.
- The industry employed 2,811 people in Scotland in 2022-23, an 81% increase over five years.
- Glasgow’s space cluster grew around companies like Clyde Space and partnerships with the University of Strathclyde.
- American satellite company Spire opened its European base in Glasgow in 2015.
- Other European countries are investing heavily in their satellite industries, which may affect Glasgow’s market share.
- The Scottish Government states Glasgow builds more small satellites than any other European city.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
