Space Park Leicester
| Space Park Leicester | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| General information | |
| Address | Corporation Road, Belgrave |
| Town or city | Leicester |
| Country | England |
| Current tenants | Rolls Royce, Airbus, Northrop Grumman, Satellite Applications Catapult, Maxar, Atomic Weapons Establishment, UK Space Agency, National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Leicester, Open Cosmos, CGI, Exosens and EarthSense. |
| Construction started | 14 March 2022 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Shepheard Epstein Hunter |
Space Park Leicester is a research, innovation and teaching hub in England for space-related high-tech companies and researchers focussing primarily on research, development and applications of space. It is located in Belgrave, Leicester next to the National Space Centre and the River Soar. It was officially opened by British astronaut Tim Peake on the 14th of March 2022.[1] It is a unique single-site science and innovation park and strategically placed space sector cluster with a national and international focus and is forecast to contribute £750 million a year to the UK space sector over the next decade.
Organisations that reside at Space Park Leicester include Rolls Royce, Airbus, Northrop Grumman, Satellite Applications Catapult, Maxar, Atomic Weapons Establishment, Open Cosmos, CGI, Exosens and EarthSense.[2] The Natural Environment Research Council funded National Centre for Earth Observation also has its Headquarters at Space Park Leicester and the UK Space Agency has an Office at the Park. It is also the main home of the Earth Observation Science and Space Projects and Instrumentation Groups of the University of Leicester.
Space Park Leicester is a science and innovation campus focused on space research, satellite applications and aerospace industry partnerships. Established in the early 2020s with public and private investment exceeding £100 million, the facility has been supported by both national government funding, including nearly £14 million in funding through Round 6 of Research England’s flagship capital investment scheme, the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) for the development of the METEOR facility, a 5,000-square-metre research centre for satellite design, Earth observation and innovation in space technologies in 2019.[3] Funding was also provided through the Local Growth Fund.[4]
It hosts collaborations with the European Space Agency, such as the development of a Double-Walled Isolator for extraterrestrial sample handling, reported in international media.[5][6]
The UK Space Agency established a regional office at the campus in 2024.[7]
According to an economic assessment, the site generated £89 million in economic impact in it’s first year.[8]
History
Space Park Leicester was developed in the late 2010s and early 2020s through a partnership between the University of Leicester, local authorities and industry, with the aim of creating a hub for satellite engineering, Earth observation and data analysis.[9]
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) has been a key provider of funding for Space Park Leicester, allocating £13.175 million from its Local Growth Fund for infrastructure and the first phase of development.[10]
Additional funding from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) supported the development of the METEOR facility, a 5,000-square-metre research centre for satellite design, Earth observation, and innovation in space technologies.[11]
In June 2020 Space Park Leicester won £500,000 towards building a new facility dedicated to exploring deep space from the Wolfson Foundation.[12]
The Architects were Shepheard Epstein Hunter.[13]
Space Park Leicester was officially opened on the 14th of March 2022 by astronaut Tim Peake.[14]
In July 2022 it was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to host an event showcasing the first full-colour images and spectroscopic data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope on 12 July 2022. The James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most complex observatory ever launched into space, was completing a six-month calibration period prior to beginning science operations. ESA invited proposals from organisations across Europe to host public events to maximise the reach and impact of these historic images and spectra, with Space Park Leicester among the selected venues.[15]
In January 2023 the UK Government confirmed £19.4 million from the Levelling Up Fund to support the expansion of Leicester’s space and satellite cluster.[16]
In March 2024 the UK Space Agency opened a regional Midlands office at the site, citing its central role in the UK’s space innovation network.[17]
Facilities and Research
Space Park Leicester is home to a range of advanced facilities supporting space research and innovation. The campus combines laboratories, clean rooms, data centres, and collaborative office space for academic and commercial tenants.[18] It’s facilities support activities in satellite manufacturing, Earth observation data processing, and space mission operations.
In 2024 the first space instrument developed at the park, the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI), was completed and delivered for integration into the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission. The SXI is a wide-field X-ray telescope designed to map Earth's magnetospheric boundaries using micropore optics. It was developed through a collaboration between the University of Leicester, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, the Open University, and several European institutions. The instrument was assembled and tested in Space Park Leicester's cleanroom facilities before being delivered to Airbus Defence and Space in Madrid for integration into the SMILE spacecraft.[19][20]
Space Park Leicester has hosted collaborations with international organisations. In 2025 the European Space Agency announced work with the site on a Double-Walled Isolator for handling extraterrestrial samples, reported in independent science and trade publications.[21][22]
Industry partnerships include research and development hubs created by CGI, which supported digital twin satellite projects,[23] Exosens, which committed over £1 million to establish an innovation hub at the site in 2024[24] and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which established a technology collaboration office at the Park in 2023.[25]
Impact and Recognition
Since opening Space Park Leicester has been described as a key part of the UK’s space innovation landscape. In it’s first year it generated £89 million in economic impact according to the Midlands Engine Observatory.[26]
The campus has been referenced in UK Government industrial strategy announcements including the 2023 Levelling Up Fund allocation[27] and the establishment of the UK Space Agency’s Midlands office in 2024.[28]
The facility has attracted high-profile visitors, including astronaut Tim Peake at its official opening in 2022.[29] Media coverage in national outlets such as the BBC, alongside international science publications including Universe Today, has highlighted it’s role in advancing UK and European space science.[30]
References
- ↑ "Space Park Leicester marks hugely successful first year as Space City launches". University of Leicester. 14 March 2023.
- ↑ "Leicester: Satellite firm joins space park to track solar wind". BBC. 20 September 2024.
- ↑ "Research England Strategic Delivery Plan 2022 to 2025" (PDF). UK Research and Innovation. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Leicester and Leicestershire Local Growth Funding" (PDF). UK Government. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ Howell, Elizabeth (5 July 2025). "ESA builds Double-Walled Isolator for extraterrestrial samples". Universe Today. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "European Space Agency develops sample containment system with Space Park Leicester". Cleanroom Technology. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "UK Space Agency opens Midlands office at Space Park Leicester". UK Space Agency. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Space Park Leicester generates £89 million economic impact in first year". BBC News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Space Park Leicester". University of Leicester. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Leicester and Leicestershire Local Growth Funding" (PDF). UK Government. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "UKRPI Funded Projects Summaries Round 7" (PDF). UK Research and Innovation. October 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "A new centre for deep space exploration will be built in Leicester". UK Science Park Association. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Space Park Leicester". Shepheard Epstein Hunter. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Astronaut Tim Peake opens Space Park Leicester". BBC News. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "ESA/Webb announces selected outreach events for first science images". ESA Webb. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Levelling Up Fund projects in the East Midlands". UK Government. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "UK Space Agency opens Midlands office at Space Park Leicester". UK Space Agency. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Space Park Leicester". University of Leicester. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ Hawkins, Richard (19 February 2024). "Leicester University delivers cutting-edge telescope for SMILE mission". The Engineer. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Smile". European Space Agency. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ Howell, Elizabeth (22 July 2025). "ESA builds Double-Walled Isolator for extraterrestrial samples". Universe Today. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "European Space Agency develops sample containment system with Space Park Leicester". Cleanroom Technology. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "CGI partners with Space Park Leicester to develop digital satellite twins". CGI. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Exosens to establish £1m innovation hub at Space Park Leicester". ADS Advance. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "AWE embarks on technology collaboration with Space Park Leicester". Atomic Weapons Establishment. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Space Park Leicester generates £89 million economic impact in first year". Midlands Engine Observatory. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Levelling Up Fund projects in the East Midlands". UK Government. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "UK Space Agency opens Midlands office at Space Park Leicester". UK Space Agency. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ "Astronaut Tim Peake opens Space Park Leicester". BBC News. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ Howell, Elizabeth (22 July 2025). "ESA builds Double-Walled Isolator for extraterrestrial samples". Universe Today. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
External links
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