AmbaSat End-of-Year Newsletter-2023

AmbaSat End-of-Year Newsletter 2023

AmbaSat – To the Edge of Space

Hello,

It’s been a while since our last newsletter, and we sincerely apologise for the lack of more regular updates. Navigating the challenges of being a small business, especially in the space industry, is no small feat. Despite the hurdles, we’ve made significant progress throughout 2023. Please read on to learn more.

Milestones in 2023
ESA Business Incubation Centre Programme

At the end of 2022, we secured a place on the ESA Business Incubation Centre programme, providing us with a cash injection and access to experienced scientists, engineers, and testing facilities.

https://ambasat.com/esa-backing-for-ambasat/

Synergy Bank Outreach and Fircroft Primary School Session

At the start of 2023 and in collaboration with Synergy Bank, we conducted an outreach session at Fircroft Primary School in London, inspiring children about careers in the Space Industry. Despite some bottle rocket launch ‘hiccups’ on the day, the overall feedback was positive and incredibly rewarding.

https://ambasat.com/ambasat-rockets-at-fircroft-school-london/

UK Space Agency Ignite Event and Modular Satellite Payload

March saw us exhibiting at the UK Space Agency Ignite event in Bristol. The day also involved a pitch to investors through the ESA BIC programme. The valuable feedback received from the pitch prompted the development of our commercial modular satellite payload system with the support of ESA BIC.

https://ambasat.com/ambasat-exhibit-at-ignite-space-2023/

Collaboration with Northumbria University and Nascent

Later in March we exhibited at the North-East Space Conference where several exciting collaborations emerged, these were with Northumbria University, focusing on the Northeast Space Skills and Technology Centre, and Nascent Semiconductors, with whom we are developing a CubeSat.

High-Altitude Balloon Launch in Wales

May 2023 witnessed a remarkable achievement as two AmbaSat Space Satellites soared to an altitude of 29km above the Earth’s surface. Lifted into the sky by two High Altitude Balloons (HABs) launched from Welshpool in Wales, these AmbaSats recorded altitude and GPS location data, with telemetry transmitted in near real-time through the AmbaSat Prime Network, showcasing the incredible capabilities of these remarkable ChipSat space satellites.

https://ambasat.com/ambasat-to-the-edge-of-space/

New Voices in Space Programme with Space Scotland

The summer saw the culmination of over a year of hard work from the New Voices in Space working group at Space Scotland. The NVIS programme kicked off in September with the support of the UK Space Agency and Corporate Sponsors, seeing over 120 students across 5 Schools, starting the AmbaSat Space Satellite Course, learning about Space and building an AmbaSat-1 Satellite. To showcase the partnership with Space Scotland, we were invited to the UK Space Conference in Belfast to exhibit with the fantastic team at Space Scotland and tell the entire UK Space Industry about the NVIS initiative.

https://ambasat.com/space-scotland-and-nvis/

Continued Outreach and Engagement

As well as a focus on our commercial offerings, we remain committed to inspiring the next generation through outreach events, including the UK Space Agency Space for Everyone Tour and the August Newcastle Centre for Life Science Space Event.

https://ambasat.com/touring-with-uk-space-agency-space-for-everyone/

Speaking Engagements and Podcast Feature

Our Operations Manager served as a panellist at multiple conferences in Leeds, thanks to our membership in Space Hub Yorkshire. Additionally, we encourage you to listen to AmbaSat featured in the BBC Radio 4 programme Digital Human Podcast Series 29 – The Orbital Human.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mc4x

Technical Updates

CubeSat Progress and Cyber Essentials Certification

Licence considerations dictated a change in design for the AmbaSat CubeSat. We’ve made significant progress in preparing our CubeSat for launch and obtained Cyber Essentials Certification in June 2023, meeting the requirements of the Orbital Operators License.

Rocket Launch Updates

We strive to be open and transparent regarding the rocket launch and despite facing obstacles in obtaining the Orbital Operators License, we are working tirelessly to overcome these challenges. Discussions at the UK Space Conference hinted at a potential launch date in Q1 of 2025. We will keep you informed of developments.

In the new year, we will reach out to customers who have paid deposits for the Rocket Launch with details on returning your AmbaSat-1 Satellite and what you should do to prepare your satellite for launch.

Season’s Greetings

As 2023 comes to a close, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for your continued support and patience.

Team AmbaSat