Viasat Joins Harwell Space
Cluster to Support UK Innovation
April 19, 2022
Viasat Inc. has joined
the Space Cluster on the Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus as it seeks new technology and
research partnerships in the UK.
Harwell is home to the largest
concentration of space expertise in the UK, with
more than 1,400 people employed across over 100
private and public sector organizations, including
the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
Harwell estimates that the space industry
contributes £5.7 billion to UK GDP.
With the opening of a new
office at the Harwell Campus, Viasat is
demonstrating its intent to play an active role
within the UK's space ecosystem while contributing
its expertise in space-based broadband
communications to the Harwell community.
"The Harwell Space Cluster is
widely recognized as an integral part of the UK's
space sector, bringing together dynamic, innovative
organizations from across the UK and European
Union," said Rick Baldridge, Viasat's president and
CEO. "We are looking to build relationships in the
UK that can help add value and new capabilities to
our global ViaSat-3 constellation of satellites,
which will extend broadband internet service to the
hardest-to-reach places in the world. We look
forward to creating alliances with UK organizations
in areas such as space safety and sustainability,
encryption and data security, terminal development
and more."
The first of three ViaSat-3
high-capacity satellites is scheduled for launch
later this year. The constellation is expected to
deliver over 3 Terabits per second (Tbps) of total
network capacity, or roughly eight times the
capacity of Viasat's current fleet.
"We are delighted to have
Viasat join the Harwell Campus," said Dr. Joanna
Hart, development manager, Harwell Space Cluster.
"It is an innovative communications company known
for working with growing start-ups in the satellite
and space community. Viasat will be able to access
the world-leading space research and technology we
offer, spotting valuable commercial opportunities
and next-generation innovations."
The Harwell Campus is
interested in capitalizing on the rapid changes in
space technology, and building links with other
international space clusters, to help the UK achieve
its National Space Strategy goal: to be 10% of the
global space-related economy by 2030.