UK / China Space Science Applications of Microsatellite Systems

UK and China have been developing their mutual interests in Space Science and Technology together over the past 3 years under the Year of Science & Innovation programme and Partners in Science. Four workshops have so far been held, identifying a number of options for joint scientific and technical collaboration.

A 5th workshop, along with additional, inter-sessional activities as part of the UK-China Joint Virtual Laboratory (JVL), is taking place in September 2009 at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, UK. This next phase of collaboration will assess the feasibility of a joint space science mission. 

The project has provided a range immediate benefits as well as presenting the opportunity for long term sustainable impact.
 
• Workshops have included a wide range of UK and Chinese academia, industry and research institutes, encouraging the secondment and exchange of staff between partners.
• Workshops have been fully supported financially and politically by both governments, and MoU’s have been signed at ministerial level.
• There are excellent spin-off opportunities from the project for input to climate change and other environmental issues.
• The project has already and continues to inspire transparency and confidence building between UK & China space communities.

Consortium partners are currently: RAL, SSTL, MSSL, Scisys, Astrium, Logica, Leicester University, E2V, Open University, Imperial College London. If you would like further details regarding the project, including how to get involved, please contact Laurence Jia at laurence.jia@fco.gov.uk