Understanding Future Technical Risk

The UK is now embarking on a new and exciting direction in space, with ambitions to enable horizontal and vertical launches from the UK, as well as looking to license and regulate novel space systems in orbit, such as large constellations consisting of hundreds of satellites, or in-orbit service missions to remove space debris and service spacecraft. However, with any new and original activity comes risk. In performing the licensing for both Launch and Orbital missions, it is essential that the UK Space Agency is able to fully understand these risks.

The goal of this engagement day is to better understand some of the technical risks and issues that the UK Space Agency needs to consider. We want to use this event to raise some of the technical questions within the community and to understand where current research and capability lies to address these. We can then consider the potential for proposals to solve some of these questions and/or better understand these issues.

The day will be split across two topics:

• Large constellations in LEO: With operators planning new and increasingly large and complex constellations of satellites, issues such as collision risk/avoidance, constellation management, trade-offs between the safety of operator's satellites and continuity of the service, cyber-security and RF interference are of potential importance. UKSA would like to understand both these and other issues that may evolve should the number of large constellations grow.

• Proximity operations: From space tugs to active debris removal, to on-orbit servicing. UKSA would like a better understanding of the roadmap and timelines of future proximity operation missions, as well as the potential consequences in their implementation

Additional information: This Prior Information Notice is being issued in order to undertake a market consultation exercise with regards to the requirements detailed above and in section II.1.4. UKSA will be holding a market engagement day in order to assess the market's capability, technical insight and view on the approach to procuring the services. If you believe this is of interest to you and your organisation, please register an Expression of Interest to attend by sending an email to the following email address: [email protected] The supplier engagement day will be held at the Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, on Tuesday 11th September 2018. Expressions of Interest to attend must be received at the above email address by no later than 1200hrs BST on Friday 31st August (the EOI Deadline). Places are limited to three representatives per organisation. Your email should have the subject heading "UK SBS PR18115 UKSA Understanding Future Technical Risks PIN EOI" you should include your company name and the names and contact telephone numbers of up to three representatives wishing to attend and the email address(s) for reply confirmation. Upon confirmation of attendance by UKSBS, the location and agenda for the day will be issued. PLEASE NOTE: Due to coordinating access arrangements, Expressions of Interest received after EOI Deadline will not be considered and access to the event will not be possible UKSA may consider information and responses received as part of the preliminary market consultation to help inform UKSA specification and further decision making in relation to the planning and conduct of the proposed procurement. For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is not a Call for Competition; a Contract Notice will be issued as a call for competition. Not registering an interest shall not prevent any supplier participating in a future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of preliminary market consultation shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in preliminary market consultation will be at each supplier's own cost. UKSA reserves the position not to award a contract.