Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Space
  • /
  • Bright Ascension secures additional funding to support expansion

Space

Bright Ascension secures additional funding to support expansion

Space software technology provider, Bright Ascension Ltd., has secured an additional £500k of funding through private investments to support further expansion and development of its product offering.

Image courtesy Bright Ascension

This follows the successful fund-raising round completed by the company in August 2021, which raised £1 million of equity through the issue of new shares to match the development funding, previously awarded to Bright Ascension by the European Space Agency (ESA).
 
Bright Ascension will use the new funds for the development of its next generation satellite software infrastructure, which will offer its customers a complete end-to-end software solution for space-based service provision from early development right through to delivery.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle

The new product vision and roadmap arises from the company’s participation in the ESA ARTES Pioneer programme, a multi-year project to design and develop a cutting-edge solution which will enable a wide range of companies to provide innovative satellite constellations at a significantly reduced cost and within a reduced timeframe. With new software development already underway, Bright Ascension expects to produce early prototype versions by the end of 2022.
 
Advertisement
ODU RT

Peter Mendham, CEO at Bright Ascension said: “These are incredibly exciting times for us as a company. With funding in place and secured to support the development of our highly integrated end-to-end product suite, we are now expanding and growing faster than ever before. Not only does this safeguard our current roadmap but it also gives the team an enormous boost in confidence and reassurance.

"The trust and belief in our company and our product vision is the most precious and priceless investment of all. We strongly feel we spotted the gap in the market and the tools we are developing will help make space more open and accessible for a larger number of businesses within the industry.”

 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
First cohort begins NITA training within Serco delivered Space Academy programmes

Space

First cohort begins NITA training within Serco delivered Space Academy programmes

5 January 2026

National IT Academy (NITA) Space Academy has commenced its first training programme in Earth Observation (EO), with an inaugural cohort of Saudi nationals, which forms part of a wider Space Academy initiative in collaboration with Serco as part of upskilling the kingdom’s future space workforces.

London hosts first Global Space Finance Summit

Space Events

London hosts first Global Space Finance Summit

19 December 2025

Global financial decision-makers and investors from across the space and financial services industries convened on Wednesday 10th December for the inaugural Global Space Finance Summit at the London Stock Exchange.

SSTL celebrates launch of two Galileo Satellites on Ariane 6

Space

SSTL celebrates launch of two Galileo Satellites on Ariane 6

18 December 2025

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) today celebrated the launch of the latest pair of Galileo First Generation satellites, SAT-33 and SAT-34 carrying SSTL payloads, which lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 6 launch vehicle.

Skyports completes move to Drone Operations HQ

Aerospace Space

Skyports completes move to Drone Operations HQ

17 December 2025

Skyports Drone Services (Skyports) has completed a move into its new flagship, purpose-built, Drone Operations Hub in Westcott Venture Park, equipping the company with a state-of-the-art centralised facility for its UK, European and global drone operations.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
BAE Systems to advance autonomous space-based surveillance tech for DARPA

Defence Space

BAE Systems to advance autonomous space-based surveillance tech for DARPA

15 December 2025

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BAE Systems’ FAST Labs research, development and production organisation a $16 million Phase 2 contract for the Oversight programme.

Spaceport Cornwall and National Drone Hub launch UAS project

Aerospace Defence Security Space

Spaceport Cornwall and National Drone Hub launch UAS project

15 December 2025

The UK's first licensed spaceport, Spaceport Cornwall, has commenced work on a groundbreaking project with the National Drone Hub to establish a unique testing environment for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB