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
ODU RT

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
PTC rectangle

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
Gulfstream banner
Cranfield University unveils wind-powered WANDER-bot

Space

Cranfield University unveils wind-powered WANDER-bot

13 March 2026

Researchers at Cranfield University have created WANDER-bot, a low-cost, 3D-printed robot that is powered by wind energy.

Orbit Fab and Airbus collaborate on satellite refuelling

Space Events

Orbit Fab and Airbus collaborate on satellite refuelling

12 March 2026

Orbit Fab are working with Airbus Defence and Space to assess the feasibility of incorporating Orbit Fab’s RAFTI refuelling valve into possible future Airbus geostationary satellites, as part of a project within the European Space Agency’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems, named RADICAL, funded by the UK Space ...

BAE Systems completes preliminary design review of USSF missile tracking system

Defence Space

BAE Systems completes preliminary design review of USSF missile tracking system

12 March 2026

BAE Systems has completed the Preliminary Design Review for the $1.2 billion US Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) Resilient Missile Warning & Tracking (RMWT) – Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Epoch 2 programme to provide missile warning and tracking of advanced missile threats.

UK scientists help reveal ever-changing Universe

Space

UK scientists help reveal ever-changing Universe

12 March 2026

As the Vera C. Rubin Observatory issues live alerts of changes in the night sky, a UK innovation allows us to observe millions of unfolding astronomical events.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Dr Noelia Noël awarded STFC Leadership Fellowship in Public Engagement

Space

Dr Noelia Noël awarded STFC Leadership Fellowship in Public Engagement

12 March 2026

Dr Noelia Noël, Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics at the University of Surrey, has been awarded this year’s Leadership Fellowship in Public Engagement from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

UK-first achieved in advanced materials

Aerospace Defence Space

UK-first achieved in advanced materials

11 March 2026

The UK has established its first sovereign manufacturing capability for ultrahigh temperature materials - vital for space, hypersonic and propulsion systems.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner