Year in Review: Memorable Moments and Milestones at Spaceport Cornwall

2024 has provided many memorable moments for the team at Spaceport Cornwall. We’ve welcomed new businesses into the SSOF (Space Systems Operations Facility) and promoted Cornwall’s growing space cluster at industry events across the globe.

We continue to invest in the next generation of STEAM professionals through our educational outreach programme. Engaging people in Cornwall and beyond through workshops, events, tours and school visits.

We’re excited to see what 2025 will bring. In the meantime, let’s look back at some of 2024’s top milestones and achievements.

• In August, spaceport Cornwall, alongside Cornwall Airport Newquay, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wholeship Ltd, operators of the National Drone Hub at Predannack, near Helston.

• The collaboration enables the combined and coordinated use of facilities and expertise across all three sites to create a unique future air and space offer in Cornwall, from testing through to operations.

• The consortium aims to position the UK as a world leading location for both crewed and uncrewed technology, working with partners such as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Department for Transport (DfT) to influence future airspace regulation.

• 14 businesses have now made the SSOF their home, working in various sectors within the space and aerospace industry, from satellite communications, earth observation, engineering and design to marketing and consultancy.
• These businesses include Intelligent AI, Halo, Avanti Communications, Cornwall Space Cluster, Blue Abyss, Hybrock, Slingshot, Space AI, Kispe, Space Professionals, Space Engine Systems and Drone Prep.
• Redruth-based, Blue Abyss, have chosen the SSOF as their hub of operations as they move forward with the development of the most comprehensive deep sea and space research, training and test facility of its kind in the world, including the world’s largest and deepest research and development pool.
  
• We welcomed our final tenant of the year (although there is still a couple of weeks to go!) to the SSOF in December. SpaceAM, pioneers of ultra-lightweight, ultra-low cost aerospace design solutions. Co-Founder Chris Isaac is originally from Cornwall, so we’re thrilled to welcome him and his innovative company back to Kernow.

• Space-Comm Expo: Farnborough, UK, 6-7 March –  An army of innovators descended upon Farnborough for the 2024 Space-Comm Expo. Spaceport Cornwall exhibited at the event alongside the other fantastic businesses that make up Cornwall’s Space Cluster, including Aspia Space, Bluefruit Software, DP Engineering, Flann Microwave, Foot Anstey, Goonhilly Earth Station, Piran Advanced Composites, Sellectronics and, Space Skills Alliance.
   
• GSA Global Spaceport Summit: Florida, USA, 29 Jan – The Spaceport Cornwall team attended the Global Spaceport Alliance Summit to discuss international collaboration, challenges and opportunities with leaders from spaceports around the world.
• Space Symposium: Colorado, US, 8-11 April – Alongside Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd and Space Forge, we showcased the Spaceport’s capacity for international collaboration as a prime European location for space-enabled businesses. Sharing insights on future flight, our cutting-edge R&D facilities and the innovation taking place in Cornwall.
• Farnborough International Airshow: Farnborough, UK, 22-26 July – Our team exhibited at the world renowned Farnborough Airshow. Head of Engagement, Ross Hulbert, joined a panel of experts to discuss “What makes a successful launch?” alongside the UK Space Agency, SaxaVord Spaceport and Lockheed Martin Space.
• International Spaceport Meeting: Milan, Italy, 13 October –  The UK spaceports joined forces at the inaugural International Spaceport Meeting, held on the eve of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), promoting the importance of collaboration over competition, and showcasing the UK as the premier launch location in Europe.
• IAC 2024: Milan, Italy, 14-18 October – The team  attended the 75th annual International Astronautical Congress (IAC), presenting on ‘Spaceport Cooperation’ alongside Spaceport Japan and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), based at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, as part of the Spaceport Cooperation Workshop.
• International Symposium on Small Launch Vehicles and Spaceports: Harwell, UK, 28-30 October – We attended the first ever International Symposium on Small Launchers and Spaceports. An event co-organised by the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA), with a focus on supporting the development of spaceports and the small launcher industry.
• Space Tech Expo Europe: Bremen, Germany, 19-21 November – The Spaceport team explored Cornwall’s exciting future flight capabilities and showcased the region’s amazing innovations alongside the South West Space Partnership, featuring Cornwall Space Cluster, Invest Bristol & Bath and Space West.

• In 2024 we reached many significant career and educational outreach milestones, including over 600 Tours of Spaceport, 900+ marquee events, 6,675 career events and presentations, and 5,872 workshops and assemblies.
• We’ve connected with almost 80,000 children, aged 5 and up, across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including 56,000 through workshops, lectures and career sessions delivered at more than 90 schools and colleges across the county.
• We engaged 200 students from inner city London with future flight presentations and workshops at the Royal British Aeronautical Society, and supported students of John Egging Trust’s Blue Skies Programme in through workshops and presentations.
• We supported 50 teachers and headteachers with professional training and development to aid teaching STEAM in schools, alongside the Principles Teaching Institute.

• Katie Ireland returned to Spaceport Cornwall this year for work experience with Halo Marketing and PR, one of the fantastic businesses located in the SSOF.
• Katie is one of the six young people that made up the Space Launch Crew, formed back in 2022 to create and share stories in the lead up to the first ever horizontal launch from UK soil.
• Having enjoyed her time as part of the Launch Crew so much, Katie once again joined the Halo team to learn more about media, filming and content production and move closer to her desired career goals.

• We said goodbye to Lauren Llewellyn in November, as she moved on to an exciting new role as ESG Consultant at DEKRA.
• Lauren, as Spaceport Cornwall and Cornwall Airport Newquay’s Sustainability Officer, played a pivotal role in our Space for Good and sustainable spaceflight missions, contributing to the first ever Road to Net Zero plan from a spaceport and other groundbreaking carbon-saving initiatives. 

• We welcomed our new UK Space Agency SPINtern cohort. Anna Pearce and Jessica Lohmeier learned what it takes to run a successful air and spaceport. From operations, engineering, security and passenger services, to sustainability, finance, marketing, and procurement.
• Marketing and Brand Development SPINtern, Jessica Lohmeier, is a Glasgow-based designer from Montana, USA, with a wealth of experience in graphic design, brand strategy and creation, marketing, and education. Jessica has been instrumental in creating new marketing materials, utilising her growing expertise in accessible and inclusive design strategies.
• Sustainable Space Exploration SPINtern, Anna Pearce, who is in the final year of her Business and Entrepreneurship degree at the University of Exeter, has helped to devise key strategies on the reporting of social value and stakeholder engagement with sustainability practices.

We can’t wait for 2025!