Amentum selected to design facility for U.K. Space Industry’s zero-gravity operations

Amentum was selected to provide the U.K. with specialist equipment to simulate space conditions and improve zero-gravity operations and mission safety, Jan. 21.

The company’s robotics specialists will design an in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing gravity offload system for satellite and spacecraft manufacturers and operators, to be delivered by March 2025.

“We will use our strengths in robotics and technology to create a new facility that will help our client advance its vision to create a robust and interconnected UK Space Ecosystem fostering innovation, growth, collaboration and technological advancement,” said Andy White, senior vice president of Amentum Energy & Environment International.

The gravity offload system is a gantry that reduces the effects of gravity on a suspended object, simulating conditions encountered in orbit. The system will be used to develop control systems and hardware for docking and capture systems, aiming to improve operational effectiveness in orbit and reduce the risk of mission failures.

Amentum will design, qualify and install the system on the client’s site by integrating commercial off-the-shelf hardware with a customized design. The project will use a modular design and agile methodologies to enhance efficiency and deliver the solution.

The new system is part of a major investment in the Satellite Applications Catapult facility at the Westcott Space Cluster in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, where companies can verify, validate and demonstrate a range of in-orbit operations, including manufacturing, servicing, inspection, repair and assembly. Funding for the upgrade project was provided by the U.K. Space Agency.

Amentum provides advanced engineering and technology solutions, serving the United States and its allies in areas such as science, security and sustainability. The company focuses on addressing complex challenges through innovation.