A major investment in Scotland’s growing space industry is set to bring new skilled jobs to Campbeltown through the creation of a satellite control and monitoring centre at Machrihanish Airbase.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has awarded up to £194,000 towards the £500,000 project, which is being delivered by space technology company Exotopic Ltd at the Machrihanish Airbase Business Park.
The project will establish a new operations centre capable of monitoring and controlling satellites in orbit, helping position Argyll as an increasingly important part of the UK’s expanding space sector.
Over the next three years the initiative is expected to generate almost £3 million for the local economy while creating 11 highly skilled jobs to support round the clock satellite operations and the continued expansion of Exotopic’s ground network.
Machrihanish Airbase has steadily developed a reputation for space related research and innovation in recent years, hosting a specialist rocket engine testing facility operated by Exotopic in partnership with the University of Glasgow and supporting research by European satellite launch companies.
The site has also become a destination for international talent through the Mach X rocketry competition, with students from more than 20 European countries due to take part this year through the European Space Agency Academy.
The latest investment will fund upgraded ground stations together with a resilient operations room equipped with specialist software and communications systems, allowing satellites to be monitored and managed directly from Campbeltown.
Exotopic also plans to operate its own demonstration satellite, Give Me Some Space, from the new control centre once it has been launched into orbit.
Morag Goodfellow, Area Manager for Argyll and the Islands at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said:
“This is about strengthening Scotland’s position with regards to new markets and growing industries, one of which is space, and creating new skilled jobs in rural areas.
“Exotopic has identified a new market within the space sector.
“The company has the expertise to service this market and generate economic activity at Machrihanish, which is an ideal location for space related services.
“There’s already a programme of work scheduled to begin in the summer with several clients.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to provide support and look forward to seeing this new venture get underway.”
Exotopic Chief Executive Andy Grey said:
“When I visited the site in 2019 there was clear potential to establish, and to some degree re establish, a critical infrastructure for the UK and its allies.
“Over several years and with the support of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Machrihanish Airbase Community Company, Argyll and Bute Council and the UK Space Agency, we have worked to develop systems that will be used to deliver important capabilities across the world, from facilities located in Campbeltown.
“This project will see the team at Machrihanish monitoring and operating satellites as they orbit the globe.”
The investment marks another step in the transformation of the former military airbase into a centre for advanced technology, demonstrating how the Highlands and Islands is carving out an increasingly important role in one of the world’s fastest growing industries.
