Titania follows Tyche as the second satellite in the UK’s military constellation and will be operated by UK Space Command under the ISTARI programme. It weighs about 100 kilograms and circles Earth every 90 minutes at roughly 27,000 kilometres per hour.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and BAE Systems designed and built Titania in Hampshire under a £9.5 million contract. “Dstl has been at the heart of Titania, from the original concept, through Science and Technology investment, technical development, programme delivery, and successful launch,” said Paul Hollinshead, Dstl’s chief executive.
“This programme highlights the strength of the UK’s sovereign space capability and the critical role it plays in protecting the nation,” said Andrea Thompson, managing director of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence & Land. “Building on our established heritage in space, we are proud to be investing in advanced technologies, strengthening specialist skills and supporting highly skilled jobs across the UK.”
“The ability to observe the Earth from space is critical to both national resilience and military advantage,” said Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff. Two more satellites are due to follow under ISTARI: Juno, in partnership with SSTL, and Oberon, with Airbus Defence and Space.
Project Inaros will test three ground sensors at sites in the UK and Australia and at British facilities in Cyprus. British-Australian company Optera developed the sensors with the National Security Strategic Investment Fund.
The sensors detect changes in light to track movement in space. The ministry says the technology could be used to flag unusual or threatening activity near UK satellites, and that data from the trials will help UK Space Command protect spacecraft used for navigation, communications and missile warning.
“Having Titania now in orbit and Project Inaros stepping up how we watch over our satellites means we can see threats sooner, making the UK safer,” Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said. Both projects form part of more than £3 billion in defence space investment over four years under the UK’s Defence Investment Plan.
