Astrium UK’s CEO Colin Paynter has responded to the announcement to increase space investment in the UK: “I warmly welcome the Chancellor's commitment to the UK space sector, and the recognition of its growing role in the economic recovery. The Chancellor announced an extra 60m pounds a year to 240m pounds annual investment

“We have shown a great return to the UK on our collaborative telecom R&D with Government, this multi-year investment gives us the confidence to continue to invest, particularly in satellite communications which offer great potential for growth in the years to come,” he continued.

Astrium employs more than 3,500 people in the UK, mainly at its satellite manufacturing and space services bases in Stevenage and Portsmouth. In addition to the design and manufacture of telecommunication broadcast satellites, Astrium in the UK is also leading a number of scientific spacecraft programs including the Solar Orbiter mission to the Sun, LISA Pathfinder to detect gravity waves and the rover vehicle for the ExoMars mission to Mars.

Astrium in the UK works closely with the UK Space Agency, leading academic institutions and satellite operators to deliver state-of-the-art spacecraft and services.  Astrium in the UK has more than 400 suppliers nationwide, many of them SMEs.