Clyde Space has announced a partnership with conglomerate Teledyne e2v to deliver what the company refers to as a world-first in satellite technology.
Craig Clark MBE, Clyde Space CEO, said in conjunction with Teledyne e2v that the company will create a new wave of space applications. With a high-tech solution provided by Clyde Space, the project team led by Teledyne e2v, working with research partner the University of Birmingham, is using quantum technology to provide a state-of-the-art technical solution capable of creating ultra-sensitive ‘cold atoms’ in space.
Applications for instruments based on this technology include more accurate monitoring of changes in polar ice mass, ocean currents and sea level, the ability to monitor underground water resources and discover new underground natural resource deposits which are currently not detectable. The technology will also be used for deep space navigation and for providing higher precision timing sources in space. Laboratory experiments have shown cold atoms can be used as ultra-sensitive sensors capable of mapping tiny changes in the strength of gravity across the earth’s surface.
That will now be replicated in space through the Clyde Space-Teledyne e2v partnership with the Cold Atom Space Payload (CASPA) mission, the world’s first free-flying on-orbit demonstration for cold atom based science missions. It paves the way for cold atom instruments to be used in space.
The revolutionary technology is based on new developments in quantum technology which have resulted in the ability to cool atoms close to absolute zero making the cold atoms ultra-sensitive and capable of mapping tiny changes in the strength of gravity across the surface of the Earth.
The CASPA mission is the latest project to recognize Clyde Space’s leading-edge CubeSat technology and the far-reaching impact it has had in making satellites more accessible and affordable. The company's success earned it the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category earlier this year. Clyde Space is backed by Scottish investment companies Coralinn LLP and Nevis Capital.
Craig Craig noted that pioneering innovative solutions is at the core of everything the company tackles — the firm is always pushing the boundaries of what is possible with small spacecraft, as are Teledyne e2v with quantum technology. Clyde Space customers have ambitious missions for an ever-expanding range of applications and it is the company's job to enable the realization of their pursuits through the provision of highly progressive smallsat capabilities. Clyde Space is delighted to provide our technical solution in support of Teledyne e2v’s vision for the commercialization of quantum technologies. We are constantly innovating, it has been our focus since day one and it’s a big part of the reason for our success.”Trevor Cross, Group Chief Technology Officer at Teledyne e2v, added that Quantum technology is giving the firm new abilities in a wide range of markets and applications and the partnership with Clyde Space is representative of the collaboration required to commercialize the technology and really maximize the benefits of Quantum in industry.