Goonhilly to boost deep space communications capacity
Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall has secured a new contract to provide deep space communications services to the UK Space Agency and international partners.
The deal, announced on 16 October at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, will see Goonhilly supporting the increasing demand for satellite communications as space missions beyond Earth orbit grow.
Space agencies rely on a global network of large antennas to transfer data between spacecraft and mission controllers on Earth. However, with more missions targeting destinations like the Moon, the existing infrastructure is nearing capacity. This strain is expected to worsen as both robotic and human activity around the Moon intensifies.
While space agencies worldwide share resources to manage the current demand, the UK is well-positioned to offer additional capacity.
Goonhilly, recognised as the world’s leading provider of commercial lunar and deep space communications, has supported over 17 spacecraft beyond geostationary orbit since 2021, including CubeSats on NASA’s Artemis-I mission.
It has also worked with major international organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA), India’s ISRO, and US-based Intuitive Machines.
As space exploration ramps up, Goonhilly’s services will play a key role in ensuring smooth communication between Earth and missions venturing deeper into space.
Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms Sir Chris Bryant said: “Just as digital infrastructure helps us stay connected here on Earth, this government-backed contract will play a vital role in supporting humanity’s next steps to the Moon and beyond.
“The UK has a real competitive advantage in space and I want to exploit that to its full potential, using innovative commercial models such as those demonstrated by Goonhilly and the UK Space Agency to attract more investment, generate high-quality jobs and support our international partners.”
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Our work with Goonhilly is a great example of how the UK can benefit from the commercial opportunities associated with developing the nascent lunar and deep space economy. This contract award signals a step change in how we use different tools as a government agency to support the growing space sector and strengthen international partnerships.
“Earth ground stations will play an increasingly important role in every part of the sector, from supporting major UK-led missions such as TRUTHS and Moonlight to enabling the next generation of broadband connectivity in low Earth orbit. Developing this critical capability will help meet both our national and international ambitions in space.”
