\tEnabling & Support<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t24\/11\/2025
\n\t\t\t\t511 views
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 likes<\/p>\n
The European Space Agency (ESA) has shortlisted Spaceport Cornwall and Machrihanish in the UK as testing locations for INVICTUS, a research programme with the goal of developing Europe\u2019s new hypersonic test platform.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tINVICTUS \u2013 Europe\u2019s new hypersonic test platform<\/a><\/p>\n INVICTUS<\/a>\u00a0will deliver a hypersonic flight test capability unlike anything currently available in Europe, enabling technologies that make future reusable spaceplanes possible.<\/p>\n The programme is designed to de-risk critical innovations such as advanced propulsion, thermal protection, and guidance systems by testing them under real-world conditions, accelerating Europe\u2019s progress toward aircraft-like access to space.\u00a0<\/p>\n ESA\u2019s Director of Technology Dietmar Pilz said:\u00a0\u201cINVICTUS has all the potential to become a cornerstone for Europe\u2019s future in space access. By successfully demonstrating reusable horizontal launch technologies, this programme ensures Europe remains competitive and strengthens collaboration across member states.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Tony Forsythe, Head of Space Technology at the UK Space Agency, said:\u00a0\u201cThe shortlisting of Spaceport Cornwall and Machrihanish demonstrates the UK\u2019s infrastructure and expertise in advancing cutting-edge aerospace technologies. INVICTUS represents exactly the kind of ambitious, collaborative programme that could cement the UK\u2019s position as a European leader in space innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpaceport Cornwall shortlisted as testing location for INVICTUS<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBy pioneering reusable spaceplane technologies and hypersonic flight capabilities, we\u2019re potentially not only opening new frontiers for space access but also creating high-value jobs, driving regional growth, and developing skills that will benefit the UK for generations to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Frazer-Nash Consultancy, prime contractor and systems integrator for INVICTUS, supported ESA in undertaking various site visits to assess possible UK launch sites against the needs of INVICTUS and to elicit requirements for the future programme.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Sarah Wilkes, Managing Director at Frazer-Nash Consultancy:\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re excited to collaborate with Spaceport Cornwall and Machrihanish to establish a European hypersonic test capability here in the UK. INVICTUS harnesses the exceptional expertise and innovation found across our UK regions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpaceport Machrihanish shortlisted as testing location for INVICTUS<\/a><\/p>\n Michael J Ryan, European Space and Defence and Government Affairs, Spirit AeroSystems, supporting the INVICTUS airframe development added:\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to see UK regions leading the way in delivering INVICTUS. Our Belfast facility is already a recognised center of excellence for aerospace, and this program is vital to ensuring we continue to push boundaries, supporting innovative space access and strengthening national security.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The benefits extend far beyond space. INVICTUS will create hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in UK regions, attract inward investment, and anchor advanced aerospace capability. At the same time, the programme provides a dual-use platform for defense innovation, accelerating the development of hypersonic technologies vital to national and allied security.\u00a0 It will also support Jet Zero, the UK\u2019s commitment to net-zero aviation, by advancing hydrogen propulsion systems.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \nNoah Law, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay commented:\u00a0 Richard Lochhead, Minister of Business for Scotland, said:\u00a0\u201cMachrihanish offers a unique opportunity to host hypersonic test operations and an exciting new platform to continue driving growth in Scotland\u2019s burgeoning space sector whilst reinforcing our commitment to innovation and sustainability.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n INVICTUS is more than a test programme; it is a strategic investment in European collaboration. By bringing together expertise across member states, the initiative will deliver uniquely competitive space access systems that enhance strategic autonomy and reinforce security for Europe.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n INVICTUS is funded through ESA\u2019s\u00a0General Support Technology Programme<\/a>\u00a0(GSTP) and\u00a0Technology Development Element<\/a>\u00a0(TDE).<\/p>\n Like<\/p>\n Thank you for liking<\/p>\n You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Enabling & Support 24\/11\/2025 511 views 6 likes The European Space Agency (ESA) has shortlisted Spaceport Cornwall and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":151941,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[85,46,141,145],"class_list":{"0":"post-151940","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-il","9":"tag-israel","10":"tag-science","11":"tag-space"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151940"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151940\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u201cINVICTUS would be an immensely welcome, long-term partner for and the kind that such a fine aerospace asset as Spaceport Cornwall – with one of the longest runways in the country and dedicated airspace – deserves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n