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Optimat, in partnership with AstroAgency, launched the Scottish Space Sustainability Roadmap in September. The roadmap charts a path to a more sustainable Scottish space sector through a series of short, medium and long-term work packages, with the aim of generating neutral debris, achieving zero emissions from on-ground activities, and supporting Scotland to gain global recognition as a leader in sustainable space.
The roadmap demonstrates the space sector’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment, while boosting productivity and creating sustainable jobs.
Business Minister Ivan McKee said: ‚ ‘Scotland’s space industry has enormous growth potential and is rightly recognised as a key new market opportunity within the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation. Last year, the Scottish Government and partners set out our collective ambition for Scotland to become Europe’s leading space nation, taking a £4 billion share of the global space market and creating 20,000 jobs by 2030. The Scottish Space Sustainability Roadmap is the next step in helping the sector reach net zero by 2045 and in setting an example for other nations.‚Äù
Research was undertaken to inform the development of the roadmap. This included engagement with a range of stakeholders from national and international space communities, along-side an in-depth study into other sustainability initiatives and consultation with members of the space industry. Some of the areas the research aimed to address included the environmental impacts of building, fuelling, and launching satellites, as well as the importance of promoting satellite data for environmental monitoring.
The Scottish Space Strategy, published in October 2021, and the backdrop for the development of this roadmap, aims to create 20,000 jobs and secure a £4 billion share of the global space market – key individuals in the wider UK space community recognise and endorse Scotland’s ambitions.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: ‚ ‘Scotland is a vital part of the UK’s growing space sector, which employs 47,000 people and generates an annual income of £16.5 billion. We welcome the new sustainable space roadmap, which is a strong statement of intent to reduce environmental impact.‚Äù
The roadmap was recently unveiled and was also presented at major industry events, namely Space Comm in the UK and the International Astronautical Congress in France, where discussions were held with international partners and leaders to ensure sustainability is at the forefront of sector growth – with this roadmap, Scotland is well positioned to lead the international drive for sustainable space growth whilst ensuring environmental impacts are reduced.
Dr Ashley Stewart, Senior Consultant at Optimat, said: ‚ ‘Scotland’s space sector is thriving and I,m incredibly proud to have been involved in the development of the roadmap which sets out ambitions to enable the growth of a sustainable space sector in Scotland and one that has the potential to reach its net zero targets‚Äù.
