In-Orbit

Satellite Applications Catapult

Behind every launch is a business story. Dallas Campbell meets the founders, engineers, and policymakers shaping the UK space industry.

  1. 4d ago ·  Bonus

    Outer Orbit: The Future of In-Space Propulsion with Magdrive

    How can satellites avoid collisions and still keep enough propellant for other work? In Outer Orbit, host Dallas Campbell speaks with Thomas Clayson, co-founder and CTO of Magdrive, about electric propulsion designed for satellites operating in crowded low Earth orbit. Thomas explains how a spacecraft stores electrical power, then uses rapid pulses to vaporise small amounts of metal into plasma. The resulting thrust is intended to combine strong short manoeuvres with the efficiency of electric propulsion. The conversation covers collision avoidance, maintaining orbit, close-proximity operations, satellite inspection and repair, and the role of mobility in in-space servicing and manufacturing. Clayson also sets out why metal propellant could be sourced in future from lunar material, asteroids or recycled debris, while noting that refuelling in space is not yet available. Separately, The Register reported that Starlink observed roughly 164,000 conjunctions whose closest approach fell within four hours of an unannounced manoeuvre over six months. That figure, attributed to SpaceX, connects to the episode’s focus on responsive propulsion and safe coordination as more spacecraft share the same orbital shells. (00:00) - Welcome to Outer Orbit (01:11) - Why Satellites Need Propulsion (02:49) - Close Approaches and Space Defence (04:36) - Chemical and Electric Thrusters (05:27) - Faster Manoeuvres in Low Earth Orbit (06:14) - How MagDrive Produces Thrust (07:13) - Metal as a Propellant (08:14) - Refuelling from Space Resources (09:38) - Thruster Size and Satellite Classes (11:11) - Propulsion for In-Space Servicing (12:01) - MagDrive’s In-Orbit Demonstrations (12:40) - The UK’s Role in Space Manufacturing Thomas Clayson: Thomas Clayson is co-founder and CTO of Magdrive, which is developing electric propulsion systems for spacecraft. A plasma physicist and pulsed-power engineer, he earned a PhD in plasma laboratory astrophysics at Imperial College London. His work has included using high-powered lasers and pulsed-power equipment to study plasma. On the episode, he explains Magdrive's solid metal propellant and how spacecraft mobility could enable new activity in orbit.In-Orbit is brought to you by the Satellite Applications Catapult. Subscribe and follow us on social media to stay in-orbit. Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Website Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

    Outer Orbit: The Future of In-Space Propulsion with Magdrive

  2. Oct 20 ·  Video

    The Business of Space: Part Two

    What would it take for a UK space company to become a billion-dollar business? In this episode of In-Orbit, host Dallas Campbell brings together John Abbott, CEO of Satellite Applications Catapult, and Thomas Clayson, co-founder and CTO of Magdrive, to examine the commercial conditions behind UK space growth. John argues that companies need a clear customer, a market with room to grow, a route to that market and a product built around a real problem. Thomas explains why satellites need propulsion, how Magdrive's electric engine works and how solid metal propellant could support refuelling with resources found in space. They also discuss SpaceX as proof of a commercial market, investor confidence, government procurement and more joined-up support. Their debate on UK launch weighs assured access against price and geography, before turning to the work that happens after launch. (00:00) - Welcome to In-Orbit (02:06) - Why Satellites Need Propulsion (03:20) - Building Billion-Dollar Space Businesses (06:41) - The UK's Space Strengths (09:16) - The Space Market and National Resilience (11:22) - Magdrive's Solid Metal Propellant (14:05) - SpaceX, Investment and IPOs (18:16) - Joining Up Support for Space Companies (22:25) - UK Ambition and the Launch Debate (31:41) - Space Defence and Dual-Use Technology (36:53) - In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (39:11) - The Harwell Space Cluster John Abbott: John Abbott is CEO of Satellite Applications Catapult. He previously held digital and leadership roles at Saudi Arabia's Real Estate Registry, HM Land Registry and Ordnance Survey. At Ordnance Survey, he worked on digital products, the Innovations Lab and Geovation, which supported more than 150 early-stage businesses that have raised £130m. He brings experience in digital services and business support to the discussion of UK space growth. Thomas Clayson: Thomas Clayson is co-founder and CTO of Magdrive, which is developing electric propulsion systems for spacecraft. A plasma physicist and pulsed-power engineer, he earned a PhD in plasma laboratory astrophysics at Imperial College London. His work has included using high-powered lasers and pulsed-power equipment to study plasma. On the episode, he explains Magdrive's solid metal propellant and how spacecraft mobility could enable new activity in orbit. In-Orbit is brought to you by the Satellite Applications Catapult. Subscribe and follow us on social media to stay in-orbit. Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Website Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

  3. Oct 13 ·  Bonus

    Outer Orbit: Mindset Matters - The UK-US Divide

    Why does America make space feel like a national ambition, while Britain’s achievements can struggle to attract attention? In this Outer Orbit bonus episode, Dallas Campbell speaks with Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK, about the cultural and financial differences shaping the UK space industry and its US counterpart. Tom argues that Britain needs to identify where it can create value in the emerging space economy, then explain that opportunity in language people can understand. Dallas and Tom discuss the tension between selling a vision and waiting until an idea is proven, the UK’s venture capital development, and why emerging technologies may need investors prepared to think over ten years. For founders, investors and space communicators, this short conversation offers a clear starting point: connect technical ability with a convincing story and the backing to pursue it. (00:00) - Welcome to Outer Orbit (01:11) - Finding the UK’s Place in the Space Economy (02:06) - Why Space Needs a Better Story (03:31) - Selling the Vision Before the Proof (04:50) - Building a Culture of Risk and Reward (05:45) - The UK’s Changing Investment Culture (06:46) - Patient Capital and Ten-Year Horizons (07:32) - Bringing the Swagger Tom Adeyoola: Tom Adeyoola is Executive Chair of Innovate UK and an entrepreneur with more than 25 years in the startup sector. He founded fashion technology business Metail, raising £25 million and growing it to exit, and supported Elvie from inception to Series B as a non-executive director. He co-founded Extend Ventures and co-authored the Start-Up, Scale-Up review. His experience in building businesses and investment policy informs the episode's discussion of growth capital and international competition.In-Orbit is brought to you by the Satellite Applications Catapult. Subscribe and follow us on social media to stay in-orbit. Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Website Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

    Outer Orbit: Mindset Matters - The UK-US Divide

  4. Oct 6 ·  Video

    Building the UK's Innovation Future: Part One

    Why does Britain produce promising ideas yet struggle to build the global companies that could grow from them? In the opening episode of In-Orbit's sixth season, Dallas Campbell brings together Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK, John Abbott, CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult, and Sue Daley OBE, Director of Technology and Innovation at techUK. They examine how UK innovation can become lasting economic value, with support that follows companies beyond individual projects and pilots. The discussion covers patient capital, international growth and the commercial skills needed to turn research into products customers buy. Government procurement is especially timely: the UK Space Strategy, announced in September with £7.8 billion of investment through 2030, commits to a coordinated approach to buying space technology. From university research and health datasets to satellite propulsion, in-orbit manufacturing and proposed orbital data centres, the guests consider where Britain has strengths worth backing. For founders, investors and policymakers, this first part of a two-part conversation offers practical ways to help ambitious companies grow while keeping skills, manufacturing and economic value in the UK. (00:00) - Welcome to In-Orbit (04:22) - From Funding Projects to Supporting Companies (08:28) - Commercialisation and Thinking Globally (12:11) - Ambition, Investment and Founder Stories (15:45) - Government as an Anchor Customer (19:47) - Growth Capital and UK Research Strengths (23:46) - Telling the UK's Technology Success Stories (27:53) - Helping UK Space Companies Scale (31:44) - Manufacturing and Data Centres in Orbit (35:56) - Space, Growth and National Resilience (39:45) - Pension Investment and Long-Term Support (42:12) - Backing Britain's Most Ambitious Companies Tom Adeyoola: Tom Adeyoola is Executive Chair of Innovate UK and an entrepreneur with more than 25 years in the startup sector. He founded fashion technology business Metail, raising £25 million and growing it to exit, and supported Elvie from inception to Series B as a non-executive director. He co-founded Extend Ventures and co-authored the Start-Up, Scale-Up review. His experience in building businesses and investment policy informs the episode's discussion of growth capital and international competition. John Abbott: John Abbott is CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult. His background covers geospatial technology, digital services and support for early-stage businesses. Before joining the Catapult, he was Chief Digital Officer at Saudi Arabia's Real Estate Registry and previously led digital, data and technology at HM Land Registry. At Ordnance Survey, he was responsible for digital products, its Innovations Lab and the Geovation startup incubator. He brings that experience to helping UK space companies raise investment, reach customers and expand internationally. Sue Daley OBE: Sue Daley is Director of Technology and Innovation at techUK, where her work covers AI, cloud, data, quantum technologies, semiconductors and digital ethics. She received an OBE for services to the technology industry in the 2025 New Year Honours and joined the government's Women in Tech Taskforce in December 2025. Sue also sits on the Satellite Applications Catapult Advisory Group and the Bank of England's AI Consortium. Her work connects technology policy with adoption, commercialisation and the conditions businesses need to grow. In-Orbit is brought to you by the Satellite Applications Catapult. Subscribe and follow us on social media to stay in-orbit. Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Website Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

  5. Season 6 Trailer

    In-Orbit Series Six

    Behind every launch is a business story. Dallas Campbell meets the founders, engineers, and policymakers shaping the UK space industry.  In-Orbit is back with Series Six brought to you from the Satellite Applications Catapult.  Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website

  6. 10/21/2025 ·  Bonus

    Outer Orbit: Industrial Strategy - The New Blueprint for UK Space Sector Growth

    How do you turn an ambitious space tech start-up into a 'space unicorn' generating £10 million in revenue?  In this bonus episode, Dallas Campbell and Mark Saxon, Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult, drill into the mechanics and importance of the UK's Industrial Strategy. Mark breaks down why space is a vital 'frontier industry' nested within the broader Advanced Manufacturing sector and what this means for business owners. The strategy, a core mission to grow the economy, is already delivering, with government securing over £250 billion in investment into the IS-8 sectors since July. The conversation reveals where the money is, including £135 million in traditional UK Space Agency funding and increased innovation procurement funds for the defence sector. Mark explains the vital role of patient capital from the British Business Bank and the National Wealth Fund, which is specifically directed to help space companies grow. Ultimately, this strategy aims to make the UK a leading exporter of space technology and data. If you’re a founder, investor, or policy professional in the space, AI, or quantum technologies, this is your guide to the future of the UK space economy. (00:00) - Welcome to Outer Orbit (01:10) - Industrial Strategy Overview (02:51) - Funding and Support for Space Sector (05:47) - Ambitions for the UK Space Sector (06:47) - Challenges and Complexities Mark Saxon: Mark Saxon is the Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult. With over two decades of experience in corporate communications, government relations, and policy, Mark leads the Catapult's external engagement, clusters, and critical business growth functions to support companies from start-up to scale-up. Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

    Outer Orbit: Industrial Strategy - The New Blueprint for UK Space Sector Growth

  7. 10/14/2025

    Scaling Up the UK Space Sector

    Is the UK's commitment to space being watered down, or is the recent merger of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) a smart move for efficiency? Host Dallas Campbell sits down with Mark Saxon, Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult, to dissect the political landscape shaping the UK space industry's future. They dive deep into the National Space Strategy, the new Industrial Strategy, and the critical importance of a "one government approach" to space policy. Mark argues for a necessary shift from R&D-led grant funding to commercially-driven growth, stressing that to create 'space unicorns,' the sector must move past talking only about technology and instead focus on powerful, benefit-driven stories for customers and investors. This timely conversation explores the push to scale up UK businesses to £10 million in revenue and capitalises on the current momentum, which is backed by a fresh £1.5 million investment from the UK Space Agency to unlock climate and transport innovations. Discover why Mark is optimistic about the sector's trajectory and the actionable steps needed to ensure its global success. (00:00) - Welcome to In-Orbit (02:06) - The Role of Marketing in UK Space (03:10) - Government's Role in Space (06:45) - UK Space Agency Merger (11:59) - Defense and Space (14:18) - ISAM and UK Launch (16:27) - Government's Commitment to Space Sector (18:26) - Overview of the Industrial Strategy (20:56) - Marketing Space to Investors and Companies (22:52) - Challenges in Scaling Up Space Companies (26:02) - Impact of Defense Spending on Space Sector (28:13) - Regulation and Its Role in Space Industry Growth (29:55) - Communicating the Benefits of Space Technology (31:13) - International Opportunities for UK Space Companies (31:59) - Reflections on the UK Space Industry Mark Saxon: Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult, Mark Saxon is a communications, policy, and public affairs expert with over 20 years of experience. With a PhD in genetics, he transitioned his deep technical background from the life sciences sector, including work for companies like Pfizer and Coca-Cola, to championing the growth of the UK space economy. He focuses on enabling businesses to scale, generate exports, and effectively communicate the commercial value of space data and technology. Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

  8. 10/07/2025 ·  Bonus

    Outer Orbit: The Critical Role of Space-Based Methane Monitoring

    Are we finally equipping ourselves with the right tools to tackle the climate crisis’s most potent challenge?  This bonus episode dives into the crucial role of methane, a gas whose warming potential is 80 times greater than CO2​ over a 20-year period, making it a powerful lever for immediate climate action. Host Dallas Campbell is joined by Charlotte Massey of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to explore how space technology is transforming the fight against emissions.  Charlotte explains how NPL’s measurement science (metrology) ensures the quality and traceability of satellite-derived data, making it fit for purpose for regulation and global decision-making. They discuss the vital work of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) in developing methane best practices, particularly for facility-scale emissions in the oil and gas sector. Charlotte’s perspective from the frontline of climate science offers a dose of measured optimism: understanding the problem is truly half the solution. (00:00) - Welcome to Outer Orbit (00:28) - Role and Responsibilities at NPL (00:57) - Importance of Satellites in Emission Measurement (01:50) - Methane: The Overlooked Greenhouse Gas (02:31) - Committee for Earth Observation Satellites (03:20) - Methane Best Practice Work (04:01) - International Collaboration and COP (04:28) - Optimism vs. Pessimism in Climate Science (05:21) - The Role of Measurement Science (06:09) - Personal Insights and Experiences at NPL Charlotte Massey: Strategic Business Development Manager for both Greenhouse Gases and Earth Observation at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Charlotte is responsible for curating partnerships and setting the strategic direction of NPL's measurement science for greenhouse gas measurement and Earth Observation data. She focuses on delivering the essential measurement science required to ensure the accuracy, impartiality, and traceability of complex satellite data, making it a trusted resource for policymakers, regulators, and industry in addressing the climate emergency. Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, WebsiteNational Physical Laboratory: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Website Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

    Outer Orbit: The Critical Role of Space-Based Methane Monitoring
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About

Behind every launch is a business story. Dallas Campbell meets the founders, engineers, and policymakers shaping the UK space industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Satellite Applications Catapult
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020–2026 Satellite Applications Catapult
  • Show Website
    In-Orbit

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