Space Technology: Testing
(asked on 28th August 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of specialised rocket propulsion testing facilities, in supporting academic research, student competitions, and start-up enterprise testing.
Answered by
Blair McDougall
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Space Agency (UKSA), in 2021/22, assessed the sector’s need for a publicly funded propulsion test facility. As a result, £4 million was invested into opening the National Space Propulsion Test Facility (NSPTF) at Westcott in 2022, providing UK industry and academia with access to specialist high-altitude and vacuum-enabled propulsion testing.
NSPTF strengthens UK sovereign capability, enabling domestic engine-testing, reducing reliance on overseas infrastructure.
Nammo UK’s LEROS engine, tested at NSPTF, powering Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission, successfully landing on the Moon in March 2025.
UKSA also supports skills development through University of Sheffield’s Race-2-Space competition, hosted at Westcott. Race-2-Space 2026 involved 30 student teams, giving future engineers practical, hands-on propulsion testing experience.