Airbus has announced that the National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, has been selected to carry out the comprehensive test campaign on the UK Ministry of Defence’s next generation secure communications satellite, SKYNET 6A. The £116 million government-funded NSTF, operated by experts from the STFC RAL Space, will conduct the SKYNET 6A test campaign, including electromagnetic compatibility, acoustic and thermal vacuum testing, to replicate the harsh conditions of space. The geostationary telecommunications satellite is set to provide secure communications services for the UK’s armed forces around the world following its launch in 2025. The programme involves a 500-strong team at Airbus and is being supported by more than 45 SMEs across the UK.
