UK space tech firm Magdrive opens Disruptive Experimental Electric Propulsion (DEEP) lab
A state-of-the-art laboratory designed to advance electric propulsion technology for the next generation of satellites has opened at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
The lab for Disruptive Experimental Electric Propulsion (DEEP), developed by British space technology firm Magdrive, provides specialist testing facilities for electric propulsion systems.
These systems enable satellites to manoeuvre, maintain orbits and venture deeper into space with significantly less fuel than traditional chemical rockets.
Multiple funding partners
Funded jointly by £1.8 million from the UK Space Agency’s Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund and £2 million from Magdrive, the £3.8 million, 10,000-square-foot facility features advanced capabilities.
These include cleanroom assembly areas, a mechanical prototyping workshop, plasma diagnostic testing chambers and a two-metre diameter vacuum chamber for comprehensive thruster validation.
Magdrive has introduced plasma diagnostics techniques from the fusion industry to enhance monitoring of plasma evolution.
While Magdrive will be the primary user, the lab is accessible to start-ups, established aerospace companies and academic researchers nationwide.
Rentable spaces within the facility
Facilities can be rented individually under cost-recovery pricing models, with enhanced security to restrict access to booked areas only. An on-site workshop equipped with a Hurco 5-axis machine, 3D printers and a full-time machinist supports rapid prototyping and shortens development timelines.
Space Minister, Baroness Liz Lloyd, said: “From ambitious start-ups to established aerospace firms, this facility will give British companies access to testing capabilities that were previously out of reach.
“Electric propulsion is shaping the future of how we operate in space, and by investing in infrastructure like this we are ensuring that UK innovators can lead the way.”
‘Boost national capability and put the UK on the map’
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “Electric propulsion is fundamental to the future of satellite technology, and by providing accessible testing capabilities, DEEP Lab will accelerate innovation across the industry. We’re particularly pleased to see this facility supporting start-ups and smaller companies who previously faced barriers to testing and developing their technologies.”
Mark Stokes, CEO and co-founder of Magdrive, added: “This milestone accelerates the commercialisation of our next generation. DEEP Lab isn’t just for us, it’s open to companies, startups and academics across the sector, it will also create new opportunities for collaboration and discovery, and to boost national capability and put the UK on the map as a leader in electric propulsion technology.”
Located within the Harwell Space Cluster, the lab strengthens collaboration among over 100 space organisations on site. The UK Space Agency’s fund has committed more than £45.6 million across 13 projects since 2023, leveraged by £43.8 million in private matching funds.
