CubeSats orbiting Earth. Photo: ESA Medialab

[Via Satellite 05-19-2016] The Satellite Applications Catapult and Innovate UK have commissioned Scotland-based small satellite manufacturer Clyde Space to build four CubeSats for a $2.2 million project. The CubeSats are part of a new pilot program for offering quick, regular and more affordable access to space, and are to launch from the International Space Station (ISS) for In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of technical and business propositions that have a high projected return on investment. Catapult will use the satellites to offer flight-proven CubeSat platforms and regular launch opportunities from the ISS.

Clyde Space, which produced Scotland’s first satellite, UKube 1, recently acquired additional floor space at its headquarters at Skypark in Glasgow to meet demand for its products. This follows the company’s most successful year and comes just a little over a year after outgrowing its previous location. Clyde Space’s headcount has more than doubled to 80 in slightly more than a year’s time, and is expected to increase to 100 this year. The company currently builds around six flight-ready CubeSats a month for customers primarily in Europe and the United States, where the company recently formed a subsidiary, Clyde Space Inc., to take advantage of the rapidly growing U.S. market.