The first NW Space Cluster meeting of 2024 was held at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire on March 21st.  Attendees were welcomed by the Observatory’s Associate Director, Simon Garrington, who gave an overview of the observatory’s history and ongoing research.  Alan Cross then outlined the Agenda and gave a quarterly review.  He explained how the industry had expanded in the region over the first year of the Cluster’s existence and some of the successes. 

A new Space Enterprise Lab has opened in North Wales at the OpTIC centre on the St Asaph Business Park.  OpTIC is a business and technology centre owned and operated by Wrexham University.  It also specialises in innovative optical systems, product development, engineering and technology consulting. The Space Enterprise Lab is a facility for users within the UK Space Sector that enables virtual meetings, business sprints and other activities.  There are now 14 Space Enterprise Labs in the UK. The new facility was opened by John Abbott, CEO Satellite Applications Catapult.

There’s a new student Space Society now in our region!  On February 6th 2024 Liverpool Hope University Space Society (LHUSS) held their inaugural event.  The event, in the University campus, was attended by students, staff and invited guests.

The Digital Security Hub (DISH) in Manchester was the venue for the NW Space Cluster meeting on November 10th 2023.