The National Space Propulsion Test Facility (NSPTF) is funded and owned by the UK Space Agency as part of it’s mission to inspire and lead the UK in space.

The NSPTF is the only one of its kind in the UK and allows companies and academics to test state-of-the-art propulsion engines which are used to move satellites in space. The facility enables innovation in propulsion technology, as well as cost-effective development and testing. It also allows new types of greener and more sustainable propellants to be tested, such as Hydrogen Peroxide which is more environmentally friendly.

It is important to be able to test in-space propulsion rocket engines in high altitude conditions, to accurately represent the conditions they will face in space. That’s why we recreate the conditions of space within the NSPTF.

Backed by a £4 million investment by the UK Space Agency, the NSPTF builds on extensive rocket testing heritage in the UK to deliver a unique capability. The NSPTF is open to all for testing of rocket engines, whether an organisation is UK based or international