This year's UK Space Conference, titled ‘Inspire, Enable, Connect’, was held in Manchester and featured 28 sessions on subjects ranging from international growth and security, to launchers and Mars exploration.
More than 180 speakers took to the stage, including Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) Jan Woerner, Chair of the Northern Space Consortium (NSC) Alan Cross, and British ESA astronaut Tim Peake.
The conference included an exhibition hall, where a record 109 organisations took stands, and a parallel event of hands-on interactive exhibits and educational activities that welcomed 1,500 visitors.
The Northern Space Consortium (NSC) not only exhibited an extremely popular stand, but also engaged with the Conference across a range of platforms, diversifying and strengthening it's network of partners, both at home and abroad.
As well as attending the Conference, the NSC also hosted an informal networking event for it's members at the Hilton Deansgate, the evening before conference opened. Guest speakers included:
Ian Downey - Ambassador, IAP Programme, European Space Agency
Dr Adam Dissel - President, Reaction Engines LTD
John Whalley - Chief Executive, Aerospace Wales
Michael Polson - Invest NI
Graeme Bond - FDM Digital Solutions
During the Conference, the NSC's Chair, Alan Cross, was invited to address the delegates in a soapbox session and was subsequently nominated for one of the UK space industry's prestigious 'Sir Arthur Clarke Awards'.
“Once again, the UK Space Conference proves the importance and dynamism of the space industry, both in the UK and beyond. As our country looks to the future, there has been no better time for us to embrace the incredible innovation, job creation and economic growth that our thriving space industry provides.”
- Alan Cross, Chair of the Northern Space Consortium
The UK Space Conference is held every two years. The host city of the 2019 conference has yet to announced.