VEGA Space wins R&D funding for Earth Observation data integrity project

21 February 2012 – VEGA Space has been awarded one of four, fast-track Research and Development (R&D) grants, as part of the National Space Technology Programme (NSTP) ‘Space for Growth’ competition, funded by the UK Space Agency, Technology Strategy Board and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

The funding will be used to investigate the provision of Earth Observation (EO) data quality and integrity information, for users of the Climate and Environmental Monitoring from Space (CEMS) data archive, at Harwell. CEMS, which is being managed by the International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC), also at Harwell, will be one of the first facilities of its kind to support the systematic monitoring of global changes related to climate and environment, through access to and integration of multiple and diverse EO data sources. Data quality and integrity tools will be essential to provide CEMS users with the necessary levels of understanding and confidence in CEMS data products and services.

The VEGA Space project is in collaboration with Rutherford Appleton Laboratories (RAL) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and is supported by the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO). It is one of four fast-track projects receiving immediate funding to accelerate the CEMS development, and is one of 28 other innovative projects that will receive funding under the NSTP competition, which is intended to help UK industry exploit a wide range of growth opportunities in the space sector.

VEGA Space CEO, Peter Young, said: "The space industry is recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors and it is benefiting significantly from the interest and financial support given to it by UK Government. This project builds on VEGA’s reputation as a leader in Earth Observation data quality control and is a great opportunity for us to work with other inspirational British organisations to position the UK at the forefront of quality assured climate and environment services from space."

For more information, please contact [email protected].