Earlier this year, we officially opened the Disruptive Experimental Electric Propulsion Laboratory (DEEP Lab) at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, a major step forward for electric propulsion capability in the UK.
We built DEEP Lab to solve a clear problem: developing and qualifying electric propulsion systems in the UK has historically meant working across fragmented facilities, long lead times and limited access to specialist infrastructure. With support from the UK Space Agency through the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF), we’ve brought that capability together in one place.
DEEP Lab combines the infrastructure needed to design, test and qualify next‑generation propulsion systems, including vacuum testing, cleanroom assembly and advanced plasma diagnostics. This allows us to iterate faster, better understand system performance and move more efficiently from development through to qualification.
As demand grows for more capable and responsive spacecraft, propulsion is becoming increasingly central. It underpins manoeuvrability as well as mission flexibility, lifetime and sustainability. Facilities like DEEP Lab are critical to developing and proving those capabilities.
While the lab supports our own propulsion systems, it’s also designed as a shared capability for the wider sector. By providing access to specialist infrastructure and expertise, we’re helping remove barriers for other companies and research groups working in electric propulsion.
Being based at Harwell means DEEP Lab sits within a broader ecosystem of government, industry and academia, where collaboration can move quickly from research into real applications.
The Innovation Platform recently spoke with us and the UK Space Agency about the lab, the role of SCIF and what this means for the UK’s space capability. You can read the full article here:
