(Source: Space SIG newsletter)

Sensing – The 2nd Sensing meeting was held on 8th July. To date, over 80 technologies have been identified through independent working of team members. These will be redefined and then grouped based around a word template and summary spreadsheet. Following the meeting these tools were revised further along with the opportunities section of the roadmap which now includes other known bilateral opportunities in space science, exploration and EOS. A commercial missions section has also been added to the roadmap. The sensing group for the time being has also taken ownership of the instrumentation associated with science in exploration and robotics missions. It is proposed that the developed word template is used for collection of sensing inputs at the forthcoming workshops. The next meeting of the sensing group is planned for 18th August at which it is hoped an integrated summary of the technologies can be discussed.

Robotics and Exploration – The Robotics and Exploration sector group has now identified the set of capabilities in this field that the UK can demonstrate and should maintain. This now allows the group to start identifying technologies within the community that are appropriate to support and enhance the UK position in these areas. These technologies will be identified using summary sheets for each technology; these have been distributed within the working group and will then be used openly at the NSTS Roadmapping workshops to gather information.

Access to Space – The Access to Space roadmap group have agreed six key roadmaps for this area. There are five technology roadmaps relating to launchers, satellite platforms and orbital access and the other is related to space legislation. The sub teams and team leads for each roadmap have been agreed and we are aiming to complete the first draft of each roadmap by early August.