KISPE
Spotlight: KISPE
Joining us for their first time at Venturefest South is Hampshire-based KISPE.
They’re a project engineering, system design and implementation company working across the fields of space, telecommunications and electronics.
Founded in 2016, KISPE is based at Farnborough’s Cody Technology Park, where they employ 14 people and offer part-time opportunities for students.
We spoke to Dr Kathryn Graham, Senior System Engineer at KISPE, to find out more.
KISPE’s work is an excellent example of how ‘space’ technology impacts our lives – often without us realising it!
Yes – satellite-derived data, such as Earth observation, communications or navigation, is used throughout our everyday lives. Earth observation data generates our weather reports, navigation signals allow our SATNAVs to work, and communications help us keep in touch with each other and what is happening around the world.
The space industry in the UK is growing with the sector worth £17.8 billion in 2020/21 and employing around 48,000 people, of which 21% are in the South East.
Dr Kathryn Graham Senior System Engineer at KISPE.
What are you looking forward to about Venturefest South?
We are hoping to network with other space companies, but also interested in other sectors and what they could bring. You never know where the next great idea could come from!
Will you be promoting any specific products or services at the event?
We’re looking forward to introducing KISPE to a wider audience and helping visitors to our stand explore how our technology and services can benefit their business. We’ll also be talking about our training and our satellite development programme.
KISPE provides a range of training across the space sector, from introductory courses for those new to space, mission design, spacecraft systems engineering, testing and verification, business courses and many others. We’ve developed a satellite training model, which we use with some of the training as a practical demonstration.
What are some key projects for KISPE at the moment?
We are developing a training satellite and training to go with our satellite development programme. KISPE is also developing the Next Generation Microsatellite Platform, where we aim to produce a small satellite platform for a lower price point compared to the current market norms.
Our satellite development programme (or Next Generation Microsat Platform) will provide small satellite performance at cubesatellite prices. Space is expensive and this is often a blocker for closing business cases. Cubesatellites can provide a lower cost route to market, but they are small, and this can limit the performance that can be achieved. We’re developing a platform so that we can provide the extra performance needed but at the lower price point. We are doing this by developing an integrated platform avionics which will remain the same across the platforms, reducing design and engineering effort.
On a wider level, like many space-related companies, ecruitment into the industry is one of the issues we are facing. We actively support STEM-related programmes and activities to raise awareness of space career routes, both for school leavers and also for people looking to change sectors.
To find out more about KISPE, visit kispe.co.uk or email info@kispe.co.uk.