THE SNP has confirmed it has held talks with a commercial space station company over plans to launch a “Scottish lab in space”.
The early proposal discussions to address Scottish industries being able to use a laboratory in space are being held with Axiom Space, the company currently creating the first privately developed space station.
The Texan firm’s first commercial space station is designed to be able to connect its modules to the International Space Station.
Plans for the Axiom station, the first section of which is due to be launched in 2026, will have facilities for scientific research and manufacturing. The company believes this will lead to the development of industrial techniques that are only available in microgravity.
The station will also provide an accessible platform for private companies and governments to continue research and development of breakthrough innovations, which the SNP hope to take advantage of.
SNP business minister, Richard Lochhead (below), met with Axiom’s director of corporate business and partnerships, Jonathan Marrs, and strategic adviser Nicholas Russell, and discussed “potential opportunities for Scotland from space infrastructure”.
Lochhead said that he’s “aware of all the debate regarding the potential for low earth orbit laboratories with micro-gravity for pharma, semi-conductors and a range of research areas in the future.
“Access to space infrastructure will be crucial and here in Scotland we need to think seriously about our role and the opportunities given our track of always being at the forefront of research and science.”
He added that it’s “an exciting time” for Scotland’s tech and innovation industries.
“I’ve even met Axiom, the space company who are building the first commercial international space station. We’re speaking about having a lab in space and what that will mean for Scotland.”
“If countries are queuing up to have a lab in space, we have to ask ourselves in Scotland, what’s our role in that? Do we want to be a leader or a follower and is there an appetite for that in the life sciences community in Scotland.”
