May 2025
The formal "grand opening" of the Snowdonia Space Centre took place on 22nd May 2025, marking the end of an 18 month UK Space Agency funded project to develop a space industry test and evaluation facility at Llanbedr airfield in Gwynedd and firing the starting gun for commercial operations at the centre. After a hectic few days putting the finishing touches to the facilities (we found that the launch rail was a popular perch for the local avian population with the obvious consequences), Newton’s team was on hand to welcome the invited dignitaries, stakeholders and press, before acting as tour guides, lab technicians and flight tracking officers for the day.
The visitors were treated to a display of space hardware from Wales, provided by members of Space Wales, a tour of the new space technology laboratory, rocket propulsion test stand and mission control and a couple of test launches. The first launch was a high altitude balloon flight to the upper atmosphere launched by Sent into Space, while Launch Access launched a small demonstrator rocket to just over 1 km altitude.
The Snowdonia Space Centre is a joint venture between the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre and Newton Launch Systems. Its facilities include a “clean room” laboratory with thermal vacuum chamber for space environment testing of prototype space hardware, a rocket propulsion test stand and a flight test range with two launch rails, mission operations room, tracking and maritime surveillance. Together, this suite of facilities provides the ideal environment for early prototype testing, performance trials and training.
Amongst the many visiting dignitaries from government, industry and academia were Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans and UK Space Agency’s launch director Matt Archer. Rebecca Evans described the opening as, "A landmark moment not only for the local community, bringing new opportunities, skills, and investment to the region, but also for the wider UK space sector." She added, "“Facilities like this will play a crucial role in delivering our National Space Strategy for Wales, strengthening Wales’ position as a hub for innovation and helping drive forward the UK’s space ambitions." Matt Archer said that the new facilities were a “significant step forward for the UK’s space capabilities”.