Artist’s Impression of Small Spark rocket

Amid the turmoil of not only coronavirus, but also anti-racism protests across the US and now internationally, it’s been a notable month for spaceflight. At the end of May, SpaceX launched their first crewed Dragon capsule, which became the first private vehicle to dock with the International Space Station.

But the private space sector is much bigger than SpaceX, and is a very international field. There are many companies based here in the UK, including Small Spark Space Systems Ltd, based here in Cardiff. Comprising around a dozen people, and led by CEO Joe Ward, SmallSpark is a relative newcomer. Joe is, in fact, one of our own – a Cardiff physics graduate from a couple of years ago.

This month, Joe explains what SmallSpark is, and what the future might have in store for commercial launches from the UK.

An extended edition of an original broadcast on 4th June 2020 as part of Pythagoras’ Trousers on Radio Cardiff.