From Data to Design: Beyond Satellites
Exploring the emerging applications and technologies in Glasgow's space sector
While images of rockets and satellites often dominate public perceptions of the space industry, Glasgow’s space tech sector is defined just as much by what happens on the ground as it is by what happens in orbit.
The city region's companies are not solely building and launching spacecraft - they’re developing technologies and services that apply space-derived data to solve real-world problems across multiple sectors. In this way, space technology in Glasgow functions less as a vertical industry and more as a horizontal capability, cutting across fields as diverse as environmental science, energy, agriculture, security, and public services.
As this data becomes more readily available and analytically powerful, space technology is becoming an enabling platform for innovation across industries. Businesses that have never traditionally identified with the space sector - from agriculture to insurance - are now engaging with it through partnerships, pilots, and services provided by Glasgow-based firms.
Beyond the space-based data services provided by the likes of AAC Clyde Space and Spire, a number of companies are driving innovation in downstream services. This convergence is transforming the sector from one focused on exploration to one increasingly anchored in application.
Omanos Analytics
With the increasing accessibility to utilise satellite data, Glasgow-based companies like Omanos Analytics are using Earth observation data to combine traditional satellite imagery with what they call “ground truth” data - community-level, locally sourced insights that bring richer context to large-scale environmental monitoring. This kind of hybrid analysis is being used in areas like peatland restoration, biodiversity assessment, and natural resource management, helping landowners, conservationists, and governments make more informed decisions.
Space technology in Glasgow is also being deployed to support humanitarian and social impact work. From assessing disaster risk to monitoring urban change, satellite-based services are enabling organisations to respond faster, plan better, and act with greater precision. These use cases reflect a growing emphasis on space with purpose—where data and insight, rather than hardware alone, drive value.
Craft Prospect
Craft Prospect are developing secure satellite systems that not only transmit data but also enable critical infrastructure for secure communications and future quantum networks. The company specialises in developing technologies for small satellites that bring autonomy, artificial intelligence, and quantum security into orbit. By focusing on payloads and onboard systems that can operate independently, Craft Prospect ensures satellites are not only more efficient but also capable of delivering trusted, real-time data to users back on Earth.
Their innovations highlight how space technology underpins critical advances in communications, security, and sustainability. From quantum key distribution to AI-driven mission autonomy, Craft Prospect’s work is shaping the infrastructure needed for the next generation of secure global connectivity.
D-CAT
D-CAT was founded to provide insights from data to a worldwide market, affordably and effectively. The Glasgow-based company provides monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) services derived from satellite remote sensing data and other sensors, including IoT, and non-imaging sources to businesses worldwide.
The aim is to help businesses realise the power of satellite remote sensing to monitor assets, land, vegetation, and environmental impact, manage their carbon footprint, and build sustainable operations and business practices in a provable manner. Leveraging its Fusion Platform, it currently serves clients in multiple continents, delivering insights and business intelligence that delivers cost savings, operational improvements and enhanced decision-making.”
One of the big benefits of being here in Glasgow is we are surrounded by companies working on adjacent projects.
Celia Davies - MD & Co-Founder, Omanos Analytics
Trade in Space
Trade in Space applies satellite data, geospatial analytics, and blockchain technology to enhance transparency and accountability across agricultural supply chains. By combining Earth observation with distributed ledger verification, the company enables producers, traders, and buyers to demonstrate compliance with environmental standards and emerging regulatory frameworks.
At the centre of its offer is Sustainimaps, a platform that generates blockchain-verified “sustainability passports” for agricultural commodities. These passports provide detailed insights into issues such as deforestation risk, carbon emissions, and crop health, supporting evidence-based ESG reporting and responsible sourcing. The approach is designed to streamline sustainability monitoring while improving trust and traceability for all actors within the supply chain.
Ochil Astronautics
Ochil Astronautics is a Space AgTech focused on developing technologies that enable sustainable food production in space. Its mission is to support long-duration human exploration and off-world settlement by creating reliable systems for crop growth in extreme environments.
The company’s Rugged Garden platform is a ground-based hydroponics system that serves as a testbed for agricultural research and hardware development. Insights from this work are intended to inform future systems capable of operating in orbital or planetary settings.
In parallel, Ochil Astronautics is advancing Botanic Sky, a satellite-based platform designed to demonstrate and scale food production technologies in space. Together, these initiatives position the company within the emerging field of space agritech, contributing to the long-term sustainability of human activity beyond Earth.