Production and specialist manufacturing
RAL Space delivers specialist manufacturing capability to realise bespoke hardware for space missions and scientific programmes. Our in‑house production teams, who deliver flight‑ready electronic and mechanical hardware to international space standards. We also maintain specialist facilities that develop multi-layer insulation and precision engineered components.
Why work with us?
We provide inhouse manufacturing for complex, specialist space hardware
Delivering specialist manufacturing and high-quality production, our teams work alongside design, engineering and test specialists, allowing manufacturing considerations to inform decisions early, reducing risk as projects progress from design into build. This integrated approach, supported by an establish procurement and logistics process and high-quality assurance standards, enables efficient iteration of technical challenges the delivery lifecycle.
Specialists in space hardware
Our mechanical and electrical production teams manufacture space-ready hardware, allowing for the realisation of missions and delivering engineering, qualification and flight models in line with international space standards.
Specialists in space hardware
Our mechanical and electrical production teams manufacture space-ready hardware, allowing for the realisation of missions and delivering engineering, qualification and flight models in line with international space standards.
Key expertise
Electronics Production
Providing high-quality manufacture of electronic hardware for space applications, the team delivers engineering, qualification and flight hardware in accordance with international space standards.
Key activities and experience
- Manufacture and assembly of electronic hardware to ESA, NASA and IPC Space Assembly Standards
- Support for detector electronics, control electronics and data handling systems
- Close interaction with design engineers to ensure manufacturability and compliance
- Integration of space‑grade and mission‑critical components, including long‑lead and controlled items
Mechanical production
Mechanical Production supports the physical realisation of engineering designs, delivering specialist mechanical parts and assemblies for instruments, subsystems and ground support equipment. The team works closely with project engineers and are embedded within AIT to ensure hardware meets alignment, stability and integration requirements.
Key activities and experience
- Manufacture and preparation of precision mechanical parts and assemblies
- Support for optical benches, instrument structures and specialist mounts
- Early identification of build, integration and handling risks
- Preparation of hardware for integration, test and calibration activities
Precision Development
The Precision Development team is a specialist in‑house manufacturing facility providing ultra‑high‑accuracy machining and novel component prototyping for applications where manufacturing precision is a fundamental performance driver. The facility delivers very high accuracy machining required for the development of sub‑millimetre wavelength receiver technology.
Key activities and experience
- Research and development of novel manufacturing techniques for miniature and non‑standard components
- Precision machining to accuracies better than 5 microns, including nano‑ and micro‑machining processes
- Precision turning, milling, micro‑drilling and CNC wire EDM
- Development and manufacture of complex, non‑standard geometries, including off‑axis parabolic mirrors and miniature waveguide components
- Optical inspection and non‑contact metrology for verification of ultra‑precision parts
The facility focuses on developing and applying advanced manufacturing techniques, enabling the production of miniature components and complex geometries that cannot be realised using standard machining methods.
This capability supports both RAL Space instrument development and external projects for industry and government organisations, where conventional suppliers are unable to meet technical requirements.
Multi-Layer Insulation
The Multi‑Layer Insulation (MLI) team provides in‑house capability for the design, manufacture and integration of bespoke thermal insulation systems, which are a critical component of spacecraft thermal control. MLI enables instruments and subsystems to achieve and maintain the temperatures required for demanding scientific measurements. The facility has fabricated thermal hardware for missions such as Solar Orbiter, SLSTR and MicroCarb.
Key activities and experience
- Conceptual and detailed design of bespoke MLI and Single‑Layer Insulation (SLI) systems
- Manufacture and integration of MLI for space flight hardware and test equipment
- Support for cryogenic, solar, planetary and Earth‑observation instruments with highly demanding thermal requirements
- Measurement and characterisation of thermo‑optical and material properties
- Integration‑aware fabrication supporting assembly, handling and environmental testing
- Experience delivering insulation systems for both instruments and complex calibration hardware
Mission highlight
Producing thermal hardware for JWST's coolest instrument
Learn more about our specialist manufacturing expertise
Whether you are progressing a design into build or require bespoke manufacturing capability, our teams can support the realisation of complex space hardware. Contact us to discuss how RAL Space’s specialist manufacturing capability can support your project.
