Progression of ASI Build from New Heights

To mark today’s Virgin Galactic launch, the Air & Space Institute staged its own lift-off – with a drone flight to capture progress on the building of its new £15m HQ.

ASI Head of Learning and Skills Ross Tarnowski said: “Just as the first-ever orbital space launch blasted off on Cornwall, we sent a drone up to take a look at progress on the new £15m ASI HQ build.

“Drone specialists and ASI partner, Eagle Eye Innovations, provided the footage which shows the amazing on-site progress being made.

“Our staff, students and the local community are really excited to see the building progress and we can’t wait to take delivery of our ASI Airbus A318 aircraft, which will be housed in the building and used for training across our programmes, to be delivered in the Spring.

“The launch of our Space and Engineering Technologies programme for school leavers is timed perfectly with the explosion of activity in the space sector, which will provide thousands of new jobs through its supply chain in the coming years.

“This combined with the post-COVID recovery of the global aviation sector means ASI will also be plugging vital skills gaps for pilots, aircraft engineers, groundcrew and wider aviation, aerospace and space roles within these exciting industries.”

Tim Hubner, Project Manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are now ten weeks into the build - we have moved the bulk earth from the original building that was demolished and built up the land to form the foundations for the new build.

“We have also installed the attenuation tank, which will hold the water before we discharge it into the local stream. We are currently finishing the foundations and looking at installing the steel frame at the beginning of February (2023).

“It is taking a lot of our time and expertise, judging the logistics of getting an old AIRBUS 318 into the building.”

We are on a galactic mission to provide opportunities for learners to have an exciting future in the space sector.

The ASI team recently underwent training at the National Space Centre to upskill the delivery of our new level 2 Space and Engineering pathway, due to be delivered in September 2023.

For more information on our Space and Engineering Studies Programme, visit our website.