Graduate jobs at space science park - graduate jobs

Plenty of graduate jobs in science and technology are likely to be on offer at a "space science park" the Government has committed millions of pounds to.

It's hoped a former BT site in Cornwall could one day play a role in space missions to Mars "or beyond" after the £7 million funding pledge that will help develop "deep space communication and radio astronomy".

The money will go to develop the site of the Satellite Earth Station at Goonhilly, which is almost 50 years old and was built to pick up the first satellite TV signals from Telstar across the Atlantic.

Plans to upgrade the site were announced in January, with Earth Station Limited (GES) saying that once the huge antennas involved were upgraded the UK would have the capability to "receive communications from missions to Mars and beyond".

The money, from a £2.4 billion fund intended to boost regional growth, will also mean the site has better space science research facilities.

GES chief executive Ian Jones said the money, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, meant the firm could "accelerate our ambitions". He said it would also "create hi-tech jobs, which will have significant knock-on benefits to Cornwall and the UK".

The MP for nearby St Ives, the Lib Dem Andrew George, said the money was "a real game-changer". He said: "It's a big jobs boost for the area, especially after Goonhilly had been run down over recent years."

Copyright Press Association 2011