University College London joins Space South Central

The university joins as another academic partner, it was announced at the Farnborough International Airshow. The University of Portsmouth, University of Southampton and University of Surrey are already involved in the cluster.

“I’m delighted that UCL is joining the largest regional space cluster in the UK,” said Professor Geraint Rees, the university’s Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement).

“Collaboration with both industry and academic peers has been a defining feature of UCL’s space activity for over 60 years, stretching back to the multinational Ariel 1 satellite, Britain’s first step into space.”

University College London

UCL joining, of course, extends Space South Central’s reach into London. Space South Central also expects to benefit from University College London’s international profile.

It is home, for example, to the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), based in Surrey, and what it describes as the UK’s largest university space research group.

Since 1966, it highlights, it has participated in 35 satellite missions and 200 rocket experiments, building and operate cutting-edge space hardware for multinational space missions.

Its Department of Space and Climate Physics covers all aspects of space research – from observing the Sun and its interaction with planets to understanding galaxies.

Space industry

Across Hampshire, Surrey, and the Isle of Wight, the space cluster estimate the space sector to be a £3 billion industry, with 170 space-related organisations employing approximately 14,000 people.

“UCL brings a wealth of complementary expertise to our cluster, with a rich space heritage and a vast portfolio spanning planetary science, space policy, climate physics, astrochemistry, quantum science and much more,” said Dr Louise Butt, Director of the Space South Central Enterprise Network.

“To have four world-class academic partners working together with our unrivalled range of up-stream and down-stream businesses – large and small – presents many exciting opportunities for the sector in Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight, and for the wider UK space industry.”

Other regional space clusters in the UK include the Cornwall Space Cluster Space Hub Yorkshire, Space North East England and Midlands Space Cluster, for example.

Image: University College London, Wilkins Building

See also: UK Space Agency boosts projects for Space Clusters Infrastructure