From the dawn of time, to the tech that shapes our tomorrows, space-based research at Portsmouth strives for giant leaps in human knowledge and capability.
Our Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation is a world-leading astronomy centre with an international reputation for research excellence across theoretical cosmology, observational cosmology, extragalactic astrophysics, and gravitational waves.
Researchers at the ICG are not only exploring brave new frontiers in our understanding of the Universe. They’re also transforming space-focused tech to solve terrestrial problems.
Modifying AI algorithms designed to map the night sky, we’re creating new ways to inspect and diagnose skin moles or spot early signs of heart attacks hidden in cardiograms. Gazing at satellite images of Earth, we’re modelling climate change and aiding disaster response in real-time.
Students at the ICG develop such a rare set of skills that they’re routinely recruited by the world’s leading technology companies – for example, Google, Twitter and Netflix.
And our sights remain set on the stars. We’re taking part in ambitious space missions to observe the cosmos in new ways – from viewing cosmological events as gravitational ripples, to peering at the Universe’s far horizon and ‘seeing’ the dawn of spacetime.
Putting a rocket under the space sector
Across a full spectrum of space activities, we’re helping to realise the ambitions of the UK Space Strategy to make the UK a leading space nation. From specialist R&D services, to training and accreditation, we’re supporting the development of vital skills and opportunities.
Our Space Mission Incubator was inspired by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which pioneered the use of concurrent design engineering for space mission design. This initiative was part funded by the UK Space Agency and we worked in partnership with NASA JPL Team-X to develop the facility at Portsmouth.
In our Incubator, scientists, researchers and industry experts come together to speed up the development of space missions. Using state-of-the-art equipment, they can work through a spectrum of mission challenges in the same room, at the same time – developing robust projects in weeks rather than months.
We’re also a founding institution and key partner of Space South Central, the UK’s largest ‘space cluster’. Space South Central’s enterprise network evolved in part from our partnership with the Satellite Applications Catapult and the UK Space Agency to create a centre of excellence in satellite data. Space South Central enables the business community across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Surrey to use satellite technology to improve their products and services. Among other advantages, it also facilitates industry networking, collaboration between industry and academia, and access to funding support.
What’s more, the University of Portsmouth is the home of ASTA Technology, the UK’s only provider of space engineering training accredited by the European Space Agency.
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