Wanted - space engineering research Chair
SSTL and its new owner EADS-Astrium have announced the creation of a new ”Space Engineering Innovation Hub” in conjunction with the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK. The new venture that was highlighted by Sir Martin Sweeting when the sale of SSTL was announced in January, and now work is storming ahead to put the necessary funding and structures in place.
The new hub will combine academic research and commercial exploitation to develop technologies that “change the economics of space” by providing rapid-response, low-cost, highly capable space missions. This has been reflected the creation of in a a prestigious new Research Chair in Space Engineering at the Surrey Space Centre. The new Chair will be jointly sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering and SSTL. Applications are already flooding in - so if you fancy the challenging the current economics of space with innnovative new technologies, and helping the UK stay at the forefront of International space research then now's the time to start!
UK Space Minister Lord Drayson commented
Surrey is a shining example of innovation in the UK space sector, leading the world in pioneering new and more affordable approaches to space and its applications. I applaud the imagination and commitment of the Academy and SSTL in their investment in the future of Britain in space.
Robert Barrett of the Royal Academy of Engineering added:
The Academy strongly supports the effective combination of academia and industry through our prestigious Research Chairs Scheme – this new professorship at the Surrey Space Centre is an example of the Academy’s commitment to linking industry with academia.
SSTL has built and launched 32 small satellites and has eight more under construction carrying Earth observation, navigation, communications and space science payloads. The Surrey Space Centre and SSTL are currently working on an exciting UK-led small satellite mission to the Moon in 2012.
