Universities launch programme to boost UK space sector graduate opportunities
22 Sep 2024
Three south of England-based universities have launched a project to provide hands-on industry experience and training for students seeking careers in the expanding UK space industry.
JUPITER – the Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research – is a collaboration between Surrey, Portsmouth and Southampton universities.
The trio are members of the Space South Central regional framework that contributes to the National Space Strategy and represents more than 170 sector-related businesses across Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.
JUPITER’s inaugural project involves engineering and physics students from all three universities who will design, build and test their own Earth observation payloads for a satellite mission, be involved with its launch and conduct mission operations from the University of Surrey’s own ground station.
When completed, the Jovian-1 satellite – described as being around the size of a large shoe box – will take images and videos of the Earth and attempt to use a space-facing camera to look for potentially harmful space debris.
Company AMSAT-UK will also provide a FUNcube ‘CubeSat’ small satellite device to enable schools and colleges to access radio signals and data with basic equipment.
In addition, the University of Southampton will conduct elements of a planned dark matter experiment as part of the project, while the University of Surrey will contribute a space radiation monitor from the University of Surrey to analyse space weather at the coming solar maximum and its effects on satellites.
Lastly an innovative Tiny Machine Learning payload, led by the University of Portsmouth’s world-leading Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, will help maximise the value of information sent to Earth from space.
The student team, led by University of Surrey PhD student Ieuan Carney, includes members from undergraduate up to PhD level.
Said Carney: “This project is a great opportunity for students to get hands-on with real space engineering, allowing us to further develop skills from our degrees. We’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity to advance our skills as spacecraft engineers.”Deputy director for Space and project lead at the University of Portsmouth, Dr Becky Canning said the universities were pleased to be able to strengthen their partnership with the regional space sector.
“This ongoing partnership will offer an exceptional learning and outreach opportunity to our current and future students and to local schools, ensuring the sector continues to thrive,” she remarked.
Pic: Greg Rakozy
