Let s Talk. A Case Study: Launching into space Astrium working with the Space Research Centre, University of Leicester

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1 Let s Talk A Case Study: Launching into space Astrium working with the Space Research Centre, University of Leicester

2 UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ENTERPRISE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Pioneers in Space Astrium is Europe s leading multi-national space company. The UK arm of the company is a world leader in the design and manufacture of satellite systems for civil and military communications, Earth observation, science and navigation programmes. In the UK, Astrium has recognised that its links with universities are key to maintaining a cutting edge in space science missions. With its science understanding, innovation and training skills, the University of Leicester s Space Research Centre (SRC) represents an important resource for the space industry and an ongoing partnership between Astrium UK and SRC scientists and engineers has been the result. The SRC is a world leader in Space Science Instrumentation and Earth Observation Science, its research excellence backed by a high level capability in engineering design. The University of Leicester has been at the forefront of the development of x- ray astronomy for over five decades, one of the major shared interests with Astrium which continues to thrive today. More recently, its developments in planetary science and other branches of astronomy have helped give rise to exciting and valuable space mission opportunities in which Astrium s engineers can achieve leading industrial roles. The SRC s collaboration with Astrium is pivotal in pushing back the boundaries of space research and science and is an exemplar of the interdependence of industry and academia, of the innovation and benefits that working together can bring. Benefits of Student-Staff exchanges Steve Willis is currently Head of System Engineering for Astrium UK. He started his career as a student apprentice, sponsored by Astrium, and was one of the first to enrol on the University of Leicester s pioneering degree in Physics and Space Science Technology. While at Leicester, Steve benefited from ongoing contact with Astrium and through summer placements with the company. His subsequent career has spanned many aspects of system engineering from Earth observation missions, through to military and commercial communications satellite projects. He was part of the Astrium- Leicester team that worked together on the UK s Beagle-2 Mars lander.

3 UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ENTERPRISE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Caption: Artist's impression of the JWST Credits: ESA Unlocking the origins of the Universe Astrium and the University of Leicester s Space Research Centre are part of a major European Space Agency Consortium working with NASA to develop an instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) the successor to Hubble with a potential launch date of Astrium is providing overall project management, systems engineering and product assurance for the Consortium, made up of over 20 institutes from across Europe. JWST will look back in time and unravel how the universe grew from a Big Bang into the first stars and galaxies that ever emerged. With its large aperture, orbit (1.5 million km from Earth) and on-board instruments, the new telescope is 100 times more powerful than Hubble. Engineers and scientists from the University s SRC are responsible for the overall structural and mechanical design and development of the Mid- InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), one of JWST s four instruments and by far the most complex and sensitive. It is made up of high precision optical components including a mid-infrared imager and spectrometer. MIRI must not only survive the rigours of rocket launch; it will need to operate at minus 266C in the cold vacuum of space and itself needs to be cold to prevent its own heat radiation from swamping faint signals from astronomical objects. Even delivery of the instrument from the UK to the USA will be a highly technological process with local companies from Leicester and Derby involved in MIRI s transportation. Vibration testing of MIRI has been successfully completed and the instrument will shortly undergo cryogenic testing before delivery to the USA. Benefits of collaboration By imaging the very edge of the observable universe, JWST will be the most challenging and ground-breaking infrared space mission to date. The complexity of the telescope s scientific instruments is such that the industry/academia collaboration is pivotal to the mission s development. Dr John Pye, Space Research Centre Manager and lead member of the SRC team for JWST said: Astrium s engineering and management skills have been at the direct service of the scientific community, working collaboratively to deliver a mission at the very frontier of science today.

4 Business needs successfully met The University of Leicester and Astrium work together on the early phases of key science mission design for the European Space Agency. Scientists at the University s Space Research Centre share their understanding of cutting-edge x-ray instruments which allows Astrium engineers to optimise the design choices of complex spacecraft; in this way, it is possible to meet the various competing needs of those missions and maximise the science output. Benefits of cutting-edge missions A recent recruit to Astrium s Mission System Group is Dr Craig Brown who said: One of the greatest benefits of studying within the University of Leicester s Space Research Centre was the team s contact with industry and the opportunity I had to work on leading space missions, such as BepiColombo; this experience was undoubtedly pivotal in my getting a job at Astrium. Mission to Mercury Astrium and the University of Leicester s Space Research Centre are working in parallel on one of the most challenging scientific missions in the history of European space exploration to date. BepiColombo is scheduled to begin its journey to Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system, in Flying in a polar orbit, it will study Mercury for at least a year, imaging the planet s surface and collecting and analysing data on Mercury s composition and exosphere. Astrium is responsible for building the spacecraft, the SRC for designing and building one of the scientific instruments on board. One of the greatest challenges facing the engineering teams is that of preparing BepiColombo and its scientific instruments to operate in the extreme temperatures they will encounter within the harsh environment of the planet. Caption: BepiColombo heading towards Mercury Credits: ESA AOES Medialab Exploring Mars in leaps & bounds Scientists and engineers in the University of Leicester s Space Research Centre are working with Astrium, the Center for Space Nuclear Research in Idaho, USA, and a number of other collaborators, to develop a conceptual design for a Mars Hopper. The focus in the UK has been the development of a large-scale (450kg) hopping vehicle that offers the mobility and speed to explore the range of geological terrains and altitudes on the red planet. The exploration of diverse regions of Mars separated by 100s of kilometres and the collection of martian rocks requires significant mobility, the capability to assess the diversity of surface materials that exist and the ability to select samples that span that variation. The Mars Hopper would fly in 1km hops, carrying a large suite of scientific instruments and would move quickly between sites powered by a long-life radioisotope power source. It would therefore study hundreds of locations over a lifetime of several years. By working together in joint sessions the Astrium and SRC team were able to quickly assess the feasibility of the hopper concept, carrying out a preliminary design and identifying critical areas for further work. Dr Richard Ambrosi at the SRC commented: Working with Astrium has allowed us to quickly advance the Mars Hopper concept and capitalise on the science return of the mission. The exchange of knowledge and ideas with industry can lead to accelerated innovation in technology which has a positive impact on future space exploration activities and science return from future missions. This is one of the many benefits of collaborative studies with industrial partners such as Astrium.

5 Benefits of knowledge exchange Both organisations have benefited from an exchange of expertise and knowledge exemplified in a steady flow of graduates and staff between the two that fosters long-term engagement. Marie-Claire Perkinson graduated in physics and space science at the University. She moved to Astrium and is currently managing the Space Science Future Missions team. She says that hands-on mechanical and electrical experience at Leicester proved invaluable in her work in systems engineering. There is excellent cross fertilisation of ideas between Astrium and the SRC; we are natural collaborators for example Leicester turned to us to develop a systems study for the Mars Hopper mission. Strengthening the UK s space economy Space and satellites play a crucial part in our daily lives, in everything from in-car navigation systems to disaster relief activities. Whilst the backbone of the Astrium-SRC collaboration has been the understanding and development of scientific instruments which are integral to many space missions, there are myriad aspects to the partnership which is thriving at several different levels. There is an ongoing cross-fertilisation of ideas and knowledge exchange between the two, enabling both industrial and academic staff to work together on cutting edge scientific technologies and programmes for future space missions, such as the Mars Hopper which will lead to greater understanding of the Red Planet. Research expertise within the SRC is focused on developing early phase technology which culminates in space instrumentation for satellites and spacecraft. However, the very same technology has wider terrestrial spin-offs and the University is transferring space technology to businesses as diverse as medical diagnostics to detect the presence of diseases, the environmental sector to check for pollutants and for security in counterfeiting and drug detection. The two organisations put together bids for funding, for example to the European Space Agency, and then collaborate on the successful project implementation. Such funding is crucial for both advancing research and developing new technologies for the future. There is joint involvement in national space policy activity: Astrium and the University are key consultees in the Government-backed initiative to create a Space Strategy for the UK for the coming 20 years. Their mutual interest and expertise in science and exploration are key to examining the future technological needs of space science and Earth observation instrumentation; the two organisations worked together with the UK space industry on making the Case 4 Space four years ago, a collaboration creating a joined-up vision for space and defining the many educational benefits to be gained from advances in space science activity; The Astrium-SRC collaboration itself is an industry exemplar for the UK when competing in a robust and rapidly moving global market. The Royal Society s annual Summer Science Exhibition brings together those at the cutting-edge of science and technology to discuss their work with the public. Astrium and the University s SRC had a joint exhibition at the 2009 festival highlighting manned and robotic exploration missions across the solar system.

6 UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ENTERPRISE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Exploring the Red Planet The first European Space Agency mission to Mars, to search for signs of life, brought together scientists and engineers from Astrium and Leicester s SRC under the leadership of the Open University. The Mars Express probe was launched in 2003 carrying the UK s Beagle-2 lander. Weighing just 30kg with the diameter of a bicycle wheel, Beagle-2 had to pack in a suite of advanced scientific instruments and technology for collecting and analysing the Martian rocks and atmosphere for signs of life, past or present. Both Astrium and Leicester were at the heart of the Mars Express mission. In the UK, Astrium provided the spacecraft propulsion system and led the Beagle-2 design, industrial engineering and manufacturing team. SRC scientists were principally responsible for developing the hands and eyes of Beagle-2, the PAW. Located at the end of a robotic arm and constructed around a lightweight cast aluminium structure, the PAW carried a range of instruments including a camera, rock coring tool, optical microscope and X-Ray Spectrometer, the latter developed by the SRC. In 2003, after a 400 million kilometre journey through space, Beagle-2 was flawlessly released for descent as Mars Express approached its final orbit. However, since the descent, it has not been possible to make contact with the lander despite numerous communication attempts. Benefits of innovation Professor Mark Sims of the SRC, was the Mission Manager (also a Royal Society Industrial Fellow with Astrium) during the Beagle-2 project. Industrial Fellowships aim to enhance knowledge exchange in science and technology between industry and academia and allow an academic scientist to work on a collaborative project that fosters innovation with an industrial partner. Professor Sims described Beagle-2: as a unique, exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience with the opportunity to conduct world class science on another planet.

7 UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ENTERPRISE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Benefits of collaboration The Astrium collaboration with the University of Leicester is now an essential component of the company s interaction with universities. It brings many benefits ranging from knowledge and skills exchange to the fostering of new ideas and enhancing the profile of the space industry to influential stakeholders. Astrium contacts Dr Ralph Cordey, Head of Science & Exploration Business Development, Astrium e: ralph.cordey@astrium.eads.net t: Universities are a vital resource to our business training and inspiring the engineers, physicists and mathematicians who will contribute to future prosperity and feed back the capability to do world-leading science. The University of Leicester is a key link for Astrium, not just in that flow of skills and enthusiasm, but also through collaborations between experienced staff on both sides. Steve Willis, Head of System Engineering, Integration & Control, Astrium and a graduate from the University of Leicester e: steve.willis@astrium.eads.net t: The best forms of knowledge and skills transfer involve human interaction and ongoing communication between business people and academics. This is one of the reasons why the collaboration between Astrium and the Space Research Centre at Leicester is so successful. The SRC is a fertile recruiting ground for the company and there is an ongoing exchange of skilled scientists, be they graduates or Astrium employees, which directly impacts on the future of the space industry. University of Leicester contacts Professor George Fraser, Director Space Research Centre, University of Leicester, Space Research Centre e:gwf@le.ac.uk t: Working with our colleagues at Astrium places Leicester at the forefront of new opportunities in Space with involvement in major international space missions. The cross fertilisation of ideas and collaboration on the development of space instrumentation has brought innumerable benefits in the realms of scientific research and the generation of new technologies for the future. Dr Lisa Stocks Head of Business Services & Collaboration, University of Leicester, Enterprise & Business Development e: lisa.stocks@le.ac.uk t: The University of Leicester s partnership with Astrium demonstrates the vital connection between scientific and engineering research and economic performance; our collaboration has generated high value space research culminating in science and engineering innovations and high-tech jobs while generating growth within both the company and University and hence the wider regional and UK economies.

8 2935_01/12 Contacts Dr Ralph Cordey Head of Science & Exploration Business Development, Astrium e: t: Steve Willis Head of System Engineering, Integration & Control, Astrium and a graduate from the University of Leicester e: steve.willis@astrium.eads.net t: Professor George Fraser Director Space Research Centre, University of Leicester, Space Research Centre e:gwf@le.ac.uk t: Dr Lisa Stocks Head of Business Services & Collaboration, University of Leicester, Enterprise & Business Development e: lisa.stocks@le.ac.uk t: University of Leicester LE1 7RH UK