Space and Exploration Technology

The Space and Exploration Technology Group (SET) delivers frontier research across access to space, in-orbit and planetary exploration technologies, including underpinning work on orbital dynamics and mission design. Through simulation, laboratory-scale demonstration and terrestrial analogues, our work is developing key technologies to enable the exploration missions and satellite applications of the future. Our laboratory-based research activities are centred on the Integrated Space and Exploration Technologies Laboratory (I-SET), recently up-graded to provide an air-bearing and Helmholtz coil, vacuum chamber, clean room area and 3D printing facilities. A new European Space Agency (ESA) funded space environment chamber will support work on rocket plume-regolith interaction for lunar, Mars and asteroid missions.