Member Spotlight – welcome to the Cluster Cranfield University!
Cranfield University is the UK’s premier research intensive postgraduate university uniquely owning and operating its own research airport and for over 75 years has been working closely for the aerospace and aviation sectors providing world class research. For over 35 years the university has also been the UK’s largest provider of Space and Astronautics postgraduate teaching having contributed to the education of a complete generation of now middle and senior management executives within the Space sector. Underpinning the teaching has been a track record of space research and innovation that has helped to support a greater understanding of space and its gradual commercialisation.
Now specialising in four major space research strands that are driven by business need the university is involved in multiple collaborative research programmes across the sector;
By way of illustration a couple of examples of the research undertaken within the above strands are;
Design and construction of satellite de-orbiting sails. The Icarus-1 sail was successfully deployed on board the SSTL owned TechDemoSat-1 satellite when it came to the end of its mission, see the image below. This capability is of course now very much part of the sustainability in space agenda promoted by ESA and others through the Zero Debris Charter and the recently announced Green Agenda
Manufacturing on the ISS. A critical part of being able to operate in space is being able to sustainably manufacture in space. Teams from the university’s manufacturing group have been contributing to the development of the first in-orbit metal 3D printer on board the International Space Station led by Airbus Defence and Space. The microwave size additive manufacturing cell, fuelled by high-powered lasers, is creating a greater understand how both the manufacturing technique and the metal itself are affected by the microgravity environment.
Cranfield is proud that these projects and many others like them are directly supporting in-space capability for the benefit of industry and ultimately all of us. The university is
looking forward to working with all the partners in Space East in supporting the growth of the space economy, particularly in our region, through the provision of the expertise and development facilities that it has at its disposal.
For further information please contact; Dr Adrian Cole, Strategic Partnership Manager, a.c.cole@cranfield.ac.uk
+44 (0)7436 140185