UCL has joined the UK’s largest regional space cluster, Space South Central, as an academic partner, it was announced today at Farnborough International Airshow.
A global top 10 university, UCL’s addition to the cluster’s existing academic partners – the University of Portsmouth, University of Southampton and University of Surrey – reinforces South Central England’s world-class reputation for space expertise, research and innovation.
Space South Central unites business and academia to boost innovation, collaboration and growth across Hampshire, Surrey, and the Isle of Wight's thriving space sector – a £3 billion industry comprising more than 170 space-related organisations and employing approximately 14,000 people.
UCL’s location will further strengthen ties between London’s business and academic networks and key space industry sector partners in the south of England. Space South Central’s work to promote the cluster’s space capabilities overseas will also benefit from UCL’s international profile, building on the region’s annual £1.64 billion of export revenue and £65 million in foreign investment.
Home to the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) in Surrey and the UK’s largest university space research group – UCL has played a pivotal role in space research and technology for more than 50 years. Since 1966, it has participated in more than 35 satellite missions and over 200 rocket experiments.
The university’s Department of Space and Climate Physics covers all aspects of space research, from observing the Sun and its interaction with the planets to understanding galaxies and the matter that makes up the universe. They also build and operate cutting-edge space hardware for multinational space missions.
UCL's decision to partner with Space South Central reflects its strategic initiative to deepen investments in space skills and knowledge. The university shares the cluster’s aims to create
substantial opportunities for students, researchers, and industry professionals, and develop a skilled, future-ready workforce at the forefront of cutting-edge space technologies.
Dr Louise Butt, Director of the Space South Central Enterprise Network, said: “We are delighted that UCL has chosen to partner with Space South Central to support, enhance and benefit from our cluster initiatives.“
UCL brings a wealth of complementary expertise to our cluster, with a rich space heritage and a vast portfolio spanning planetary science, space policy, climate physics, astrochemistry, quantum science and much more.“
To have four world-class academic partners working together with our unrivalled range of up-stream and down-stream businesses – large and small – presents many exciting opportunities for the sector in Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight, and for the wider UK space industry.”
Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement), said: “I’m delighted that UCL is joining the largest regional space cluster in the UK. Collaboration with both industry and academic peers has been a defining feature of UCL’s space activity for over 60 years, stretching back to the multinational Ariel 1 satellite, Britain’s first step into space.
“It’s fitting to see this legacy of successful industry academic partnership continue with Space South Central and I look forward to seeing the synergies that arise.”
Professor Andrew Fazakerley, Professor of Space Plasma Physics and Head of the UCL Department of Space and Climate Physics, is also on the steering committee of the UCL Space Domain, an interdisciplinary community that addresses both the technological challenges of space exploration and its broader societal impacts. He added: “Joining Space South Central will bring significant and tangible benefits to our growing community of researchers involved in space research.“
It will mean greater opportunities for collaboration with both academic peers and industry partners, helping us to ensure that innovative ideas and research breakthroughs achieve their full potential.”
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