Southampton could soon be at the forefront of the UK space industry after a new institute was launched.
The Southampton Space Institute will support government plans to develop Britain's fast-growing space sector, which is worth £17billion every year.
The institute belongs to the University of Southampton, building on its 65-year heritage of education and research in space science, aeronautics and astronautics.
It brings together the expertise of world-renowned research groups and facilities at the University to interact with government agencies and industry, driving the development of new space technology and conversations around policy and space sustainability.
Professor Matt Middleton , Southampton Space Institute's inaugural director, said the University and wider area has an opportunity to make its mark in a fast-moving global industry.
He added: "Southampton already has an established heritage in space research, with a university that has taught thousands of students about aircraft and satellite design since 1959.
"The UK space industry is now supporting around 50,000 jobs and contributing billions to our economy. It needs the expertise of a university like Southampton to train the next generation, create new jobs and companies, and ensure that space is sustainable in the long term.
"We will be drawing on our expertise in electronics, fundamental science, astronautics, artificial intelligence and many others, to enrich the UK space industry and support the national space strategy."
Southampton's established international reputation for space training and research will drive the success of the new Institute , said UK space policy expert and former European Space Agency exploration director and UKSA CEO Professor David Parker .
Prof Parker, a Southampton alumnus who worked with Prof Middleton to set up the Institute, added: "Our vision is to drive sustainable, local and national economic growth by becoming one of the top UK universities for space education, novel space science, technology, and applications of space data here on Earth.
"The University has some unique strengths, and we are working on exciting initiatives that will come to fruition across the next few years - watch this space."
Scientists at the University were recently awarded more than a million pounds through the UK Space Agency's national space innovation programme.
They will use the funding to develop a plasma torch system, simulating the extreme thermal conditions spacecraft face during re-entry, as well as a sustainable water-based propulsion system for satellites.
The new Institute is working with the UK's largest regional space cluster, Space South Central, which connects the University with 130 space-related businesses across Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.
The Right Honourable the Lord David Willetts , former UK science Minister and a leading figure in the development of the UK space sector, spoke of his support for the new Southampton Space Institute.
Speaking at the recent launch event, he said: "Southampton has enormous strengths in bringing together academic and applied research."
Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey , who was also present at the event, added: "The Space Institute has the potential to bring together world-leading researchers to shape domestic policy."
