Space Activities in Glasgow; Advanced Microspacecraft from Scotland
- Paper number
IAC-08.B4.4.B1
- Author
Mr. Craig Clark, Clyde Space, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Prof. Colin R. McInnes, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Dr. Gianmarco Radice, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Glasgow is a city that is renowned for its engineering and technological innovation; famous Glaswegian inventors and academics include James Watt (Steam Engine) and John Logie Baird (television), amongst many others. Contemporary Glasgow continues to pioneer and invent in a multitude of areas of science and technology and has become a centre of excellence in many fields of engineering; including spacecraft engineering. Although modest in numbers, Glasgow is leading the advances in various areas of spacecraft engineering: research into spacecraft dynamics (in particular in the field of solar sail spacecraft); control of multiple spacecraft systems; advanced microspacecraft design; global trajectory optimisation; NEO missions, aerocapture and entry descent and landing; formation flying; autonomous systems; advanced small satellite battery systems and power management systems. These areas of expertise are realised within Glasgow based academic and industrial groups formed at the University of Strathclyde, the University of Glasgow and Clyde Space Ltd. Glasgow has been active in space research and applications for several years and both Strathclyde University and Glasgow University have excellent research records and offer post graduate research and study. However, it has only been since 2005, when Clyde Space Ltd was established, that Glasgow has ventured into the commercial side of the space industry. Since inception, Clyde Space has worked closely with both Universities and this has in turn stimulated collaboration that has clearly been beneficial to all parties. More recently, this has culminated in the start of an exciting development project to produce Scotland’s first satellite. This paper will discuss how Clyde Space Ltd and the space groups at both Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities are combining their knowledge and expertise to develop an advanced microspacecraft platform that will enable a step change in the utility value of miniature spacecraft. The paper will also explore how the relationship between the academic and industrial partners works in practice and the steps that have been taken to harness resulting innovation to create space industry jobs within a city that was, until recently, void of any commercial space activity.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B4.4.B1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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