Northumbria University News - Autumn 2023

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#TakeOnTomorrow

Autumn 2023 • northumbria.ac.uk

Issue 30

AI FUNDING ANNOUCEMENT

UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES

CULTURE OF COLLABORATION

Northumbria to train the next generation of AI researchers and innovators Discover more on page 5

Northumbria welcomes Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Gillian Keegan Find out more about her visit on page 7

Professor Matt Baillie Smith on his new role as Dean of Research Culture Read all about it on page 11

Prepare for lift off Northumbria is set for UK’s first university-led multi-satellite space mission. A £5 million award from the UK Space Agency will see Northumbria University’s vision to build a new satellite communication system become a reality. A team of researchers and industry partners have been working on a prototype for for a new laser-based CubeSat system, which has the potential to transform the satellite communications industry. Satellites currently

use radio frequencies to transmit data, but this technology has limited capacity and can easily be disrupted. Lasers can transmit 1,000 times more data per second than radio frequency and importantly, much more securely. As a result Northumbria’s laserbased device could potentially become the predominant communications mechanism for satellites in future.

Northumbria is working in partnership with Durham University, satellite communications specialists e2E, manufacturing company SMS Electronics Limited and global aerospace company Lockheed Martin on the project, which has already received over £1 million from the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme to fund earlier phases of the research.

The £5 million award from the UK Space Agency will enable the consortium to design, test and build the first CubeSat with laser optical communications technology. Their goal is to develop the world’s first commercially available laser-based satellite communication system. Solar physicist Dr Eamon Scullion, an Associate Professor at Northumbria, is leading the project and

“ WITH OUR NEW TECHNOLOGY, WE ARE NOT ONLY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SATELLITES IN LOW EARTH ORBIT, BUT WE ARE BRIDGING AN EVEN BIGGER GAP BETWEEN ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRY.” DR EAMON SCULLION explained that previous funding from the UK Space Agency allowed the team to develop a prototype device, which they aim to launch into space in 2025. Continues on page 2.


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