World-leading scientists will push the
boundaries of studies on how to deflect asteroids and manipulate space debris,
as the University of Strathclyde gets set to transform international space
research.
Led by Strathclyde, the Stardust
programme – the first research-based training network of its kind – boasts some
of the world’s foremost experts in the field and aims to protect the planet and
space assets from catastrophic impacts.
An opening training school, being held at
the University from 18-22 November, is the first step for postgraduate
researchers in the Stardust initiative that will train the next generation of
scientists, engineers and policy-makers from a pool of more than 100
highly-qualified applicants.
Professor Massimiliano Vasile, of the
University of Strathclyde’s Department of Mechanical & Aerospace
Engineering, is leading Stardust. He said: “Stardust provides us with a
fantastic opportunity to take forward the research capabilities we have and
inspire the next generation of researchers in the field. It will push the
boundaries of space research with innovative ideas and visionary concepts.
“Asteroids and space debris represent a
significant hazard for space and terrestrial assets and it is becoming clear
that the increasing population of space debris could lead to catastrophic
consequences. But asteroids and space debris may also represent an opportunity
if we had the technology to exploit them, for example debris recycling or
asteroid mining. Stardust is bringing together experts from across the world to
advance research and find solutions to these challenges.
“This week-long school is the opening
event in the Stardust programme and the researchers who will be training are
among the best students in the world. They will study a variety of topics and
attend lectures delivered by leading figures in aerospace engineering, physics,
computer science and applied mathematics, coming from across Europe, USA and
Japan.”
During the week of activities, there will
be input from the 14 different European institutions in Stardust, including
Professor Bruce Conway, an expert on space trajectory optimisation from the
University of Illinois; Prof Hiroshi Yamakawa, from Kyoto University, expert on
manipulation of asteroids and space debris; Prof Seishiro Kibe, from the Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency, world-expert of space debris removal, and Dr
Pierre Bourdon, from the Office National d'Études et de Recherches
Aérospatiales (ONERA), world leader of asteroid and debris deflection by laser.
The school will also run a series of free
evening talks open to the general public. The first will be ‘The Search for
Gravitational Waves on ground and in space’ - delivered by Professor Jim Hough,
from University of Glasgow. With Professor Martin A. Hendry, also from the
University of Glasgow, presenting “cosmological theories of the multiverse”.
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