Next generation space innovation - Summer 2024

NEXT GENERATION SPACE INNOVATION

Northumbria University is fast becoming known as the home of space, within the North East of England and beyond.

The University recently announced ambitious plans for the development of a £50 million North East Space Skills and Technology centre (NESST), which is set to transform the UK space industry – supporting the creation of over 350 jobs, injecting over £260 million into the North East economy over the next 30 years, and acting as a catalyst for the wider development of the UK space sector in the North East region.

The development of NESST is the culmination of a clear strategic vision, resulting in significant investment in space research at Northumbria over the last decade. Part of the success of this plan has been a holistic approach which has enabled academics from different faculties and departments, all with an interest in space, to work together through the University’s Space Interdisciplinary Research Theme.

Led by Professor of Space Physics, Jonathan Rae, this group includes researchers with backgrounds as diverse as arts, geography, mathematics, law, physiology, humanities and engineering. As Professor Rae explained: “I believe that collaboration breeds innovation. We knew there was excellent research being carried out across the University related to

space, but much of this was being done in silos. By providing a forum for people from different academic backgrounds to meet and discuss their ideas, we are coming up with some truly unique research which is answering the big questions arising from the rapid growth of the space sector.”

As a space plasma physicist, Professor Rae’s own research focuses on space weather, exploring how activity from the Sun is impacting us here on Earth. Through his research he has played a key role in the UK Research and Innovation-funded £20 million Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities in space weather monitoring and prediction. And while academics at Northumbria have had significant funding success for projects within their individual fields of expertise, Professor Rae firmly believes an increase in collaborative research bids will be the next step in the evolution of space research and innovation at Northumbria.

“Our space research is now so multi-faceted I can see a number of large, ambitious funding bids being submitted in future by members of

the Space Interdisciplinary Research Theme. I don’t think there is anywhere else taking the same interdisciplinary approach to space research as Northumbria – it really is allowing us to look at space from a whole new perspective.” This extended feature showcases the wide variety of space research taking place at Northumbria. In addition to projects with a more obvious space connection, such as the development of satellites, this also includes work to map icebergs from space, the search for extraterrestrial life, the laws surrounding space junk, and understanding space from a cultural perspective.

Click the QR code to find out how Northumbria University is powering the next generation of space innovation.

LOW TECH SOLUTIONS FOR LIFE IN SPACE

A Northumbria physiotherapist is researching how a therapeutic tape favoured by elite athletes could be used on future missions to the Moon to protect astronauts from trips and falls.

The lunar landscape is one of contrasts –a monotone environment which is either dazzlingly bright or pitch black, making it much harder to judge distance and gradient than here on Earth. Unfortunately, this means astronauts exploring the Moon’s surface are at much higher risk of injury through falls.

Assistant Professor in Physiotherapy Kirsty Lindsay, of Northumbria’s Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, believes a solution is available which is low-cost, lowtech and readily available.

Kinesiology tape, or K-tape as it is known, is commonly used in sports – applied strategically to an athlete’s body to provide support, lessen pain, reduce swelling, and improve performance. Dr Lindsay believes applying the tape to astronauts’ ankles could provide vital additional support when navigating the unfamiliar lunar environment, thereby reducing the risk of injury.

With funding and support from Northumbria’s Space interdisciplinary research theme, she is now testing her theory, assessing the balance of volunteers standing on a computerised platform both before and after the tape is applied.

As she explained: “Sometimes we need to think about a challenge from a new perspective. Long-term habitation on the Moon means access to power could be restricted, so a simple, lowtech solution is needed. K-tape can be applied easily, by anyone, in any environment, plus it is relatively low-cost and won’t cause any discomfort when worn under a space suit.”

If Dr Lindsay’s theory is correct, she hopes the next step will be to test the tape in space. But it won’t just be astronauts who benefit from the research, as she explains: “Often if a solution is beneficial in space, it will also benefit people here on Earth too, and K-tape could have the same positive impact on older people, those with injuries and disabilities as it could on astronauts.”

Click the QR code to find out more about Northumbria’s Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation.

MAPPING ICEBERGS FROM SPACE

Scientists have trained an artificial intelligence (AI) system to track the location, size and movement of giant icebergs around the world 10,000 times faster than a human could, using images taken from space.

Icebergs have a significant impact on the polar environment and monitoring them is critical for both maritime safety and wider scientific study. They can be sizeable, not only posing a risk to passing ships but, as they melt, releasing nutrients and freshwater into the seas, potentially impacting marine ecosystems. It is therefore crucial that those working in a maritime environment have upto-date information about the location of icebergs, as well as their size and direction of travel.

One of the best ways of monitoring their movement is through data captured by satellites orbiting Earth. However, existing algorithms designed to detect icebergs can have problems recognising their outline accurately, often including sea ice and even nearby coastline in their calculations.

recognise images and patterns, to effectively “train” a computer to accurately map the outline of icebergs from images taken by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites.

The algorithm they developed analyses the pixels in an image to determine the boundary or outline of objects –in this case the outline of the iceberg. The process can be carried out in one hundredth of a second – 10,000 times faster than if done manually by a person.

Professor Andrew Shepherd is Director of CPOM and Head of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University. Speaking about the research he said: “This study shows that machine learning will enable scientists to monitor remote and inaccessible parts of the world in almost real-time.

And with machine learning, the algorithm will become more accurate as it learns from errors in the way it interprets a satellite image.”

Academics from Northumbria’s Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM) have used a computer programme called U-net, often used to

Click the QR code to find out more about Northumbria’s Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling.

MARS, MICROBES,

AND THE SEARCH

FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

The possibility of extraterrestrial life, and what that might look like, has fascinated humankind for thousands of years. But the reality is that life on other planets, at least those in our solar system, if it exists or indeed existed, is most likely to be microbial, and invisible to the naked eye.

While planets such as our neighbour Mars may appear inhospitable to life, there is evidence that the Red Planet may once have experienced conditions similar to Earth, including liquid surface water.

A human mission to Mars is expected in the next 10-15 years, one of the main aims of which will be to search for microorganisms which could give an insight into Mars’ past. And while these tiny organisms could hold the key to increasing our understanding of life on other planets, they also play an important role in keeping the astronauts involved in future space exploration healthy in the process. What impact would the three years of space travel required to reach Mars have on the millions of microbes that exist inside our bodies, on which we rely to stay healthy? And how might these communities of organisms we carry with us affect lifeforms on other planets, however small?

Northumbria’s Professor of Environmental Microbiology David Pearce is working with the European Space Agency to improve our understanding of the role and impact of microbes in future space exploration. As he explained: “We need to understand the impact of long-term space missions on the health of astronauts. By applying what we know about how microbes respond here on Earth, we can better prepare those travelling vast distances through space for years at a time.

“Any astronauts landing on Mars won’t just be bringing themselves, they will also be carrying millions of microorganisms with them, and we need to understand the likelihood and impact of possible contamination of the area they visit. Likewise, what is the likelihood of astronauts unintentionally bringing microscopic lifeforms back to Earth, and how do we prevent this harming life on our own planet?”

Click the QR code to find out more about Professor Pearce’s research.

LEGAL SOLUTIONS FOR A CROWDED COSMOS

It may be smaller than a shoe box, but a new type of laserbased satellite system being developed by Northumbria University has the potential to completely transform our daily lives – allowing huge amounts of data to be transferred quickly and securely.

The satellites currently orbiting the Earth use radio waves to transmit data, however, these have limited capacity and are also vulnerable to disruption. In contrast, lasers can transmit 1,000 times more data per second, and can do it far more securely.

Researchers from Northumbria’s Space Technology Laboratory are now working in partnership with Durham University, satellite communications specialists e2E, and manufacturing company SMS Electronics Limited, to develop the world’s first commercially available satellite system using lasers to communicate rather than radio waves.

The project uses small satellites, roughly the size of an average shoebox, known in the space industry as CubeSats, which are being produced and tested by Northumbria University. The first of these satellites are due to launch into space next year, funded by almost £5m from the UK Space Agency.

As the launch date approaches, a team of Northumbria scientists are working to build and test every element of the system. Among them is Dr Amna Riaz, a Research Fellow in Space Technology. As she explained: “Traditional satellites are large and very expensive to produce, but because of the size of CubeSats, and the fact they will use lasers rather than radio waves to communicate with each other, the power consumption requirement is much lower, making them more cost effective.”

With the development of Northumbria’s North East Space Skills and Technology Centre currently underway, Dr Riaz believes the University is paving the way in satellite technology innovation. “This is ground-breaking research, and it is just the beginning,” she said. “Space communication is essential in so many aspects of our daily lives and this is a sector which is going to continue to grow rapidly. This really is an exciting time to be working in space science and in my opinion, Northumbria is the best place to be doing it.”

Click the QR code to find out more about Northumbria University’s CubeSat research.

The number of satellites orbiting the Earth is increasing rapidly as more countries and private investors recognise the potential economic opportunities presented by the space technology sector. But what happens to these satellites when they reach the end of their life?

Ensuring sustainability is incorporated into the international laws of space is critical and is an area in which Professor of Space Law and Policy Christopher Newman is leading the way. Having joined Northumbria in 2018, the same year the University became one of the first in the world to offer a specific Space Law Masters (LLM) degree, he now leads an everexpanding team of academic experts dedicated to exploring the legal implications of space exploration.

As the space race hots up, rivalries and tensions between nations and companies competing for business will also intensify, highlighting the urgent need for a recognised legal framework. One of the areas most in need of legislation is the issue of ‘space junk’, as Professor Newman explains: “Space debris is already a huge problem, and one which will only increase over time as more countries and individuals become involved in space activity. We need to find ways of removing dead satellites and other debris from the Earth’s orbit, but that in itself poses legal challenges. The techniques being considered are very experimental, and if they are being

used to destroy or remove unwanted space debris, how can we ensure they are not also being used maliciously to diminish the life of an active satellite, especially given the current global geopolitical tensions.”

With space becoming increasingly busy, Professor Newman believes tracking the objects orbiting our planet is key to preventing future legal issues. He said: “If we’re going to clean up space, we need to increase our situational awareness –better tracking of satellites will vastly reduce the chances of collisions, which can not only prove costly but also cause misunderstandings between nations. This will become increasingly important in the future and at Northumbria we are playing a leading role in international discussions around the sustainability of space activity in the years to come.”

Click the QR code to find out more about Space Law and Policy research and teaching at Northumbia University.

MAKING SPACE FOR EVERYONE

The significant growth of the space technology sector in recent years has been largely due to investment by privately-owned organisations and wealthy entrepreneurs. So-called ‘NewSpace’ companies, such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are launching their own rockets, conducting space tourism, and even planning permanent human settlements on the moon. But what impacts are these activities having on those of us left behind?

At Northumbria, artist Dr Paul Dolan and environmental geographer Dr Pete Howson are exploring the difficult tradeoffs in developing sustainable spaceports –sites for launching or receiving spacecraft. “Many of these spaceports come with big promises of hi-tech jobs and other local benefits,” says Dr Howson. “But as we’ve seen from our ongoing research in Indonesia, the US and the Scottish Highlands, unless local cultures and livelihoods are respected, these bold projects tend to end in the wrong kind of fireworks.”

ambitions to explore new worlds, don’t end up ruining our own in the process.

As Dr Dolan explained: “Privately-owned space industries are generating a lot of excitement, but we believe that whenever there is hype surrounding a technological development there also needs to be a greater deal of scrutiny and accountability. Our research provides a clear-eyed critical look at the impact this technology is having on our planet. NewSpace industries focus on a future vision of life in space and the technology required to make this happen, but are these organisations prioritising the long-term future of the human race over the health and welfare of the current population? By highlighting the experiences of those impacted by these activities through our research, reports, and exhibitions, our aim is to ensure environmental consideration is given during the development of future NewSpace technologies.”

Through their research with local and indigenous groups, they aim to shine a light on the communities steering, negotiating, and resisting NewSpace activities, so that people’s

Click the QR code to find out more about the work being carried out by Dr Howson and Dr Dolan.

CULTURAL COSMIC CONNECTIONS

In recent years there has been a rapid acceleration in the exploration and commercialisation of space. But how are the technological and scientific developments within the space sector being processed from a cultural and ethical perspective?

A holistic approach to space research is not only beneficial but critical, according to Northumbria University’s Professor Fiona Crisp, co-lead of the University’s Cultural Negotiation of Science (CNoS) research group. Established 10 years ago, CNoS brings together academics from the arts and humanities with scientists and technologists to develop interdisciplinary research, with the group recently hosting a ‘Space Assembly’ that explored the critical and cultural dimensions of space science.

As Professor Crisp explains: “Humanity’s connection with the cosmos through art and literature pre-dates our scientific understanding. For thousands of years, we have had an imaginative relationship with space, but the speed, scale and distance of recent techno-scientific developments are much harder for lay-publics to connect to. Space technology is accelerating at such a fast pace that the cultural and ethical considerations explored through the arts and humanities are being overlooked. It’s therefore vital that we have cultural conversations running in parallel with the techno-scientific developments to ensure everyone, no matter what their background, feels able to connect with and contribute to the space debate.”

Cross-disciplinary working is key to this approach and at Northumbria, academics from different backgrounds, all with a shared interest in space research, can collaborate through the University’s Space Interdisciplinary Research Theme.

“Our work at Northumbria is about bringing together people from a variety of backgrounds, including science, arts and humanities, to create a discourse around space science and offer civic and cultural perspectives which can run alongside the scientific conversations,” said Professor Crisp.

“We have the knowledge base here at Northumbria to become a leader in this approach – taking a cultural, creative, critical perspective when it comes to space research.”

Click the QR code to find out more about the Space Assembly: The Cultural Negotiation of Space Science event.

FROM SURGERY TO SPACE

A technique used to restrict the flow of blood in patients’ limbs following surgery could be used to keep astronauts healthy during flights to the Moon and further afield.

With human missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars, planned over the coming years, understanding the potential impact of space travel on the human body is of vital importance. The absence of gravity in space can result in a loss of muscle and bone mineral, the severity of which increases the longer an astronaut is away from Earth.

Dr Luke Hughes and Professor Nick Caplan, from Northumbria’s Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory, believe a technique known as Blood Flow Restriction Exercise (BFRE) could be used to keep astronauts healthy during long space flights. The technique involves applying a surgicalgrade tourniquet cuff to an individual’s limb and inflating it to reduce blood flow and oxygen during exercise. It has been shown to mitigate loss of muscle and bone mineral in individuals following surgery and during limb immobilisation. Because BFRE is performed at low intensities it requires minimal exercise equipment, making it ideal for astronauts operating in cramped conditions.

As Dr Hughes explains: “Current exercise hardware and protocols used on the International Space Station are unable to completely mitigate the effects of zerogravity on the human body, and future missions to the Moon and beyond will require more compact, lighter exercise equipment to be taken on board spacecraft.

“Our research will develop an innovative exercise device that meets the constraints of future missions and enables BFRE to be performed during spaceflight, with the goal of mitigating loss of muscle and bone in astronauts.”

As winners of the 2023 Humans in Space Challenge, run by South Korean health technology company, Boryung; and having recently also been awarded a UK Space Agency Enabling Technologies Programme grant, Professor Caplan and Dr Hughes are now developing proof-of-concept designs for an innovative Personalised Tourniquet System for spaceflight that could be used in future missions.

Click the QR code to find out more about Northumbria’s Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory.

DR LUKE HUGHES