The Space, Security and Telecoms theme is driving research programmes to transform the way we connect and communicate.
LACE, Low-Altitude Advanced Communications and Earth Observation, sets out to smartly sense and observe our world with a membrane of infrastructure in orbit and on the ground. The mission has the potential for wide-reaching impact. Not only could we transform the way we monitor the planet and obtain data, but there could be a significant paradigm shift in the satellite industry through the development of recoverable and redeployable assets.
Thunderbird, which aims to rapidly deliver out-of-the-box infrastructure in response to disasters, has the potential to support communities within the crucial 48-hour window after an emergency. This could be transformative for low-resource populations where transport or land infrastructure is scarce or damaged.
Space 2099, the space-analogue Earth-based living lab to characterise necessary technologies for space colonisation, will inform safe and sustainable interstellar exploration. Research undertaken as part of this mission will impact humanity’s future beyond our planet.
The missions designed by the Space, Security and Telecoms Co-Directors, with contributions from stakeholders in the Imperial community and beyond, will advance our capabilities whilst also creating more secure spaces and systems to support society.