University of South Wales

Location: Glynneath Building, Treforest Campus, Pontypridd

Space Research Areas:
– Satellite communications
– Communication and control
– Propulsion
– Earth observation

Point of Contact:
Dr Leshan Uggalla

Website:
Coming soon

Staffing:
Circa 7 academic staff, 2 PhDs

Facilities & Equipment:
– 4x Nanocube (5cmx5cm) satellites
– Satellite ground station – with SDERs radios for tracking the satellites
– On-campus facility for space surveillance in Treforest, with another planned in Brecon
Beacons dark sky area
– Designing and installing a test bed for outdoor rocket propulsion
– Developing sensors for monitoring landslides
– Test bed for millimeter wave radio propagation at 65GHz – 132 GHz. DSTL

Collaboration History:
CubeSats developed by SAC Harwell, agreement with B2 space to test payloads at 25km. Working with MoD Defence Science and Technology Laboratory group on high frequency for future communications. Working with the geology department on developing sensors for landslide monitoring. Collaboration with the Chilbolton Observatory in Harwell which houses the UK’s largest radar system. Industry collaborations include STFC, Thales Alena Space, and One Web (partners on a project in rural healthcare). Part of SUN (Space University Network) and Space Academic Network (SPAN).

Summary of Unique Capabilities:
This group is proposed as a mechanism to bring the University’s space research activities into one place, having proven the capabilities exist through multidisciplinary research. The strengths are in communications (space to ground and space to space), space surveillance, and rocketry (with plans to conduct launches up to 9,000 ft within the next year).

Location:
Upper Glyntaff Campus, Pontypridd

Space Research Areas:
– Astronaut health

Point of Contact:
Professor Damian Bailey

Website:
exercise.research.southwales.ac.uk/clinical–vascular-research

Staffing:
11 members, plus visiting professors, fellows,
and research students

Facilities & Equipment:

Biochemical analysis
– EPR spectrometry
– Ozone-based chemiluminescence
– Blood rheometer
– Lactate, haematocrit, and haemoglobin analysis

Vascular function
– Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound and Duplex Ultrasound
– Endothelial function and arterial stiffness

Echocardiography
– 12 and 3-lead electrocardiograms (ECG)
– Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
– Body composition and underwater weighing • Bioelectrical impedance analysis
– Anthropometry

Exercise physiology
– Systems for ‘on-line’ and ‘off-line’ metabolic analysis
– Anaerobic performance (Wingate systems)
– Jump mats and photoelectric cells
– Electromyography (EMG)
– Strength assessment – iso-kinetic bench and free weights
– Force platform
– Treadmills, cycle, arm and rowing ergometers

Collaboration History:
The laboratory’s director, Professor Damian Bailey, was appointed Chair of the ESA Life Sciences Working Group, with plans to investigate the impacts of microgravity on astronaut brain function. He is also a member of the agency’s Human spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC) which is the senior body on all matters concerning scientific exploitation of human spaceflight, microgravity, and exploration.

Summary of Unique Capabilities:
The group is involved in research into the vascular adaptations and control of cerebral blood flow which occurs at high altitude. This specialist research leads the way in the field – with the group having published results in some of the highest impact-factor journals in molecular-vascular science.