Manchester has been shaping space from the very beginning.

Manchester helped launch the Space Age.

Completed just before the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank became the only instrument capable of tracking the rocket’s booster - marking the dawn of the Space Age.

That same spirit of leadership continues today.

Now, we’re shaping the next frontier.

Building on strengths in astronomy, advanced materials, engineering, AI and data science, we’re shaping the next frontier: resilient space technologies, sustainable space operations, and responsible, society focused innovation - anchored by world class facilities and delivered through deep, cross disciplinary collaboration.

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Space at Manchester addresses timely and complex challenges through strategic interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing on deep expertise that spans space technology and materials, sustainability, society and governance, and space exploration.

Kate Smith / Professor of Space Technology 

Our research strengths

Delivering space capability across four key areas

Our space research spans four core research areas, bringing together engineering, data, policy and fundamental science to deliver real‑world impact.

Sector-leading facilities

Sector-leading facilities

Discover some of our specialist facilities, each created to support cutting‑edge research, innovation and real‑world collaboration.

  • Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics +
    Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics

    Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics

    A globally recognised centre for radio astronomy, Jodrell Bank provides unparalleled capability to observe and interpret the Universe. Its world leading instruments and expertise enable breakthroughs in astrophysics, data science and instrumentation, while offering partners access to cutting edge facilities that accelerate discovery and technological innovation.

    This matters because it anchors Manchester’s role in shaping the future of space science.

    Facilities in Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics
  • First UK bioprinting facility recognised by ESA +
    Bioprinting Facility

    First UK bioprinting facility recognised by ESA

    Manchester hosts the UK’s first ESA recognised bioprinting facility, enabling groundbreaking research into tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for space and terrestrial applications. This unique capability supports experiments on how biological systems behave in extreme environments, unlocking innovations for astronaut health, biomedical technology and life support systems.

    It matters because it expands what is possible for human life in space.

    First UK bioprinting facility recognised by ESA
  • Very Low Earth Orbit Environment testing facility +
    Rarefied Orbital Aerodynamics Research facility

    Very Low Earth Orbit Environment testing facility

    Rarefied Orbital Aerodynamics Research (ROAR) simulates the demanding conditions of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), allowing researchers and industry partners to test materials, components and spacecraft concepts in realistic atmospheric environments. This capability accelerates the development of resilient, fuel efficient satellite systems that can operate closer to Earth.

    It matters because VLEO missions are key to the next generation of sustainable, high performance space infrastructure.

  • Hypersonic wind tunnel +
    Hypersonic wind tunnel

    Hypersonic wind tunnel

    Manchester’s hypersonic wind tunnel enables realistic testing of vehicles and components at extreme speeds, replicating the conditions of high Mach flight. This unique capability accelerates the development of resilient spacecraft and next generation aerospace systems.

    It matters because it helps industry and researchers design safer, more efficient technologies for missions operating at the very edge of physical limits.

    Aerodynamic Labs
  • Advanced Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry Suite +
    Advanced Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry Suite

    Advanced Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry Suite

    Manchester’s Advanced Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry Suite provides ultra high precision analysis of planetary materials, from meteorites and lunar samples to terrestrial analogues. Its world class instruments reveal the chemical and isotopic fingerprints of early Solar System processes, enabling discoveries about planetary formation, evolution and habitability.

    This matters because it helps scientists decode the origins of planets and deepen our understanding of how Earth, and life, came to be.

    Facilities in planetary research

Latest publications

News

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Manchester astronomers celebrate launch of the "universe’s greatest movie"

Manchester astronomers are celebrating the launch of the Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) which began last week from a mountaintop in Chile.

Manchester researcher helps capture most detailed picture of the Milky Way’s crowded heart

Researchers at The University of Manchester have played a key role in a new scientific release from the European Space Agency’s Euclid mission, unveiling the most detailed photo ever made of our Milky Way galaxy’s centre in visible light.

Space at Manchester showcases strength of its research capability

The next phase of the UK’s space capability will be defined by partnership – and The University of Manchester is at the centre of that ambition. On 12 June 2026, the University welcomed partners from across the UK’s space community to its Space at Manchester Research Showcase, bringing together industry, government and academic collaborators to explore how Manchester’s research strengths can help shape the future of the sector. Opening the event, Professor Sarah Sharples, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, set out the role collaboration will play in addressing the challenges ahead.She highlighted Manchester’s long-standing tradition of partnership-led innovation, noting that the University was “developed because of a need from industry, and a partnership between scholars and industrialists”, a heritage that continues to inform its approach today. Those foundations are now being applied at scale to one of the UK’s most strategically important emerging sectors. Manchester’s strength lies not just in individual areas of excellence, but in the breadth of its long-established, cross-disciplinary expertise across its three faculties – spanning engineering, materials science, environmental research, data science and the social sciences – and the ability to bring these together to tackle complex, interconnected challenges. This integrated approach is increasingly critical as space evolves beyond a standalone sector into infrastructure that underpins modern life – from communications and navigation to climate monitoring and global security. The showcase demonstrated how this translates into practice. Research highlights spanned space technology and sustainability, space data and applications, astronomy and astrophysics, and the social dimensions of space exploration, reinforcing the University’s ability to address not only technical challenges, but the policy, environmental and societal questions that will shape the sector’s future. Enabling this work is a distinctive infrastructure that allows Manchester to operate at scale for the global community. Facilities showcased during the event included the Space Technology Laboratory, where spacecraft systems can be tested in simulated low-Earth orbit conditions, alongside the Henry Royce Institute and the Data Visualisation Observatory. This combination of expertise and infrastructure positions Manchester as a partner of choice for organisations looking to translate research into deployable technologies and systems. Alan Cross of the North West Space Cluster explained: “For the Northwest to grow and support national space priorities we have to focus on what the Northwest is good at… The University of Manchester leads in all of them. It’s not just a player. It really is a world-leader.” By aligning strengths across advanced materials, digital technologies, manufacturing, energy, robotics and environmental science, Manchester is uniquely placed to support both research and innovation - a critical factor in the UK’s ambition to grow its space sector. Kate Smith, Space at Manchester co-chair and Professor of Space Technology, emphasised the University’s ability to support growth in the space sector:Looking ahead, the University will build on the momentum from the showcase to deepen partnerships and develop collaborative programmes that deliver impact at scale - positioning Manchester, and the wider North West, at the forefront of the UK’s space endeavour. For more information about space research at The University of Manchester and to collaborate with our researchers, visit the Space at Manchester research page.

University of Manchester scientists play key role in discovery of new heavy-proton particle at CERN

Scientists from the University of Manchester have played a leading role in the discovery of a new subatomic particle at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The particle, known as the Ξcc⁺ (Xi‑cc‑plus), is a new type of heavy proton-like particle containing two charm quarks and one down quark.

New tool could reduce collision risk for Earth-observation satellites

Researchers at The University of Manchester have developed a new way to design Earth-observation satellite missions that could help protect the space environment while continuing to deliver vital data for tackling global challenges, such as climate change, food production, supply chain vulnerabilities and environmental degradation.
Researchers working at a computer in a dimly lit laboratory.

Discover our publications

Explore the full breadth of our research, from foundational science to impactful application via our research explorer portal.

Read our latest papers

Study with us

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Postgraduate research

Our postgraduate research options include a range of PhDs as well as specific projects you can apply for.

Browse our degree list for postgraduate research programmes

Find a project

Group of people in protective suits posing with a rover vehicle in a simulated space environment.

Our people

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If you’re looking to study with us, you’ll find all the information you need, including contacts and application guidance, via the links in our Study with us section.

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