Areas of Expertise

MIRI in the Space Test Chamber

RAL Space at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL (link opens in a new window)) carries out an exciting range of world-class space research and technology development. With significant involvement in 200 space missions, we are at the very forefront of UK space research. Our expertise covers a wide range of disciplines including; astronomy, solar physics, planetary physics, fundamental physics, earth observation, atmospheric chemistry and radio propagation. Our engineering disciplines include space electronics, detector systems, thermal and mechanical engineering, optics design, software engineering and e-Science.

Our 200 staff are dedicated to supporting the programmes of the STFC (link opens in a new window) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC (link opens in a new window)), as well as undertaking a large number of space projects for UK and overseas agencies, universities and industrial companies. We work alongside the UK Space Agency (link opens in a new window) who co-ordinate UK civil space activities.

We undertake world-leading space research and technology development, provide space test and ground-based facilities, design and build instruments, analyse and process data and operate S- and X-band ground-station facilities, as well as lead conceptual studies for future missions. We work with space and ground-based groups around the world.