University of New Hampshire launches Space Technology Hub
DURHAM — The University of New Hampshire has announced the launch of a Space Technology Hub, a first-of-its-kind center in the region that will provide cutting-edge space expertise and equipment to the burgeoning commercial space sector.
“We are thrilled to be launching the Space Technology Hub, which will connect the resources at UNH with the rapidly developing New Space industry, thereby accelerating the growth of the space economy in the Northeast,” said Réka Winslow, director for the Space Technology Hub. “We are truly excited to partner with companies in the region and beyond, offering testing and engineering solutions closer to home, all while developing a workforce pipeline for the space tech sector.”
In opening its doors to engage more closely with businesses, the Space Technology Hub will help fulfill critical needs in the rapidly growing commercial space sector. The World Economic Forum estimates that the space economy will reach $1.8 trillion by the year 2035 as satellite and rocket-enabled technologies become increasingly prevalent. And while space seems far away from daily life, what happens there can have profound effects on Earth — for example, solar flares that cause space storms can wreak havoc on satellites, interfere with GPS and shut down power grids.
The University has already partnered with Hanover, N.H.-based engineering and research firm Creare, to test space instruments that are ultimately destined for Saturn’s largest moon. The company needed access to a local facility that could simulate the space environment and UNH’s thermal vacuum chamber met their stringent requirements.
“Creare was impressed with UNH’s facilities and skilled technical staff and expects to work with UNH for qualification testing on future programs,” said Lucas O’Neill, a research and development engineer for Creare.
The thermal vacuum chamber, along with other cutting-edge equipment, clean rooms skilled engineers and specialists who can lend their space mission expertise, are all part of the Space Technology Hub. Over the past 60 years, UNH researchers have partnered with NASA and other agencies on more than 100 space and rocket missions to learn more about the sun’s influence on Earth and its atmosphere, as well as to investigate mysterious space phenomena from even farther out in space, such as gamma rays and neutron stars.
“Over that long arc of time, UNH’s Space Science Center grew in capacity and capability, with facilities and personnel designing, developing, testing and delivering instruments for scientific missions and supporting the space research missions of NASA, NSF, and NOAA,” said Harlan Spence, director for the UNH Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space. “The Space Technology Hub extends those capabilities to industry partners, not only in terms of our facilities but also in terms of our scientific support of emerging new disciplines such as space weather.”
The hub’s highly skilled engineers, technicians and scientists bring extensive flight heritage experience in all aspects of space mission design, testing and operation, as well as niche expertise not readily available in the commercial space sector. The hub also has a shorter wait time for businesses to access its facilities and skillsets than many of its competitors across the nation.
To learn more, visit the UNH Space Technology Hub website.
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