RAL
Space
Science and Technology
Facilities Council
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0QX
UK
tel: +44
1235 445 620
fax: +44 1235 445 848
url:
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/RALSPACE
Prof Richard
Holdaway: Director
RAL Space at the Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory (RAL) is part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council. We
work alongside the UK Space Agency (UKSA) who co-ordinate UK civil space
activities. We have around 200 staff who are dedicated to supporting the
programmes of the Council and those of the other research councils; as well as
undertaking a large number of contracts for agencies, industry and other
commercial customers.
We provide world-leading research and technology
development, space test facilities, instrument and mission design, and studies
of science and technology requirements for new missions. RAL Space has
ISO9001:2000 certification for the work it undertakes on space and ground-based
instruments.
Much of our work is in collaboration with UK university
research groups and a range of institutes around the world. Most of these
collaborations have been set up to support the European Space Agency (ESA) and
NASA missions, although RAL is also working on projects with other countries
and organisations including Australia, Japan, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia and the
European Union.
We provide opportunities for hosting scientists and
engineers on sabbatical leave, visiting scientists on short term visits and for
university sandwich course students on one-year placements. RAL Space also
provides graduate engineer training and CASE (Cooperative Awards in Science and
Engineering) studentships.