Durham University Space Research Centre (SPARC) travelled to Florida in January to strengthen international relationships and explore new opportunities for collaboration in sustainable space research and innovation.

Our ‘Spotlight on’ series celebrates the work of our leading academics. Professor Atanu Chaudhuri pioneers research into sustainable operations and supply changes, both on Earth and in space.

Professor James Osborn has published a new article exploring how the rapid transformation of the global space sector is reshaping economies, governance and security. Titled The Final Frontier: The Rise and Risks of the Modern Space Sector, the piece appears in The Perth Dialogue, published by the Forrest Research Foundation.

Our research has informed a new Parliamentary report on how the UK can strengthen its position in the global space sector.

The UK Space Agency has become part of the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Dr Bleddyn Bowen, Associate Professor in Astropolitics and Space Warfare, in our School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA), looks at what this might mean.

During a recent visit, Professor Mike Bentley and Professor James Osborn met with Australian and New Zealand partners to develop research collaborations in Antarctic research and Space and Satellite applications.

Durham University’s Space Research Centre (SPARC) and Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) made a significant impact at the UK Space Conference 2025, presenting a dynamic portfolio of research and innovation aimed at shaping the future of sustainable space exploration.

Durham University Spaceflight has officially broken the UK Rocketry Association’s Open Altitude Record with Rosemary 2, a student-built high-powered rocket that reached an apogee of 11.4 km (≈37,000 feet) and a top speed of Mach 2.2.

CfAI researcher, Ollie Farley, has been awarded funding from ARIA: Forecasting Tipping Points. Backed by £81m, this programme aims to enhance our climate change response by developing an early warning system for tipping points.

Contributing to the national conversation on UK space policy, SPARC's Dr Bleddyn Bowen, Associate Professor of Astropolitics, gave oral evidence to the UK Engagement with Space Committee.

Durham University Space Research Centre was at the launch of the Royal Society's Space: 2075 report and had the opportunity to showcase our research along with colleagues from the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation. 

Our strengths in space and quantum research were the main focus of a visit to Durham University by the German Ambassador to the UK.