30/07/2013

Queen's Contributes To EU Weather Project

Queen's University Belfast has become part of a UK group that will build a key instrument in new European weather satellites.

Research by Queen’s University’s Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT) has led to major advances in the design and manufacture of the next generation of Earth observation satellites.

The new technology is said to enable £30m of reduction in costs.

It is thought the contract could be worth up to £150m.

The new instrument, to be known as the MicroWave Sounder (MWS), is expected to significantly improve performance in weather satellites.

The MWS will measure temperature and water content at different altitudes, which will then enable weather to be accurately predicted several days ahead.

Dr Robert Cahill from ECIT at Queen’s said: "I am very pleased that Queen's has been selected by ESA to develop and breadboard the microwave FSS devices which are the critical components that form the core of the radiometer instrumentation. This is a result of a decade long partnership between Queen's and ESA, the UK Space Agency, Astrium and RAL Space to exploit the patented PhD research work of Raymond Dickie who is a key member of the project team."

A statement from Astrium said: "Queen’s University has made a significant and recognised contribution to the growth of the UK space industry by developing their new technologies. Queen’s research contributed directly to the UK space industry securing a multi-million pound contract for advanced instrument development."

(IT/MH)

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