Northumbria University

Northumbria University in Newcastle hosts the Space Technology Research Group (STRaND), which has been at the forefront of innovative small satellite development in the UK. The group co-developed STRaND-1, the world's first smartphone-powered satellite, in collaboration with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. Northumbria's space research covers solar physics, space weather instrumentation, CubeSat platform development, and novel miniaturised payload technologies. The university maintains active programmes in heliophysics and contributes to ESA and UKSA-funded research missions studying the Sun's influence on Earth's space environment.