Institute for Space, Defence and Advanced Technology (IAESS)

University of Southern Queensland

Formerly known as Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences

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Inside the Mount Kent space observatory

The Institute for Space, Defence and Advanced Technology provides a dedicated facility for Space and Defence research with a focus on hypersonic propulsion systems, rockets, advanced materials and astrophysics.

With world-class infrastructure and equipment, UniSQ is home to the Mt Kent Observatory which provides the only ground-based support in the southern hemisphere for NASA's TESS mission, a long duration hypersonic wind tunnel and rocket lab, as well as one of Australia's largest dedicated composite materials, manufacturing and testing facilities.

Website
https://www.unisq.edu.au/research/institutes-centres/institute-for-space-defence-and-advanced-technologies
Organisation type
  • University Research Institute
Number of research staff
100-200 research staff
Address
Q Block, UniSQ, Darling Heights QLD 4350

Strengths and capabilities

  • Structural Testing Services
  • Composite materials research
  • Hypersonics wind tunnel testing
  • Resilient infrastructure research
  • Clean energy and environment
  • Exoplanet exploration
  • Space debris tracking
  • Shape memory polymer composites for space deployable structure
  • Composite rocket fuel tank for low cost space launch
  • Static Rocket testing
  • Solid rocket motor manufacturing
  • Quantum computing components
  • Digital construction and restoration

Facilities and major equipment

  • Mt Kent observatory
  • Long duration hypersonic wind tunnel
  • Large scale automated composites manufacturing
  • 8-axis filament winding cell (including dry-fibre, wet, and prepreg/towpreg winding option)
  • Structural testing facilities
  • Fire test facilities
  • Static rocket test site
  • Rocket manufacturing lab
  • Flexible robotic cell
  • Advanced microscopy including SEM, AFM, optical microscopy and associated specimen preparation equipment
  • Analytical testing equipment including DSC, TGA, and Rheology
  • Concrete 3D printing facilities

Lead researchers

  • Professor Peter Schubel— Institute Executive Director, and Leading Researcher in the design and processing of high-value composite components and structures.
  • Professor Allan Manalo - Director of the Centre for Future Materials, and Leading Researcher in fibre composites and low-carbon emission materials for civil infrastructure.
  • Professor Duncan Wright - Director of the Centre for Astrophysics, and Leading Researcher in astronomical instrumentation, exoplanet discovery and stellar astronomy.
  • Professor David Buttsworth—Hayabus capsule entry airborne observing campaign with NASA, JAXA, and the SETI Institute

Achievements of the centre

  • Ranked by the Australian as the Leading Research Institution for Composite Materials.
  • Secured a $50M national Trailblazer grant to lead a space manufacturing hub (iLAuNCH), featuring 3 universities and over 20 industry partners
  • Discovery of hundreds of new planets and stars, including a massive exoplanet using innovative search techniques.
  • Awarded $3.4 million in Queensland Government funding, to develop Australia's first industry-accessible cryogenic electronics measurement facility

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

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