Abstract
Leicester University in the UK has for many years been a leader in space science. Recently an expansion of this programme was announced, with the inauguration of the Leicester Space Centre by the Secretary of State for Education and Science. Here, the Vice Chancellor and the Head of Physics and Astronomy at Leicester outline the background to this development. Current Space Research at the University involves some 80 graduate scientists, engineers and support staff and has an annual budget of over £1.5 million. Much of the work is carried out with UK industry, all of it lies – necessarily – within international space programmes. The principal aims of the Leicester initiative are threefold: to broaden the scope of its space programme, to enhance and develop industrial links, and to train the next generation of space scientists and engineers.
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