Out of this world research

Our researchers are working to protect space so that we can continue to explore and advance scientific discoveries.

The University of Liverpool collaborates with global partners and international space agencies to deliver projects that will help discover new ways to protect our planet and the universe we live in, as well as finding solutions to challenges we face across the world.

Watch on YouTube: Space engineering

Space engineering

In this video, Professor Simon Maskell, Dr Stefania Soldini and Dr Kai Hoettges explain how their space engineering research is creating pioneering solutions for a better world.

European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer

Muscles, ageing and microgravity

Discover our experiments aboard the International Space Station helping us understand what happens to human muscles as we age.

Infographic showing the effect of DART's impact on the orbit of Dimorphos. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL

NASA’s DART experiment

A University engineer was part of the world’s first full-scale planetary defence test to protect Earth against deadly asteroids.

Earth featuring a series of connected points via satellite

Space surveillance

Supporting the UK Ministry of Defence and the European Space Agency in space surveillance to map debris orbiting earth.

DART and ASI’s LICIACube at Didymos System

Hera mission

What might the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft find at the Didymos binary asteroid system?

Dr Fu presenting at the International Astronautical Congress 2024 in Milan

Meet our researchers: Dr Xiaoyu Fu

Dr Fu's work is contributing to the formulation of effective planetary defence strategies aimed at protecting the Earth from potentially catastrophic asteroid collisions.

Alumnus Colin Bennett infront of VSS Unity

Alumni stories: Aboard the VSS Unity

Alumnus Colin Bennett reflects on how his studies at Liverpool led him to take the journey of a lifetime aboard the Virgin Galactic spaceflight.

Dr Stefania Soldini and her team at the European Space Research and Technology Centre

Postcard from the European Space Research and Technology Centre

Dr Stefania Soldini and her team visited the European Space Agency’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) ahead of the October launch of Hera, the first European planetary defence mission to the binary asteroid Didymos.