Programme
Astrophysics
The Astrophysics programme supports the development and exploitation of ground‑based and space‑borne astronomy facilities, enabling world‑leading research across areas from exoplanets to cosmology. Experienced on working on large-scale missions such as ESA’s Herschel and Ariel, as well as providing key software and control services for SKAO – the world’s largest radio telescope.
Programme Aims
The Astrophysics programme is primarily science driven and links cutting edge research to the development and science exploitation of astronomical facilities. The main research areas of the programme are cosmology and galaxy evolution, radio astronomy, infrared astronomy and cosmic magnetism.
Our work in action
We combine fundamental research, prototype development, and mission‑focused engineering to develop capabilities and knowledge for the wider Astrophysics community.
Research-driven mission concepts
Driven by key research areas the programme supports the full life cycle of mission - from early scientific definition through to delivery and exploitation and have supported many missions as consortium managers.
Ground-segment software development
The programme offers extensive expertise in software development for mission ground segments, including observation simulators, data processing pipelines and operational control systems for in-flight operations.
Scientific instrument and payload design
Facilitating access to the RAL Space core engineering teams, the programme supports the design, build, testing and calibration of instruments, systems and key hardware for science-driven missions.
SKA-Low antennas at the S8 station on the southern spiral arm of the SKA-Low telescope. Credit: SKAO/Max Alexander
Case Study Highlight
The Square Kilometre Array Observatory
The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) is an international collaboration to build the largest science facility in history. The SKAO comprises of 2 large radio telescope arrays, constructed at sites in South Africa and Australia, with the headquarters at Jodrell bank in the UK. The Astrophysics group provides key software, the control services, for the Science Data Processor (SDP) component, the on-site software that will make the initial processing of the data from the telescopes. In addition, the Astrophysics group is part of the UK SKAO Science Regional Centre (SRC) providing tools and data processing facilities to the UK astronomical community (via the Scientific Computing Division (SCD) at RAL). The group is also part of the MerKAT MIGHTEE science consortium.
