Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences (IAESS)
University of Southern Queensland
The Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences 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, USQ 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.usq.edu.au/research/institutes-centres
- Organisation type
- University research centre
- Number of research staff
- 100-200 research staff
- Address
- Z2 Block, USQ, Darling Heights QLD 4350
Strengths and capabilities
- Structural Testing Services
- Composite Materials Research
- Hypersonics Wind tunnel Testing
- 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
Facilities and major equipment
- Mt Kent observatory
- Long duration hypersonic wind tunnel
- Large scale automated composites manufacturing
- Structural testing facilities
- Fire test facilities
- Static rocket test site
- Rocket manufacturing lab
- Flexible robotic cell
- Agricultural research machinery – tractors
Lead researchers
- Professor Peter Schubel—Leading researcher in high-value polymer composite components and structures
- Professor David Buttsworth—Hayabus capsule entry airborne observing campaign with NASA, JAXA, and the SETI Institute
- Professor Brad Carter—Founded a Queensland space debris tracking facility in partnership with the German Space Agency (DLR)
Key science sectors
More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Defence, aviation and space
- Engineering
- Food and agriculture
- Quantum and advanced technologies
- Transport
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