Ranked #1 in Australia for industry collaboration, UON transforms aeronautics into astronautics through pioneering research in space weather, orbit science, and applied space engineering.
- Space Weather & Plasma Modelling — The Centre for Space Physics combines advanced simulations and solar observations to forecast geomagnetic storms that disrupt satellites, GPS, and critical infrastructure. Led by Associate Professor David Pontin and Dr Hannah Schunker, this research enhances resilience for emerging technologies and national space capabilities.
- Orbit Determination & Gravitational Science — Dr Thomas Loudis Papanikolaou leads efforts in precise orbit determination, gravity field recovery, and space situational awareness. He developed GEORB, an open-source tool supporting major missions like GRACE. His work enables high-precision orbit modelling and contributes to Earth system and climate science.
- Applied Space Solutions — UON’s space research directly supports climate monitoring, disaster response, and technology innovation. Its expertise in Earth observation, AI, and aerospace collaboration powers regional and global solutions.