Scotland’s first degree in planetary sciences launched in Aberdeen

A Scottish university has launched the country’s first taught postgraduate degree programme in planetary sciences – in a bid to bridge the skills gap in the fast-growing UK space sector. Science at the University of Aberdeen will study Earth, moon, and planetary sciences, as well as the technology that helps scientists understand the processes that form them.

The course has been designed and will be delivered by the university’s Planetary Sciences Group, which is part of current and future missions to mar sand part of the university’s Department of Geosciences.

Starting in September, the interdisciplinary programme will provide an informed understanding of planetary atmosphere sand landforms; space environment; remote sensing; data analysis; astro biology, and space systems engineering and instrumentation.

The Planetary Sciences Group has developed an instrument-HABIT( Habit ability: Brine, Irradiation and Temperature) which is currently fund ed by the UK space agency, and will, among other things, produce liquid water on Mars to support future exploration of the planet. It is scheduled to go to Mars in 2022 in the Exomars mission.

Group leader Professor Javier Martin-torres said the space industry in scotland and theuk was growing rapidly. According to the latest industry survey, Size & Health of the UK Space Industry 2020, Scotland is now home to 173 space organisations, supporting approximately one fifth of the 126,300 jobs which exist across the UK supply chain.