About
Hugh is a Professor of Astronautics, a member of the Astronautics Research Group at the University of Southampton, and co-director of the Centre of Excellence in In-situ and Remote Intelligent Sensing. He has worked in the fields of space debris and space sustainability for more than 20 years and is the author of the DAMAGE space debris model. Hugh represents the UK Space Agency at meetings of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) where he chairs Working Group 2 (which is focused on space debris modelling). Hugh has also represented the UK Space Agency at Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee meetings of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) as an expert on space debris, space operations and space situational awareness. In addition, he was a UK Space Agency delegate to the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group, which was set-up by the UN COPUOS to develop plans for spacecraft to monitor and mitigate the threat that asteroids and comets pose to the Earth. He provides expert opinion to space industry and academic committees, and commentary to journalists worldwide. Hugh has appeared on the BBC's Horizon television programme and in a special feature accompanying the DVD and Blu-Ray release of the movie "Gravity".
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Space debris
- Space sustainability
- Safety of spaceflight
- Space situational awareness
- Spacecraft systems engineering
Current research
My current research is focused on novel computational models and digital twins for understanding and predicting the evolution of the space debris population in Earth orbit under different scenarios. This includes the use of 'simple' source-sink models, more 'complex' semi-deterministic Monte Carlo models, and AI models. I use these models to inform the design of novel space systems and missions (e.g. large constellations of satellites), and to evaluate space debris mitigation and remediation measures (e.g. post-mission disposal and active debris removal).
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Publications
Teaching
I am the module lead for SESA2024 Astronautics, where I also contribute lectures on Mission Analysis, and SESA3038 Space Environment, which provides an opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to learn about different aspects of the space environment - particularly those related to space debris - and their consequences for spacecraft systems and design.
External roles and responsibilities
Biography
Hugh is a Professor of Astronautics, a member of the Astronautics Research Group at the University of Southampton, and co-director of the Centre of Excellence in In-situ and Remote Intelligent Sensing. He has worked in the fields of space debris and space sustainability for more than 20 years and is the author of the DAMAGE space debris model. Hugh represents the UK Space Agency at meetings of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) where he chairs Working Group 2 (which is focused on space debris modelling). Hugh has also represented the UK Space Agency at Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee meetings of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) as an expert on space debris, space operations and space situational awareness. In addition, he was a UK Space Agency delegate to the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group, which was set-up by the UN COPUOS to develop plans for spacecraft to monitor and mitigate the threat that asteroids and comets pose to the Earth. He provides expert opinion to space industry and academic committees, and commentary to journalists worldwide. Hugh has appeared on the BBC's Horizon television programme and in a special feature accompanying the DVD and Blu-Ray release of the movie "Gravity".