7 days ago
Cold War building repurposed as rocket test lab in Argyll and Bute
The cutting-edge rocket testing and teaching facility, MachLab, which is located close to the Mull of Kintyre, near Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute, opened on the site of the former RAF Machrananish airbase this week.
Established by University of Glasgow, researchers have sourced almost £500,000 in funding from the space industry, including a matched contribution from the UK Space Agency.
It is hoped the facility will play a key role in supporting the research and development of new rocket engines.
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MachLab's custom-built test stand will help offer researchers the opportunity to fire experimental rocket designs and gather data to help propel Scotland's space sector.
Researchers hope the facility will help establish the next generation of rocket engineers through specialist training, including a Rocketry Research Teaching Training led by the University of Glasgow.
Dr Krzysztof Bzdyk and Professor Patrick Harkness, of the [[University of Glasgow]]'s James Watt School of Engineering, collaborated with space technology experts Exotopic to design and build the MachLab facility.
Professor Harkness said: 'MachLab is ready to play a key role in the UK's strategy to return to vertical launch, ensuring that students and researchers can access hotfire facilities in a safe and controlled environment.
'MachLab will allow us to co-operate with other countries establishing or re-establishing their access to space.
'We have already had visitors from South Africa, and we expect to welcome partners from Australia in the near future.
'The UK is returning to vertical launch, and will be going to the stars. We are building that future here, today.'
(Image: MachLab)
The facility has already hosted a test-fire of new 3D-printed rocket engines designed by University of Glasgow PhD student Jack Tufft, which have an advanced cooling system.
The TORC-1, -2, and -3 engines use a high-strength aerospace alloy made from copper, chromium and zirconium and were built to explore use of topology optimisation in regenerative cooling channel design.
MachLab aims to enable the development of rocket engines using solid, liquid and cryogenic propellants designed to carry payloads into space in the future, with the rocket test stand allowing researchers to fire prototype rockets while they remain safely locked down and stationary.
The lab was originally built in the late 1980s as part of a refuelling complex for US Air Force strategic bombers.
Dr Bzdyk said his team is excited to be making their mark in rocket research, development and teaching in Scotland.
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He said: 'MachLab has been two years in the making, with all the systems required to operate a liquid bipropellant rocket engine being created from the ground up.
'We're excited to be ready to start making our mark in rocket research, development and teaching in Scotland.
'Patrick and I are very grateful to our colleagues Jack Davies and Jack Tufft, and the many others who have helped us in countless ways since work on MachLab began.'
Andy Grey, CEO of Exotopic, said he is looking forward to welcoming researchers from across the world at the new site hoping it will lead to new jobs and further opportunities for Scotland's space industry.
He said: 'This has been a fantastic opportunity to partner with some of the UK's leading researchers at the University of Glasgow to develop a world-class facility that provides a key capability within our unique aerospace R&D offering at Machrihanish airbase.
'We are looking forward to welcoming national and international researchers from academia and industry to our site, growing this R&D service, and creating more jobs and opportunities in the area.'
Matt Archer, director of Launch at the UK Space Agency, added: 'Facilities like MachLab strengthen our launch ecosystem, helping build the skills, infrastructure and innovation needed for a resilient UK launch capability.
'By supporting rocket engine testing and inspiring future engineers, it lays the groundwork for the UK to lead in launch.
'The UK Space Agency is proud to have supported MachLab's development as part of our broader commitment to growing the UK's launch sector.'
