About the Project

The rapid growth of space activities, ranging from mega-constellations to in-orbit servicing, has amplified concerns about their environmental (orbital and terrestrial) and socio-technical consequences. While initiatives such as Active Debris Removal (ADR) and In-Space Resource Utilization (ISRU) aim to enhance long-term sustainability, a critical gap remains: determining whether future space missions could unintentionally exacerbate existing challenges. Current mission assessments remain fragmented, often focusing on individual aspects such as debris mitigation or launch emissions, without integrating the full life-cycle impact of mission design, manufacturing, operations, and disposal.

This PhD project aims to advance sustainable space operations by developing a holistic lifecycle assessment framework and computational tool that captures environmental, social, and technical impacts across all mission phases—design, manufacturing, launch, operations, disposal, debris remediation, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria. Using systems engineering, digital engineering, and lifecycle modelling, the research will reveal interdependencies and trade-offs to support responsible decision-making in mission design and policy. The long-term vision is to embed sustainability at the heart of space mission planning through a comprehensive framework that informs engineering practice, regulatory action, and strategic planning.

Research Objectives

Review sustainability challenges throughout the complete mission lifecycle, from spacecraft design to end-of-life.
Develop a structured taxonomy and conceptual framework tailored to lifecycle sustainability in space missions.
Extend preliminary qualitative/quantitative models [1] to incorporate additional holistic dimensions (that capture interlinked environmental, social, and technical impacts) in each impact area - from design to end-of-life.
Define key figures of merit for each impact category and map their interconnections with other relevant categories.
Develop and validate a modular sustainability assessment framework and computational tool using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and lifecycle modelling techniques.
Apply and test the framework through case studies (e.g., ADR, ISRU, In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing) in collaboration with industrial partners.
Generate policy-relevant insights and strategic sustainability roadmaps for industry, regulators, and academia.

Impact

Supports the UK’s leadership in sustainable space practices and contributes to initiatives such as the National Space Strategy, Earth Space Sustainability Initiative (ESSI), and UN-COPUOS guidelines.
Delivers a holistic lifecycle methodology to quantify and evaluate the sustainability of emerging space missions, enabling informed trade-offs between technological innovation, environmental impact, and social responsibility.
Delivers a validated, open-access framework and toolset to guide sustainable mission design, regulation, and long-term orbital resilience.

Person Specification

Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second Class (2:1) UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline.
Candidates must meet the School's minimum English Language requirement.
Candidates will be expected to comply with the University's policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Skill Sets

Experience with computational modelling, systems engineering, and lifecycle assessment is highly desirable, alongside knowledge of MATLAB/Simulink/Python or similar tools. Familiarity with sustainability frameworks (e.g., ESG, Mission Life-cycle Assessment) and interest in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of engineering, environment, and policy will be advantageous.

Funding

We are looking for 2 candidates for this 3.5-year PhD studentship.

One studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants and EU applicants with settled status. This is from a start up fund and then start date is negotiable. Please apply as soon as possible.

The second PhD opportunity is for self-funded students but excellent candidates will be nominated for competence-based faculty funding (application deadline for faculty funding is 19th December 2025. If no suitable applications are received in December, a further round of applications will be considered for the deadline 13th March 2026).

In both cases, the funding covers tuition fees and provides a tax free stipend based on the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26). We expect the stipend to increase each year. We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

You will need to submit an online application through our website here: https://uom.link/pgr-apply

When you apply, you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications

• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress

• CV

• You will be asked to supply contact details for two referees on the application form (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/ work email address as we may need to verify the reference)

• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it.

• English Language certificate (if applicable). If you require an English qualification to study in the UK, you can apply now and send this in at a later date.

If you have any queries regarding making an application please contact our admissions team FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.

We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).

Funding Notes

We are looking for 2 candidates for this 3.5-year PhD studentship .

Please see the full notes in the project description for further details.

References

[1] M.H. Nair et al., “Towards an Environmentally Sustainable Space Future: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Assess Terrestrial and Orbital Interdependencies”, AIAA ASCEND 2025, Las Vegas, 22-24 July 2025.