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Professor Craig Underwood

Deputy Director of the Surrey Space Centre, Head of the Planetary Environments Group

Qualifications: BSc (York), PGCE (York), PhD (Surrey), FBIS, MIEEE

Email:
Phone: Work: 01483 68 9809
Room no: BA U

Further information

Biography

Dr. Craig Underwood graduated from the University of York in 1982 with a B.Sc.(Hons) in Physics with Computer Science. After gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from York in 1983, he began a teaching career at Scarborough Sixth-Form College where he developed satellite activities.

In January 1986, Craig joined the University of Surrey as a Research Fellow responsible for the generation and maintenance of software for the UoSAT Satellite Control Ground-Station. In 1988, as a Senior Engineer with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL), he became responsible for mission analysis and the thermal design of the UoSAT spacecraft, including: UoSAT-3, -4, and -5, KITSAT-1, S80/T, HealthSat-II, PoSAT-1 and FASat-Alfa.

From 1990 he has been Surrey's Principal Investigator of Space Radiation Environment and Effects, completing a PhD in this area in 1996.

In 1993, Craig became a Lecturer in Spacecraft Engineering advancing to Senior Lecturer in 1999, and Reader in April 2003.

Research Interests

  • Radiation Environment & Effects (Space Weather, Atmospheric Radiation)
  • Remote Sensing Instrumentation (UV-VIS-NIR, Thermal IR, mm-Wave, Radar)
  • Nano/Pico-Satellite Technologies (SNAP, PalmSat)
  • Planetary Exploration (Machine Vision/Optical Navigation, Mars VTOL Aerobot)
  • PhD Topics are available in any of these areas.

PhD Topics are available in any of these areas.

The Group's personnel and their research interests can be seen here.

Craig heads the Planetary Environments Group within the Surrey Space Centre, which has the remit of developing the instruments, systems and data processing techniques needed to investigate the Earth and other planetary environments from space.

Radiation Environment & Effects

Craig has been involved in space radiation environment and effects research since 1990, specialising in the analysis and mitigation of total ionising dose (TID) and single-event effects (SEEs)in commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) microelectronic technologies, operaing as part of spacecraft data-handling systems.

He has also designed and built radiation environment monitoring payloads for the UoSAT-5 (1991), KITSAT-1 (1992), PoSAT-1 (1993), AMSAT-OSCAR-40 (2000) and TiungSat (2000) satellites.

He is currently building the CEDEX radiation monitor for the European Space Agency's Galileo System Test-Best (GSTB-V2/A) spacecraft due to be launched in 2005, and is also part of the UK's SPAESRANE initiative examining the effect of atmospheric radiation on avionic systems operating in commercial aircraft.

Remote Sensing Instrumentation

Craig has had a long-term interest in remote sensing instrumentation design.

He developed stratospheric ozone monitoring UV radiometers for the FASAT-Alfa (1995) and FASAT-Bravo (1998) satellites, and an ultra-compact Earth-observation CMOS video camera for the Thai Paht (1998) satellite. He also provided the pre-flight optical and radiometric calibration of the tri-band (NIR, Red, Green) imaging sensors for the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) Satellites: AlSAT-1 (2002, UK-DMC (2003) and NigeriaSat (2003).

He is currently developing a micro-bolometer array-based thermal-IR imager for future spacecraft, as well as two different multi-band miniature CMOS camera based imaging spectrometers - one for use from orbit and one for use by robotic planetary exploring vehicles.

He has also proposed a bistatic synthetic aperture radar imaging concept for micro-satellites (2000) and is beginning work in the area of mm-wave remote sensing.

Nano/Pico-Satellite Technologies

Craig began Surrey's nano-satellite activities in 1995, through setting and supervising a series of student projects aimed at developing a "soccer ball" sized spacecraft.

As Chief Architect of the SNAP concept, he has gone on to play a leading role in the design and development of SNAP-1, Surrey's 6.5 kg nano-satellite, launched in June 2000, which carried out experiments in autonomous orbital manoeuvring and remote inspection of other spacecraft.

He is now developing PalmSat, a 1 kg student-built satellite for a similar rôle. It is also envisaged that future PalmSats will be launched en masse in "swarms" to sythesise planetary-scale sensing functions.

For his work on SNAP, Craig and the Surrey Space Centre achieved the award of “Finalist” in the 2001 Flight International Awards in the Space and Missiles Category.

Planetary Exploration

Craig's interest in ultra-miniture imaging technology is currently being applied to the problem of autonomous satellite rendezvous and docking using CMOS camera-based machine-vision system. The system could be used by a Mars-orbiting vehicle to automatically acquire a sample retured from the Martian surface.

Away from orbit, Craig is also working on a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerobot concept for the exploration of Mars.

Publications

Highlights

  • Taylor BO, Underwood CI, Vacanti G, Maddox E. (2011) 'The Interplanetary Electron Model (IEM)'. IEEE IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Las Vegas, NV, USA: NSREC 2011 6 (58), pp. 2785-2792.
    doi: 10.1109/TNS.2011.2171718
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/27660/

    Abstract

    A new Interplanetary electron environment model based on statistical analyses of historical datasets is presented. The model reports generates confidence limits for solar electron fluences in a similar fashion to existing Solar proton models, as well as peak event fluxes and fluences. Electrons of Jovian origin are also modeled based on simplified diffusive transport equations to provide predicted fluxes for locations within the ecliptic plane.

  • Taylor B, Underwood CI, Ryden KA, Morris PA. (2009) 'A GIOVE Derived Galileo Electron Spectrum and Comparison to Models'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, Quebec City, CANADA: 56 (6), pp. 3423-3428.
    doi: 10.1109/TNS.2009.2034149
  • Taylor B, Underwood C, Evans HDR, Daly E, Ryden KA, Santin G. (2008) 'Galileo GIOVE-A MEORAD Results and Analysis'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, 55 (6), pp. 3151-3157.
    doi: 10.1109/TNS.2008.2006748
  • Ryden KA, Morris PA, Ford KA, Hands ADP, Dyer CS, Taylor B, Underwood CI, Rodgers DJ, Mandorlo G, Gatti G, Evans HDR, Daly EJ. (2008) 'Observations of Internal Charging Currents in Medium Earth Orbit'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, 36 (5), pp. 2473-2481.
    doi: 10.1109/TPS.2008.2001945
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/174/
  • Wang R, Crocombe AD, Richardson G, Underwood CI. (2008) 'Energy dissipation in spacecraft structures incorporating bolted joints operating in macroslip'. ASCE-AMER SOC CIVIL ENGINEERS JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, 21 (1), pp. 19-26.
    doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0893-1321(2008)21:1(19)

Journal articles

  • Di Bari R, Brown TWC, Gao S, Underwood C. (2011) 'Dual-Polarized Printed S-Band Radar Array Antenna for Spacecraft Applications'. IEEE IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 10, pp. 987-990.
    doi: 10.1109/LAWP.2011.2167951
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/439773/

    Abstract

    A novel dual-polarized broadband antenna array for S-band is presented. This antenna is composed of 6 × 2 microstrip antenna elements with a hybrid feed-line network providing an isolation ≥ 18.6 dB between the H- and V-ports. The operative bandwidth is from 3.15 to 3.25 GHz, and the peak measured gain is approximately 19 dBi. The array is suitable for spacecraft operation because of the selected materials, its low profile (~8 mm thickness), and light weight. It has potential applications in synthetic aperture radar (SAR), remote sensing, and wireless communications.

  • Di Bari R, Brown T, Gao S, Notter M, Hall D, Underwood C. (2011) 'Dual-Polarized Printed S-Band Radar Array Antenna for Spacecraft Applications'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, 10, pp. 987-990.
    doi: 10.1109/LAWP.2011.2167951
  • Gao S, Clark K, Unwin M, Zackrisson J, Shiroma WA, Akagi JM, Maynard K, Garner P, Boccia L, Amendola G, Massa G, Underwood C, Brenchley M, Pointer M, Sweeting MN. (2009) 'Antennas for Modern Small Satellites'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE ANTENN PROPAG M, 51 (4), pp. 40-56.
    doi: 10.1109/MAP.2009.5338683
  • Taylor B, Underwood CI, Ryden KA, Morris PA. (2009) 'A GIOVE Derived Galileo Electron Spectrum and Comparison to Models'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, Quebec City, CANADA: 56 (6), pp. 3423-3428.
    doi: 10.1109/TNS.2009.2034149
  • Taylor B, Underwood C, Evans HDR, Daly E, Ryden KA, Santin G. (2008) 'Galileo GIOVE-A MEORAD Results and Analysis'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, 55 (6), pp. 3151-3157.
    doi: 10.1109/TNS.2008.2006748
  • Ryden KA, Morris PA, Ford KA, Hands ADP, Dyer CS, Taylor B, Underwood CI, Rodgers DJ, Mandorlo G, Gatti G, Evans HDR, Daly EJ. (2008) 'Observations of Internal Charging Currents in Medium Earth Orbit'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, 36 (5), pp. 2473-2481.
    doi: 10.1109/TPS.2008.2001945
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/174/
  • Wang R, Crocombe AD, Richardson G, Underwood CI. (2008) 'Energy dissipation in spacecraft structures incorporating bolted joints with viscoelastic layers'. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING PUBLISHING LTD PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART G-JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, 222 (G2), pp. 201-211.
    doi: 10.1243/09544100JAERO259
  • Wang R, Crocombe AD, Richardson G, Underwood CI. (2008) 'Energy dissipation in spacecraft structures incorporating bolted joints operating in macroslip'. ASCE-AMER SOC CIVIL ENGINEERS JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, 21 (1), pp. 19-26.
    doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0893-1321(2008)21:1(19)
  • Taylor B, Underwood C, Evans HDR, Ryden K, Rodgers D, Daly EJ, Mandorlo G, Falcone M, Morris PA, Prieto RG. (2007) 'Results from the Galileo giove - A radiation monitors and comparison with existing radiation belt models'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, Athens, GREECE: 54 (4), pp. 1076-1081.
    doi: 10.1109/TNS.2007.892115
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1992/
  • Crocombe AD, Wang R, Richardson G, Underwood CI. (2006) 'Estimating the energy dissipated in a bolted spacecraft at resonance'. PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD COMPUTERS & STRUCTURES, 84 (5-6), pp. 340-350.
    doi: 10.1016/j.compstruc.2005.09.024

Conference papers

  • Taylor BO, Underwood CI, Vacanti G, Maddox E. (2011) 'The Interplanetary Electron Model (IEM)'. IEEE IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Las Vegas, NV, USA: NSREC 2011 6 (58), pp. 2785-2792.
    doi: 10.1109/TNS.2011.2171718
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/27660/

    Abstract

    A new Interplanetary electron environment model based on statistical analyses of historical datasets is presented. The model reports generates confidence limits for solar electron fluences in a similar fashion to existing Solar proton models, as well as peak event fluxes and fluences. Electrons of Jovian origin are also modeled based on simplified diffusive transport equations to provide predicted fluxes for locations within the ecliptic plane.

  • Bridges CP, Kenyon S, Underwood CI, Sweeting MN. (2011) 'STRaND: Surrey Training Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator'. International Academy of Astronautics Proceedings of the1st IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and CubeSat Workshop, Rome, Italy: 1st IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and CubeSat Workshop
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/26829/
  • Ahmed N, Underwood CI. (2010) 'Software Defined LFM CW SAR Receiver for Microsatellites'. SPRINGER-VERLAG BERLIN SMALL SATELLITE MISSIONS FOR EARTH OBSERVATION, Berlin, GERMANY: 7th IAA International Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation, pp. 311-320.
    doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-03501-2_29
  • Smail S, Underwood CI. (2009) 'ELECTROMAGNETIC FLAT DOCKING SYSTEM FOR IN-ORBIT SELF-ASSEMBLY OF SMALL SPACECRAFT'. UNIVELT INC SPACEFLIGHT MECHANICS 2009, VOL 134, PTS I-III, Savannah, GA: AAS/AIAA 19th Space Flight Mechanics Meeting 134, pp. 173-183.
  • Saaj CM, Underwood CI, Noakes C, Park DWG, Moore T. (2008) 'The science and technology behind Galileo - Europe's GPS'. BRITISH INTERPLANETARY SOC JBIS-JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH INTERPLANETARY SOCIETY, London, ENGLAND: US/European/Asian Symposium of the British-Interplanetary-Society 61 (3), pp. 91-97.
  • Fernandez-Saldivar JA, Underwood CI, Mackin S. (2008) 'Comparison of atmospheric ozone measurements between NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and the FASAT-BRAVO Ozone Mapping Detector (OMAD)'. SPRINGER SMALL SATELLITES FOR EARTH OBSERVATION: SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS, German Aerosp Ctr, Berlin, GERMANY: 6th IAA International Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation, pp. 101-109.
    doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-6943-7_9
  • Song H, Underwood C. (2007) 'A Mars VTOL aerobot - Preliminary design, dynamics and control'. IEEE 2007 IEEE AEROSPACE CONFERENCE, VOLS 1-9, Big Sky, MT: 2007 IEEE Aerospace Conference, pp. 204-217.
  • Fernandez-Saldivar JA, Underwood CI, Mackin S. (2007) 'Ozone depletion in the Austral spring from UV microsatellite instrument - art. no. 674503'. SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING REMOTE SENSING OF CLOUDS AND THE ATMOSPHERE XII, Florence, ITALY: Conference on Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XII 6745, pp. 74503-74503.
    doi: 10.1117/12.737960
  • Fernandez-Saldivar JA, Underwood CI, Mackin S. (2006) 'Low-cost microsatellite UV instrument suite for monitoring ozone and volcanic sulphur dioxide'. SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING REMOTE SENSING OF CLOUDS AND THE ATMOSPHERE XI, Stockholm, SWEDEN: Conference on Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XI 6362
    doi: 10.1117/12.689107

Teaching

As well as developing and teaching Surrey's Spacecraft Engineering post-graduate and undergraduate courses, Craig also teaches courses on Astronomy and Astrophysics for the Physics Department at Surrey. Currently he teaches:

  • Level 2 (Physics) Exploring the Solar System
  • Level 3 (Physics) Detection and Measurement in Astronomy
  • Level M (Elec. Eng.) Spacecraft Systems
  • Level M (Elec. Eng.) Spacecraft Applications