UPD-CISAS is an interdepartmental centre of University of Padova dedicated to research in space science and engineering. Members of UPD-CISAS are departments of University of Padova (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mineralogy and Petrology, Geology and Geophysics, Pharmacology) and the Astronomical Observatory of Padua University. Purpose of UPD-CISAS is to promote, co-ordinate and perform studies, research and space activities which can develop interdisciplinary education and collaboration among people involved in Basic Sciences, Applied Research and industrial realisation.
UPD-CISAS utilizes different facilities belonging to its members and novel facilities that have been set-up and developed by the Centre itself for specific projects. A number of space instruments for space missions have been designed, developed at level of engineering model, tested, and are currently flying (e.g. OSIRIS-WAC on ROSETTA, HASI on CASSINI –Huygens, PFS on Mars Express). UPD-CISAS is currently developing innovative chemical propulsion (hybrid –thrusters which is studied also in a frame of an ESA contracts) and helicon –based plasma thrusters. UPD-TESI is a research group focused on precision manufacturing engineering, which mostly operates at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Padua. Nineteen persons are currently involved in the group, including 3 professors, 3 senior researchers, 2 post-docs and 11 PhD students.