Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI)

The Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) is located within the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s School of Engineering. ASRI was formed in 2009 as a research group (ASReG) by Prof Jean Pitot and Prof Michael Brooks. We are now an Institute focused on the design, manufacture and testing of rocket propulsion systems. Our research engineers conduct work on aerospace and related projects for our funders and clients, and we also supervise graduate students enrolled in UKZN’s Masters and Doctoral research programmes. ASRI has three aims: Become a global centre of excellence in aerospace propulsion research and development. Support South Africa’s space engineering economy. Develop skilled human capital in aerospace propulsion engineering. ASRI conducts applied research in rocket propulsion and associated technologies such as thermal management and launch systems. We work closely with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Discipline of Mechanical Engineering and have a limited number of places available annually in our postgraduate programme. Because the MScEng degree is a research-based Masters qualification, the number of places depends on specific programme needs, our supervision capacity and the availability of project funding. The degree takes approximately two years of full-time, on-campus work. The PhD is also a research-based programme. Our work involves designing and operating technically complex engineering systems that employ high-pressure, high-temperature and chemically energetic processes.