The Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at the University of Southern California is an Organizational Research Unit dedicated to space engineering, research, and the build, test and flight demonstration of spacecraft and satellites.
 

SERC Vision and Mission:

Apply advanced research to build & fly satellites and space vehicles to:

1. Address the need to be effective and competitive in today's global marketplace, by providing our scientists and engineers with the knowledge and skills to build hardware that stays on the cutting edge of space science and technology;
    
2. Address the need to provide Transformative Impacts on current & future space applications, by allowing Universities to play key and critical roles in innovation and creativity and technology transfer.
    
   

The SERC was created out of discussions with local AF, NASA and Aerospace industry centers to develop sustainable and achievable low cost rapid design-to-orbit space systems.  The trend to small satellites throughout the international community is leading to 80% effectiveness at 20% cost of traditional US systems.  The SERC is bringing to bear research and creativity to processes, labor practices, manufacturability methods and new design approaches to support US small satellite activities now and for the future.

Projected Impacts:

• National Space Support:
  Applications for small and micro-satellites that affect our National posture in space
   
• Research and Development:
  Apply out-of-the-box and revolutionary development philosophies
   
• Education:
  Educate the 21st Century workforce
   
• Space Industry:
  Challenge traditional cost/schedule & manufacturing processes
   
• Space Science & Exploration:
  Enable ground breaking capabilities through advanced engineering