The team at Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station has paid tribute an Oxford University don who was playing a “prominent” role in the site’s redevelopment at the time of his death.

Professor Steven Rawlings was found dead at his Oxfordshire home on Wednesday night, with police investigating the possibility that he was murdered.

A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, with Thames Valley Police saying Prof Rawlings and the arrested man had known each other.

A spokesman for the University of Oxford, where Prof Rawlings was Official Fellow and Tutor in Physics of St Peter's College, said: “He was one of the lead scientists in the international Square Kilometre Array project and also played a prominent role in the redevelopment of the Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall as a radio astronomy facility.”

Ian Jones, of Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd, said: “We were devastated to hear the sad news of our great friend and colleague, Professor Steve Rawlings, untimely death. Our heart-felt condolences go out to Linda, his family, friends and colleagues. “Steve was an incredible person with whom we had the very great privilege of working closely to develop the Goonhilly Space Science project. He will be truly missed by many people.

“We hope that the redevelopment and science projects planned for Goonhilly will provide a lasting legacy.”