Engineering in Space
13.45 - 14.20 GMT
Beam in and hear from hidden heroes of the UK space industry revealing their missions and adventures through various disciplines of engineering.
Hosted by the session’s Patron, hear from an awesome panel in academia and industry. Discover how they participate in space missions here on Earth; their journeys from studying to becoming a member of a thriving UK space industry; be inspired by the contribution being made to international space exploration.
Recommended for secondary schools
Patron: John Chinner
Head of Outreach and STEM Engagement. Airbus Defence and Space UK. STEM Ambassador
How do you build a camera that goes to Mars? And how do you test it right here on earth? How do you communicate with a spacecraft a million miles away? If you want to know the answers to these questions, then join the "Engineering in Space" panel session.
We will also give you insight into our career journeys, and how YOU can aspire to work in space.
Panellist: Dr Charly Knight – Dynamic Modeller for Spacecraft Testing, RAL Space
RAL Space is home to the National Satellite Test Facility, the UK's first comprehensive set of large-scale space test facilities at a single location.
Charly is a spacecraft test engineer with background in simulations. Her PhD looked at alternative methods for vibration testing of small items. Charly works at RAL Space in the dynamic testing group which carries out vibration, acoustic, and shock testing of spacecraft at the National Satellite Testing Facility.
Panellist: Jamie Williams – Senior Deep Space Missions Operations Engineer, Goonhilly Earth Station
Jamie is a Senior Deep Space Mission Operations Engineer at Goonhilly Earth Station, where his team are responsible for configuring and operating the world’s first commercial lunar and deep space antenna – 32m GHY-6.
On a typical day Jamie will be receiving data from and sending commands to flagship deep space missions including ESA’s Mars Express and ISRO’s Aditya-L1 solar observatory, providing a vital link between distant spacecraft and the space agencies and private companies that operate them.
Jamie’s other responsibilities include designing cryogenic receivers and mechanical components for antennas and radio telescopes. He graduated in 2021 from Plymouth University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Panellist: Chloe Wishart - Junior Instrument Engineer, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL
Chloe is a Junior Instrument Engineer at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory working on Enfys - an infrared spectrometer that will go on the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin Rover. This instrument will be used to identify minerals on the Martian surface, meaning that it can help the rover to find interesting spots to investigate.
She studied BSc Astronomy at the University of Glasgow and started her job with very little engineering knowledge. She has spent the past year learning about the exciting world of electronics and engineering, and about what is needed to get an instrument ready to go to another planet.
