About, SciComm, Space, UK Space Industry

How to find and make the most of work experience!

Getting work experience is difficult even in normal years, and the pandemic made it even more challenging. But don't let this deter you! Work Experience is really valuable, and can help you figure out what you like (and don't like) so you can narrow down the fields you want to pursue further. When searching for… Continue reading How to find and make the most of work experience!

Space

Triton and other Mysteries of the Neptunian System

Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun, at a whopping 30 Astronomical Units (where 1AU = distance between earth and sun). Its distance and low albedo (how much light it reflects) mean that it's not visible to the naked eye- so its discovery was somewhat more complex than the other planets, most of which… Continue reading Triton and other Mysteries of the Neptunian System

Space, UK Space Industry

So you want to work in the space industry: my work experience!

If you read my post about the UK space industry, you'll know that it's dominated by small-medium sized companies, with many focussed on small satellites. One of these companies is In Space Missions, and I was lucky enough to get to (virtually) spend 3 days with them last month doing some work experience! It was… Continue reading So you want to work in the space industry: my work experience!

SciComm, Space, Spectacular Scientists

Spectacular Scientists: Lauren Killam

Welcome back to another instalment of Spectacular Scientists... but this time although she has a STEM background, she isn't a typical scientist- Lauren is studying to be a space lawyer! Just goes to show you don't have to be an engineer to work in the space industry! The pandemic may have postponed her studies, but… Continue reading Spectacular Scientists: Lauren Killam

Space, Spaceflight, UK Space Industry

So you want to be an astronaut: Europe Edition!

ESA opens Astronaut Applications Earlier this month, ESA (the European Space Agencyโ€ฆ thankfully the UK remains a part of ESA despite Brexit!) announced they would be opening astronaut applications for the first time since 2008! Although I canโ€™t apply, this is still incredibly exciting- so I immediately signed up to attend the press conferenceโ€ฆ and… Continue reading So you want to be an astronaut: Europe Edition!

Physics, SciComm, Space

What is Inspiration 4?

Although it was announced at the beginning of February, the mission shot to public attention after an out of this world commercial at the superbowl. So, what is it?   Inspiration 4 will be the first fully commercial, all civilian, orbital crewed space mission!  Letโ€™s break down what this actually means: Fully Commercial: means that unlike… Continue reading What is Inspiration 4?

SciComm, Space, UK Space Industry

So you want to work in the space industry- UK edition!

When you think of space, the organisation that immediately springs to mind is NASA, and then probably SpaceX. But for those of us who donโ€™t live in the US, the fact that a lot of the big companies and funding for space research are found there is more than a little disheartening, especially when you… Continue reading So you want to work in the space industry- UK edition!

Space, Spaceflight

The Decade in Spaceflight

Rocket technology has come a long way since the start of the decade, with the rise of commercial spaceflight and integration of public and private agencies. It began with the end of an era. The space shuttle program was NASAโ€™s longest running mission series, with its first launch way back in 1981. The program was… Continue reading The Decade in Spaceflight

Space

The Decade in Space Exploration

This decade has perhaps been the most pivotal since the 1960s/70s, in terms of space exploration, both crewed and uncrewed! (to read more about the development of human spaceflight, click here) We maintained our continuous presence in space, with 41 missions to the International Space Station, ranging in length between 64 days and a year!… Continue reading The Decade in Space Exploration

Space, Spaceflight

The Artemis Generation

50 years ago, the world was awestruck as the space race fuelled innovation at a speed not yet seen before, resulting in the first human setting foot on the moon just a decade after the first satellite was launched! But as the cold war and  threat of nuclear attack fizzled out with the fading US-Russia… Continue reading The Artemis Generation