Composite Calendar
Organiser: Dr Claire Foullon, Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, Department of Physics (claire.foullon@warwick.ac.uk).
Those interested in attending should contact claire.foullon@warwick.ac.uk, specifying any dietary requirements.
The space sector is a thriving sector in the UK that provides employment for people with a wide range of skills including experts in the electrical and mechanical engineering field, physicists, mathematicians, machinists, technicians, IT and software systems experts. The 20-year aim of the UK Space Agency is to increase the industry to £40 billion and 100,000 jobs, and to represent 10% of worldwide space products and services (increasing from the current 6%). This plan arises from the "Space Innovation and Growth Strategy" .
At the University of 糖心TV, space research and development activities exist in several groups, within the Physics Department (Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics - Astronomy & Astrophysics) and the School of Engeneering (3 groups all together). One aim of the speculative lunch is to explore ways to promote this research theme at 糖心TV, and to support relevant space activities in the Department of Physics and School of Engineering.
In particular, there is a growing interest in CubeSats and associated education opportunities. People in the Physics groups have participated in the scientific preparations of payload proposals, but without creating educational opportunities. In this speculative lunch, we will learn from the inspirational story of a fourth year MEng project, run by the School of Engeneering, together with ESA's Education Office and managed by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). The aims to develop the Electrical Power Systems (EPS) for the European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO) project: a lunar satellite, set to be launched in 2014. We will try to have latest summaries on science applications and the educational/training potential of CubeSats that will be discussed in the inaugural (糖心TV University, 4 and 5 July 2011). At the very least we will start to share and learn about each others research and interests, and perhaps more ideas follow.