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Issue #49

IN THIS ISSUE: Staring at the MYSTERIOUS Helpline from Space Weightless in the Clouds MERCURY Contents News Cornwall Calling Space Watcher Mapping the Route to Mars Honour for UK New Tracks Pollution UK-France Space Deal In Pictures The Sun Features Mysterious Mercury Zero-G Science Helpline from Space Education Resources UK Space History Skylark Made in the UK -i Info News

Cornwall Calling

The first Moon landing Cornwall Calling Credit: NASA

Cornwall could soon be Antennas at Goonhilly beamed communicating with the Moon and images of the 1969 Moon landing Mars, following the announcement and, shortly after it was built in that the world’s first commercial deep 1985, the 32-metre Goonhilly-6 space communication base will be at antenna carried the historic Live Aid the Goonhilly Earth Station. concert broadcast to TV viewers An £8.4 million investment will see a around the world. two-year upgrade of the Goonhilly-6 A Space Industry Bill, announced antenna so it can communicate as part of the Queen’s speech in One of the large dishes at Goonhilly with future robotic and crewed 2017, will introduce new powers missions to the Moon and Mars. The to allow and Credit: Goonhilly Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local launches from UK soil. Goonhilly is Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Deal also offering tracking and the and communications facilities as (ESA) – which the UK Space Agency part of the Cornwall contributes to – funded the contract, funding bid. which will allow Goonhilly to support “We see huge opportunities for ESA’s worldwide network of spacecraft the developing space sector in monitoring ground stations. Cornwall,” said the UK Space “The UK Space Agency has played a Agency’s Head of Local Growth vital role in supporting this partnership,” Strategy, Colin Baldwin. “We said Science Minister Sam Gyimah, look forward to working with “and will continue to work alongside local partners, including industry, local leaders and international Goonhilly Earth Station and the partners to grow the UK’s share of the Local Enterprise Partnership, as global space market.” their plans develop.” News

Space Weather Watcher

Space Weather Watcher

The European Space Agency (ESA) Space weather is perhaps most The new mission is being designed Science Laboratory will lead the is planning a new space weather familiar to people through the to put a satellite at the L5 development of instruments. mission to monitor and better borealis, or northern lights, a point to monitor the Sun’s activity and “We have been advocates for such understand the effects of and harmless display caused by charged provide an early warning system. a space weather mission over many other material ejected from the Sun, particles from the Sun bombarding L5 is a position in space where the years,” said Jackie Davies of RAL and British space companies and the atmosphere. But the Sun’s more gravitational attraction of the Sun and Space. “It is extremely satisfying to researchers will play a leading role in violent outbursts have the potential to the Earth balance out, providing a achieve this goal and we are now its development. cause real damage here on Earth. stable parking spot relative to the two looking forward to the challenge A recent ESA study estimated that the larger bodies. of leading a multi-instrument, potential cost to Europe from a single Of the four teams developing the multi-national instrumentation extreme space weather event could platforms and instruments for the development programme.” be as high as €15 billion. Much of this mission, three are from the UK. Airbus The fourth partner is OHB from disruption could be avoided through UK will lead development of the Germany, heading up a consortium accurate forecasting. mission, with a focus on operations developing a different platform and the spacecraft platform. RAL concept. All proposals will be Space and UCL’s Mullard Space assessed by ESA before the mission gets the final go-ahead. An aurora above the Earth, seen from the ISS Credit: ESA, NASA

The new spacecraft will monitor the Sun from the L5 position in space Credit: ESA News

Mapping the Route to Mars

People – maybe a UK astronaut – could one day work on Mars Credit: NASA Mapping the Route to Mars

If you want to know when and how The role of private space companies “This update to the Global Exploration humans are likely to land on Mars, is also considered, and it introduces Roadmap presents an exciting vision you could do worse than read the the concept of an international Deep for future exploration activities,” said Global Exploration Roadmap. The Space Gateway. This would be a Head of at the UK latest update has been published by small “human-tended” facility orbiting Space Agency, Sue Horne. “The UK a consortium of 14 international space the Moon, to support human and currently makes a strong contribution agencies to showcase their thinking on robotic lunar exploration and provide to the field, including building the the future of exploration. a staging post for operations further ExoMars rover in Stevenage and First published in 2011, the Roadmap out in the Solar System. upcoming experiments on the represents the shared vision of the In the medium term, a role is ISS. We look forward to joining in International Space Exploration envisaged for China’s planned space the international efforts to further Coordination Group, a voluntary, station to support low-earth orbit exploration in the coming years.” non-binding forum for participating operations beyond the planned life of The document is available here. agencies to share ideas. The predicted the International Space Station (ISS). timeline foresees a crewed Mars Along with the big picture of objectives orbital mission in the 2030s, with the and key technologies, the document possibility of humans on the planet’s sketches out how individual missions surface in the following decade. planned by space agencies will The 2018 document is notable for the contribute to the collective effort. addition of China’s and the United Arab Emirates’ space agencies to the list of contributors, alongside NASA, ESA, , the UK Space The Roadmap sets out Agency and others. the next stages in human exploration of space Credit: ESA, NASA News

Honour for UK Astronaut

Helen Sharman with her spacesuit at the Science Honour for UK Astronaut Museum in London Credit: UKSA

The Queen has appointed Britain’s a CBE for services to UK Physical first astronaut, , Science Research. a Companion of the Order of Dougherty was the Principal St Michael and St George in a Investigator of the magnetometer on ceremony at Windsor Castle. the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. A research chemist, Sharman was The spacecraft spent 13 years making selected from 13,000 applicants and scientific observations and discoveries trained for 18 months for her eight-day before burning up in the planet’s mission to in 1991, becoming the atmosphere in September 2017. first woman to visit the space station. “I am extremely honoured to receive During the mission, a joint Russian a CBE for essentially doing my job,” and private British venture called Dougherty said. “It was enabled Project Juno, Sharman performed by all my great colleagues and scientific experiments, connected to collaborators over the years.” British schools via radio link and took seeds into space. On her return, these Dougherty chaired the UK Space seeds were compared with control Agency’s Science Programme samples to see if being in space Advisory Committee between 2014 affected their growth. and 16, and Sharman supported the Agency’s outreach activities during Sharman is now Operations ’s Principia mission in 2015. Manager for Imperial College London’s chemistry department. “They’ve made huge contributions The university celebrated several to the space community,” said Chief awardees in the honours list including Executive of the UK Space Agency, Michele Dougherty. A professor of Graham Turnock, “and provided , Dougherty received inspiration for thousands of young people across the country.” News

New Satellite Tracks Pollution

New Satellite Tracks Pollution

The first data from the British-built programme, Copernicus. It’s designed One of the first images from the Construction of Sentinel-5P was led Sentinel-5P satellite has revealed to study the atmosphere and track the satellite shows nitrogen dioxide over from Airbus Defence and Space in nitrogen dioxide pollution across spread of pollutants. Europe, caused largely by traffic Stevenage. The satellite joins a fleet Europe, ash from an Indonesian Full commissioning and calibration and the combustion of fossil fuels of five other Sentinels, delivering a volcano and the effects of forest of the satellite, which carries a high- from industry. High concentrations wealth of images and environmental fires in the US. resolution atmospheric sensor, will take of the air pollutant can be seen over information about our planet. The new satellite was launched mission controllers until at least April. the Netherlands, the Ruhr area in in October and forms part of the Early results, however, are promising, Germany, as well as parts of joint ESA-European Commission with data exceeding expectations. and Spain. environmental monitoring

The worst areas of nitrogen dioxide pollution are revealed in red Credit: ESA News

UK-France Space Deal

UK-France Space Deal

The UK and French space agencies As well as working together through The UK has also signed an agreement have signed a joint statement to ESA, the UK and France already to join the French contribution to increase co-operation in space. The collaborate on several joint space NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean deal, made at a UK-France summit projects. These include MicroCarb, Topography mission (SWOT). As the at Sandhurst in January, focusses a satellite designed to measure name suggests, this satellite will make SWOT will survey on projects related to , Mars sources and stores of global carbon the first global survey of the the world’s water exploration and space applications. gases. Thales Alenia Space UK Earth’s surface water. Credit: NASA “The UK and France play leading will be assembling and testing roles in global efforts to explore this important mission, designed the solar system and use satellite to provide key information to help technologies to improve life on Earth,” tackle climate change. said Director of International for the UK Space Agency, Alice Bunn. “We want to build on the successful history of close collaboration for the benefit of both our nations.” In Pictures

Staring at the Sun With a Core temperature of 15 million ºC, the giant nuclear reactor at the centre of our solar system makes life on Earth possible. But material from the Sun also has the potential to damage modern infrastructure. Every second a million tonnes of hot plasma and charged particles escape the Sun’s gravity. The effect of this solar on the Earth is known as space weather. Events such as Coronal Mass Ejections, where billions of tonnes of material are belched-out at once, can trigger disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field and knock-out or cause power cuts on the ground. UK scientists are leading teams involved in several international missions to study the Sun and its influence on the Earth. Click on the images to find out more. Credits: ESA, NASA and JAXA In Pictures In Pictures In Pictures In Pictures In Pictures In Pictures Features

Mysterious Mercury

Testing the spacecraft’s antennae in intense simulated Credit: ESA Mysterious Mercury By Richard Hollingham The UK is taking a leading Aberystwyth University, also working on role in a major new mission to the mission. “It’s got a thin crust of rock on top of an enormous iron core – but Mercury, being launched later how did it get this way?” this year. “We really want to understand as “One of the most interesting things much as we can about this small about Mercury is that it even exists body, because it gives us context in the first place,” says Emma Bunce, about our solar system,” adds Bunce. Professor of Planetary Plasma Physics “The more we understand about how at the University of Leicester and planets form and evolve, the more we leader of one of the instrument teams can also understand how other solar for BepiColombo, ESA’s first mission to systems and planets might operate.” Mercury. “It’s an extreme example of Due for launch on a European a planet.” Ariane 5 rocket in October this year, Over the years, the closest planet to BepiColombo is a joint mission the Sun has continued to confound between ESA and the Japanese scientists. For a start, surface space agency, JAXA, and will be temperatures reach up to 425ºC and only the third spacecraft to visit yet ice water has been discovered Mercury. The first mission to fly past in craters. Then, there is the fact that the strange planet was the Mariner the iron core is apparently solid but 10 probe in 1974. In 2015, NASA’s Mercury has a magnetic field. That Messenger mission came to an doesn’t fit with the theory of how end after spending four years in planets should be. orbit around Mercury – answering “The planet is a bit like a Malteser,” says many of the scientific questions Manuel Grande, Professor of Physics at but raising plenty more. Features

Mysterious Mercury

“Messenger has done a fantastic “High energy X-rays coming from the job,” says Bunce. “We’ve been able Sun interact with atoms on the surface to adapt our science questions and cause them to emit X-rays,” while we’ve been developing the Bunce explains. “Each element has new mission but there are some its own X-ray signature, so MIXS fundamental differences between the will give us information about the missions, which means we’ll be able individual elements that make up the to get some very different information surface – then we can start to piece about Mercury.” together the jigsaw telling us about BepiColombo is named after the formation of the planet.” Giuseppe (Bepi) Colombo (1920- MIXS will be able to map elements 84) who studied Mercury’s orbital across the whole surface of Mercury motion. With its two orbiters, the to a few kilometres in resolution. But to spacecraft is designed to investigate produce meaningful results, it needs the planet’s interior and exterior. to work alongside another instrument: The mission consists of four modules SIXS, or Solar Intensity X-ray and particle joined together for launch: ESA’s Spectrometer. This is used to measure Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), the material being emitted from the Sun. Japanese Mercury Magnetospheric “To get the exact composition of the Orbiter (MMO), a sunshield to protect surface of the planet from reflected the MMO, and the Mercury Transfer X-rays, you need to know what the Module (MTM) which will propel the input of X-rays from the Sun is,” spacecraft to the planet (diagram explains Grande, who’s Co-Principal here). Investigator for SIXS. “Our instrument The complete BepiColombo Bunce is the Principal Investigator points at the Sun and measures X-rays spacecraft at ESA’s test for the Mercury Imaging X-ray and solar particles.” facility in 2017. The walls Spectrometer (MIXS), one of 11 Grande has been working on the of the chamber are fitted instruments on the MPO. MIXS is with powerful speakers mission since its conception, even to reproduce the noise designed to map the composition of before the current spacecraft design expected during launch the planet’s exterior by measuring was adopted. “We put a proposal X-rays emitted from the surface. Credit: ESA Features

Mysterious Mercury

forward to ESA back in the early ‘90s, built by the UK’s RAL-Space, was first same process we have on Earth,” “It’s very efficient,” says Jerry Bolter, which was quite a radical idea in flown on Europe’s Smart-1 mission to says Chris Carr, Co-Investigator at who’s been overseeing the assembly those days,” he says. “ESA liked it so the Moon in 2003. London’s Imperial College for the and testing of BepiColombo modules much they made it a large mission “Smart-1 was a dress rehearsal in mission’s Magnetic Field Investigation at Airbus Defence and Space in and it’s taken the next 25 years to get many ways for BepiColombo,” says instrument. “But if Mercury has a Stevenage. “Although you get a very launched!” Grande, who led the mission’s X-ray solid centre, it shouldn’t have a small thrust, you can operate for a The timescale reflects the challenges instrument. “As a result, there’s a new magnetic field.” long period of time.” of developing such the ambitious generation of instruments on Bepi.” By studying the magnetic field, And that time factor is crucial. mission and the learning process that One of the biggest mysteries puzzling scientists will also be able to build up Although Mercury is relatively close to goes into developing new instruments. scientists is the nature of Mercury’s a picture of the planet’s interior and Earth, it will take the spacecraft seven A predecessor of MIXS for example, magnetic field – it’s the reason both that should have applications closer and a half years to reach the planet. BepiColombo’s orbiters are fitted with to home. “If we understand more “If you headed straight there, you’d magnetometers. about how the dynamo works at be going too fast to stop because Mercury,” says Carr, “it may help to you’re accelerating into the gravity “For a magnetic field, theories suggest further understand what’s happening well of the Sun” says Bolter. “We you need conducting liquid which is on Earth.” calculated that if you put a single convecting and rotating to generate engine on there with a conventional a magnetic field like a dynamo – the BepiColombo is equipped with an electric propulsion system. Built by chemical propulsion system, you’d QinetiQ in Farnborough and fitted to need to take 17 tonnes of fuel to get the MTM, it takes power from solar into orbit around Mercury – we only panels to create a plasma of xenon. take 600 kilos of xenon.” Electric thrusters accelerate beams of To reach Mercury at the correct these positively charged xenon atoms speed, BepiColombo will need to – known as ions – away from the make several detours via Earth, Venus spacecraft to propel it forward. and Mercury itself. “It’s mind-blowing, isn’t it?” says Bunce. “It turns out that it takes the same amount of energy to slow BepiColombo down as it would Test firing one of BepiColombo’s four ion to get to the outer solar system – it’s thrusters not really what you’d expect.” Credit: QinetiQ Features

Mysterious Mercury

As well as the challenge of getting to Mercury, the other difficulty facing the engineering teams has been how to protect the spacecraft from the extreme temperatures it will need to operate under. “There are times where we’ll be flying between the Sun and Mercury, with temperatures of up to 450 degrees on either side,” says Bolter. “We have a Lowering the MPO into ESA’s design to allow components inside to space simulator to test the operate at room temperature.” spacecraft under the conditions it will endure at Mercury The secret to achieving this has Credit: ESA been to develop a combination of thick multi-layer insulation on one side and an ammonia-filled radiator panel facing away from the Sun on the other, to radiate heat into deep space. Some components, such as the main communications antennae are designed to operate in full Sun. Bolter admits that it’s been a learning process. “When we tried out the first thermal test model, we found we needed a serious upgrade,” he says. “It’s been a tough project but we’re absolutely delighted to be so close to launch – I think the scientists will be very pleased with what they get from this spacecraft.” Features

Mysterious Mercury

An exploded view of the BepiColombo spacecraft.

Click or tap the highlighted areas to find out more Features

Zero-G Science

Zero-G Science By Sue Nelson UK scientists are flying After a three-minute break, the Zero-G experiments in Europe’s plane does it all over again. Another thirty times. All science has its ups and ‘Zero-G’ aircraft to simulate the downs but, when you are performing conditions of space. But, as our experiments in microgravity, these are reporter discovers, the flights exactly the sorts of conditions you need. are not for the faint-hearted. For me, it was an opportunity to After reaching its cruising altitude, the float in a safe cordoned-off area like Novespace Airbus 310 Zero-G plane an astronaut. It was also a chance arcs across the sky. Scientists, most of to witness how science is done whom are either standing or sitting under extraordinary conditions. The on the padded aircraft floor, hold-on experiments during my flight ranged tightly to strategically placed straps. from psychology and neuroscience to testing small satellites. There was First, the aircraft climbs steeply at even an inflatable balloon designed a 50-degree angle. Everyone on to make measurements in the board experiences 2G and feels atmosphere of Mars. twice as heavy as normal. At the top of the arc there are 20 seconds For Professor Marco Marengo and his of . Then the plane team from the University of Brighton, plummets towards the ground for those 31 parabolas – 93 over three another 20 seconds of 2G, before days of flight – are an opportunity to levelling out again. Imagine going examine how a pulsating heat pipe over a huge peak on a roller coaster, could help regulate heat in satellites with an uncomfortable pressure on and interplanetary space probes. The Zero-G aircraft your body during the up and down Credit: Novespace, ESA parts of the ride. Features

Zero-G Science

The pipe uses an evaporator, which temperature extremes in space, These science campaigns normally The next stage for Marengo’s team boils a liquid to produce a vapour. which can range across hundreds consist of a week’s preparation at is to place their heat pipe on board A condenser converts this gas back of degrees. the Zero-G plane’s base at Bordeaux the International Space Station (ISS) into a liquid phase. This circulation “This is an experiment of basic airport. This is followed by a day’s for a longer period of microgravity. can be used to transport heat, from physics,” says Marengo. “It allows us safety briefing, before three days Funded by the The Engineering and a hot zone to a cold zone. It is being to understand what happens without of flights. On the second flight day, Physical Sciences Research Council designed for spacecraft to overcome gravity, as without gravity many the UK Space Agency’s Human (EPSRC) and ESA, it will be one of things are changing so the use of the and Microgravity three European physical science parabolic flight campaign is essential Programme Manager, Libby Jackson, experiments on board and will need for our work.” joined the Brighton team. to be operated by the astronaut crew. “Each member of the team has one “This is the only microgravity platform job to do,” she says. “This means where the scientists get to interact with The technology if someone is ill during the flight their own experiments while it is in being tested or has problems there is a level of zero gravity,” says ESA Parabolic Flight on the mission redundancy.” Coordinator Neil Melville, “rather than includes a net to do it by remote control on a robotic capture satellites. capsule, sounding rocket or on the ISS.” Credit: SSC Watching this interaction is an amazing sight. People’s hair, together Features

Zero-G Science

with tethered mascots of cuddly can pick up the movement of those toys, rise upwards into the air during reflective markers and we can track weightlessness and scientists scramble the movements of the spine very between the 31 parabolas to fine tune accurately.” their experiments, correct faults or Many experience back prepare for different configurations. problems in space despite completing “The next campaign coming up is a two and a half hours of daily exercise. partial flight campaign and is really “We know that not only does six- interesting,” Jackson says. “It’s the first 12 months in zero-G lead to lower one ESA will have run.” back pain in many astronauts,” says This partial flight campaign – where Caplan. “But when astronauts come conditions do not quite reach zero-G back down to Earth, in that first year – will take place in June and, again, they are at four times a greater risk of one of the experiments on board suffering a slipped disc.” will be from the UK. Northumbria It is known that the spine lengthens University’s Aerospace Medicine and in space, usually by 3-5 cms. “That Rehabilitation Laboratory will be doing can stretch some of the ligaments spinal muscle research using equipment between the vertebrae, which could that has helped produce Hollywood be causing some of the problems,” blockbusters like the Avengers. Caplan says. “The muscles that keep “We’ll do this using a 3D motion capture the spine upright in normal gravity system made by Vicon Motion Systems,” also get smaller and weaker, but says Professor of Aerospace Medicine it’s not entirely clear exactly what is and Rehabilitation, Nick Caplan. causing the pain.” “There will be 14 cameras around The research has applications for the participants that will track the 3D those of us never likely to leave the The inside of the movements of small round markers planet. If the group can develop aircraft is crowded covered in reflective tape that are an exercise device that works for with experiments placed at various points on the astronauts, then it could also be Credit: Boffin Media body,” he explains. “The cameras adapted for the elderly or the injured. Features

Zero-G Science

“The great thing about using “While none of those levels are lunar Before his spaceflight, astronauts is that this spinal muscle or Martian gravity,” says Caplan, Tim Peake trained in deconditioning is very similar to what “what we can do is look at how the the aircraft we see in people on Earth,” says spinal muscles work at those different Credit: ESA Caplan. “We will always try to derive gravity levels and make predictions terrestrial benefits.” about how they could be affected at The Northumbria University lunar and Martian gravity levels.” experiment also involves using There is a tremendous diversity a technique called fine wire of research that can be done in electromyography to measure microgravity for the scientists that electrical signals that are sent to the have the stomach for it. But if the flight spinal muscles. Using ultrasound, doesn’t agree with you after the first scientists will guide a needle parabolic arc – and I saw several Participants in one containing a wire into the muscle. scientists sat at the back with a sick of the experiments This wire remains in place when bag – then take pity on them as the needle is removed, allowing the they have 30 more rollercoasters to Credit: Boffin Media team to measure the activity of those go. Suffering in the name of science. muscles. The aim is to see which Fortunately, for most of us, it was a muscles are and aren’t affected by a scientific joy ride. reduction in microgravity. During each flight of the June campaign there will be 10 parabolas at 0.25 G, 10 parabolas at 0.5 G and 10 parabolas at 0.75 G. With talk of a future Moon base and human trips to Mars, could these experiments be of use for these potentially much longer stays in space? One of the team mascots on board Credit: Boffin Media Features

Helpline From Space

Helpline From Space By Richard Hollingham A UK Space Agency programme Over the past weeks, more than in the region. “A more violent eruption These disasters often knock-out is helping to provide satellite 80,000 people have been forced to could affect a larger area and mean terrestrial communications – including communications to those most leave their homes. The disaster has evacuees needing to stay for months mobile phone networks. As a in need. shut roads and schools, and disrupted in temporary camps.” result, satellite communications are Right now, somewhere in the world, agriculture and communications. When it comes to dealing with increasingly important for bringing there is a good chance that a natural People on the ground fear the disasters, the Philippines is already help to those most in need. “Previous or man-made disaster is unfolding. situation could get worse. one of the best prepared countries disasters have shown that the quick In the Philippines, for example, the “The eruption is a disaster that is on Earth. And it has to be. Every year, delivery of information increases Mayon volcano has been erupting still unfolding,” says Oscar Lizardo, there are more than 20 cyclones and survival rates,” says Lizardo, “and since the middle of January, with the who works for UK-based satellite tropical storms, as well as frequent results in the faster alleviation of volcano spewing out streams of lava communications company Inmarsat volcanic eruptions and Earthquakes. suffering of the people affected.” and vast plumes of ash.

Unloading emergency supplies in the aftermath of December’s tropical storm Tembin, which killed more than 180 people in the Philippines Credit: Inmarsat Features

Helpline From Space

A rescue worker uses a to coordinate the response Credit: Inmarsat In the wake of the Mayon eruption, “Although the Philippines is already get the grocery stores open and and in partnership with the Philippines an experienced Inmarsat user for the critical services recovered,” government, Inmarsat has deployed disaster response, this programme has says Cemmell. “Working with our its new Global Xpress (GX) satellite enabled us to provide them with a partners, including the private terminals. This system – operating step-change in capability,” says James sector, we’re looking at overcoming at several megabits per second – Cemmell, Inmarsat’s Vice President for the challenges to support that.” provides disaster response teams Government Engagement. This means the technology won’t on the ground with vastly improved The project is also examining ways only have benefits for the Philippines voice and broadband services, of restoring normal life – including but elsewhere in the world – even enabling them to send and receive business infrastructure such as shops the UK – in the aftermath of maps and images and re-establish and banking – as quickly as possible disasters. Inmarsat is now working communications networks. to avoid any breakdown in social with charities Telecom Sans Frontieres “The GX system is the main means for order. “It’s really important to get and Team Rubicon, to improve all government agencies responding money back in people’s pockets, disaster response. to the disaster to communicate,” adds Lizardo. “We’ve set up the command post in a hospital near to the evacuation camps and it’s essential in terms of sending and receiving information from national government.” The £6.8 million project to provide broadband satellite communications to areas in the Philippines affected by disasters has been funded through the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme (IPP). This five- year £152 million scheme – part of a An Inmarsat portable wider Global Challenges Research Fund – is employing UK space Credit: Inmarsat expertise to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Features

Helpline From Space

“The lessons will be felt next time and also communications systems there’s a catastrophe elsewhere,” so local people can get in touch with Cemmell says. “We have charity loved-ones and charities can co- Tackling global challenges partners who deploy our technology ordinate aid efforts on the ground.” The International Partnership Programme (IPP) is part of the globally and what the IPP does is As for volcanoes like Mayon, satellite Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund. This £1.5 billion allow us to go through that innovation technology could in future be used to fund supports cutting-edge research and innovation on global issues path, which will have major benefits help forecast the likely extent of any affecting developing countries and is part of the Government’s to humanitarian response.” disaster. “We’re developing sensors commitment to the UN’s sustainability goals. “One of the exciting projects we and equipment to put into volcanoes 22 IPP projects are currently delivering benefits to people around are beginning to discuss with to help predict an eruption that might the world. The UK Space Agency has just announced a further Southampton University, is the cause loss of life,” says Gudonis. £38 million for ten new schemes. These include combating dengue development of a shipping container “There’re a number of areas where fever in Asia, tackling illegal gold mining in Colombia, toxic mine that can be deployed after a disaster,” we think our services could make a waste in Peru and helping smallholder coffee farmers in Africa. says Paul Gudonis, President of fundamental difference to responding Each IPP project involves UK space companies working with local Enterprise at Inmarsat. “It will have and preparing for disasters.” partners to produce long-term benefits. At the same time, UK power generation, water purification companies and the wider economy benefit through advances in and the development of new applications from space and satellite systems. All IPP projects are match-funded by consortium members and international partners to ensure maximum value for money.

Inmarsat satellites sit in geostationary orbit high above the Earth Credit: ESA Education

Destination Space…the sequel

Five science centres and museums include the James Webb Space across the UK have been selected Telescope (due for launch in Spring to take part in a new national STEM 2019), the ExoMars mission and, in programme, Destination Space 2. particular, the ExoMars rover (for The UK Space Agency has previously launch in 2020). This carries several funded phase 1 of Destination Space scientific instruments that have been which engaged more than 700,000 developed and tested in the UK. people in the science of Human The programme offered will also Spaceflight. The programme closely cover satellite applications and the followed Tim Peake’s Principia mission, UK’s satellite launch programme, where educational shows and special LaunchUK. events were held in 20 centres across The five selected science centres and the UK. The Destination Space museums piloting phase 2 of this programme has now returned, this educational programme will begin time to celebrate the UK’s outstanding delivery to schools and members of science and engineering contributions the public – through engaging stage to the space sector. shows, workshops and activities – It’s an exciting time for the UK in between April 2018 and February 2019. space and Destination Space 2, in To find out more about the partnership with the UK Association programme visit the Destination for Science and Discovery Centres, Space website. aims to inspire, excite and educate people of all ages. Topics will Since his mission to the ISS, Tim Peake has been meeting groups of school children across the UK Credit: The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres UK Space History

Skylark An early Skylark rocket blasts-off into space Credit: Airbus All Aboard the Skylark

A pioneering British rocket Skylark was a research sounding 50 years, making it one of the that produced a legacy of rocket which contained experiments to most successful rocket programmes ‘sound out’ and make measurements in the world. world-class space scientists, of the atmosphere. Commissioned is being celebrated in a new The early launches were all from by the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Woomera, about 450 km north of exhibition at London’s Farnborough, and developed with Adelaide. In 1960 a booster stage Science Museum. the Rocket Propulsion Establishment in was added, called Cuckoo, which Westcott, these were 7.6 m long burned for 4 seconds and enhanced On 13 November 1957, in the middle and just 44 cm in diameter. They could of a remote Australian desert, Britain the rocket’s performance. From carry sensors, science payloads and 1964, there were launches in Europe, made space history with a resounding cameras. The Royal Ordnance Factory roar. Its Skylark rocket launched for on behalf of the European Space in Bridgwater, Somerset, produced the Research Organisation (ESRO) in the fourth time but, unlike the previous rocket’s solid-fuel motors. successful missions that year, this Salto di Quirra, , and then one contained science experiments Skylark didn’t go into orbit but, at the from Kiruna in Sweden. and surpassed previous altitudes by top of its parabolic arc, experiments The Skylark programme contributed reaching 124 kilometres. Before Sputnik could be performed in microgravity to Britain’s Blue Streak nuclear missile beeped around the world, Britain had during the several minutes of programme, Britain’s first satellite officially entered the . weightlessness. The payload was Ariel 1, as well as many scientists’ recovered relatively easily via careers, including Chris Rapley, the parachute and, in total, 441 Skylark former director of the British Antarctic missions took place over almost Survey and the Science Museum in London, where the Skylark exhibition is currently on display. UK Space History

Skylark

Testing an early Skylark The President of the Royal He remains grateful to the training that an alien world when it descended to payload at Woomera Astronomical Society, John Zarnecki, working on sounding rockets gave him. Titan on 14 January 2005. “I owe a Credit: Ken Pounds was a PhD student at University “I’ve used that experience working on lot to the Skylark project,” he says. College London when he was the Hubble , the Giotto Alan Smith from University College given the opportunity to develop mission to Halley’s comet and Cassini’s London is also proud of working on an instrument for a Skylark rocket. mission to Saturn.” the project. His career has included “Scientifically it was fantastic,” he Zarnecki was the principal investigator working at the Mullard Space Science says. “For centuries astronomy had for the Surface Science Package and Laboratory and ESA. “It’s a bit of been done from the surface of the co-investigator for the Atmospheric history,” says Smith. “We were in a Earth using visible light. The coming Structure Instrument on the Cassini- different league in those days and, of the space age gave us the ability Huygens mission to Saturn. The with Skylark, we were leading the to get above the atmosphere and Huygens atmospheric probe was the Americans.” build detectors to measure X-rays, first spacecraft to land on the moon of ultraviolet and infrared . It opened up a whole new astronomy.” Skylark helped build British space expertise for missions such as Cassini- Huygens to Saturn Credit: ESA UK Space History

NASA astronaut Jeff Skylark Hoffman, seen here in the foreground repairing Hubble, began his career on Skylark Credit: NASA In fact, one particular American Skylark helped astronomers learn ESA still uses sounding sought out the British expertise with more about the Earth’s environment rockets – this is a sounding rockets. and atmosphere, the Sun and deep parachute test for a future planetary space. It also enabled the UK to “Jeff Hoffman came to Leicester in Credit: ESA/Vorticity the early 70s having graduated at become a key player in space Harvard,” says Ken Pounds, now and proved an inspiration to Emeritus Professor of Space Physics at generations of scientists the University of Leicester and another and engineers. prominent member of the Skylark programme. “Hoffman cut his teeth on Skylark, went back to America, joined the NASA astronaut corps and flew five times on the , including the mission that saved the Hubble Space Telescope.” Although Britain stopped using the sounding rockets in 1979, organisations in Germany and Sweden continued to fly them on behalf of ESA. The final launch was from Sweden on 2 May 2005. Made in the UK

Earth-i

Earth-i’s test satellite, VividX2, was launched from India in January Credit: ISRO Earth-i

Guildford-based Earth-i Can you give us an example? recently launched an We can task satellites to record innovative test satellite environmental, commercial or to capture video from industrial activities taking place around the world. For example, we’re space. Space UK spoke mapping the state of Queensland, to the company’s Product Australia to provide the Government Development Director, with high-resolution, up-to-date maps Owen Hawkins. for use across departments. In Kenya and Rwanda we are rolling out a What does Earth-i do? project using satellite data to improve We are a prime example of a ‘New yield for smallholders’ coffee farms. Space’ business. We get data from You’ve just launched a test satellite, satellites, mix it with a variety of VividX2, which will capture video from different information sources, then space. What extra information does use advanced analytics to extract that give you? the maximum amount of useful Video adds an additional dimension information for our clients. We get to the data. For example, we can data from a range of satellites see how objects like ships or cars are and we’ll be launching our own moving. Another powerful feature is constellation of satellites, the Vivid-i the ability to quickly create detailed Constellation. Vivid-i will be the first 3D maps of buildings across an entire constellation to provide full-colour city, anywhere around the world. video from space. Made in the UK

Earth-i

You are planning a fleet, or formation above the Earth. The more Your role is to look at what can be to create products. Then, all of the constellation, of satellites launched satellites we have, the more often we done with this data? great minds at Earth-i work together in batches of five over the coming can revisit a particular location and the I take Earth observation data, mix it to create products to answer pressing years. What’s the advantage of a more opportunities to capture data we with open and crowd-sourced data customer questions. There are a constellation? have. This means we can get images to create products for our clients. I huge number of areas where Earth The word makes you think of a and videos at different times through gather their needs and combine them observation can help and there are constellation of stars, but in this case, the day, look at more places at the with data sources and technical tools big opportunities. it means the satellites are flying in same time and avoid cloud cover.

Dammam in Saudi Arabia captured by Kompsat – one of the satellites currently used by Earth-i Credit: SI Imaging Services Follow us and share

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