Mission to Mars (Week) – exploration with UK space industry experts
Space Exploration - in conversation with Libby Jackson OBE and Friends Chair, Professor David Southwood CBE.
This Friends Fireside Chat comes at the end of Mars Week which has had an intensive programme for schools on Mars Day (Tuesday 4th) and other activities during the week.
Libby Jackson OBE is one of Britain’s leading experts in human spaceflight, having spent nearly two decades working at the forefront of the field. Space was a childhood passion and after completing degrees in physics at Imperial College and astronautics and space engineering at Cranfield University, she has worked in the space industry ever since.
Libby spent seven years working at the European Space Agency’s Mission Control for the International Space Station in a number of roles including her dream job as a Columbus Flight Director.
In 2014 she joined the UK Space Agency, where she managed the UK’s hugely successful education and outreach programme for Tim Peake’s Principia mission to the International Space Station. Over two million students took part in the activities, with one in three UK schools participating.
As Head of Space Exploration she managed the UK’s activities and investments, coordinating research and industrial activities in human and robotic missions, including activities on the International Space Station and missions to the Moon and Mars.
In conversation with Friends Chair, Professor David Southwood CBE, himself a legend in the space industry, Libby will tell us about her work with astronauts and maybe also touch on what makes an astronaut. We will also learn more about the how and why of planning for future Moon and Mars exploration. If you want to bring your own questions in, there will be a Q&A to follow. We can be sure Libby will have an out-of-this-world answer!
Hosted by Professor David Southwood CBE - former Chair of UK Space Agency, Director of Science & Robotic Exploration ESA and various NASA projects; Senior Research Investigator, Dept. of Physics, Imperial College London: Chair of Friends of Imperial College.
Fireside Chats are FREE live streamed events for Members held on the occasional Friday afternoon @ 4pm, featuring a short presentation or talk, an informal chat and Q&A with the audience.
Normally these events are exclusively for Members as part of the annual Membership benefits. However, as part of Mars Week, everyone can book free tickets below and beam in to this virtual visit to space!
Nearer the time you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link and joining instructions.
Above is the first true-colour image generated using the OSIRIS orange (red), green and blue colour filters. The image was acquired on 24 February 2007 at 19:28 CET from a distance of about 240 000 km; image resolution is about 5 km/pixel.
CREDIT: ESA & MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INT
