Tuesday, 04 October 2022
This week, from 4th to 10th October, is World Space Week 2022. Our academics, researchers, alumni and students are celebrating everything that the university is doing to help advance space research.
Here we have videos and written pieces from our university community sharing what the space industry means to them and why it is important for people to get involved.
Dr Maggie Lieu
Dr Maggie Lieu, from the Faculty of Science, is a Research Fellow in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
Her research includes dark matter, clusters of galaxies and how these can develop our understanding of the contents of the Universe.
Dr Emma Chapman
Dr Emma Chapman, from the School of Physics and Astronomy, is a Research Fellow based at the University of Nottingham.
She is a cosmologist based at the university and her research revolves around the first stars in the Universe and how we can use this to look back in time.
Dr Li Shean Toh
Dr Li Shean Toh is an Assistant Professor at the Division of Pharmacy Practice and Policy.
Her research includes astropharmacy, including medication safety in space.
Jez Turner
Jez Turner is an Assistant Professor in Department for Foundation Engineering & Physical Sciences at the University of Nottingham.
He has a particular passion for space and has increased the space engineering content in the modules he teaches.
Emily Seto
Emily Seto, a University of Nottingham alumnus, previously worked at NASA before now working alongside a team at Honeybee Robotics, a spacecraft technology company.
She now works as a planetary protection and contamination control engineer, preventing contamination of planetary bodies.
Her role sees her work across Martian Moon Explorations and the Artemis program.
Planetary protection is part of the life cycle of a mission- from planning requirements to launch. After years of supporting the Mars 2020 project, it was exhilarating to be at the launch site supporting the assembly, test and launch operations on the last leg of the mission. I was able to watch the launch two miles away from the launch pad. As private industries continue to develop more of a presence, it will be exciting to see future opportunities for space exploration beyond lower earth orbit. Also, life support systems will need to be more robust in order to achieve the goal of sending humans to mars.
Student Space Society
Students have also been getting involved in space research and experimentation at the University of Nottingham.
Students from the Space Society at the Students' Union took part in the Mach 22 Rocketry Competition, competing against a number of UK universities.
Robert McLeod, Project Secretary of the student society, said: "A team of nine students from the University of Nottingham participated in the Mach-22 Rocketry Competition which is a nationwide competition between UK universities to achieve a set of objectives outlined - in our case hitting 1km in altitude. This began in winter of 2021 finishing in the summer of 2022 with the 4 day event and launch of our rocket HARP (High altitude rocketry project).
"Students had to travel up to a remote area in Scotland (Campbelltown) to do these launches as they are considered high powered and if not dealt with correctly can pose risk to themselves or others. This project allowed the students to transfer the theory they have gained from their studies into a real design providing critical hands-on skills required for industry today."
Image credit: SpaceSoc
The Space Society also work closely with NottsSpace, a team of staff and students (Undergraduate, Masters and PhDs) working together on a variety of educational space missions, including rockets, cansats, cubesats and more.
The teams collaborate design, build, test and fly various missions, and are supported by space agencies, companies and other academic institutions.
The University of Nottingham is also home to the Space System Laboratory which has the tools and equipment needed for handling delicate satellite components, building and testing electronics and controlling future space missions through the mission control centre linked with the ground station located on the roof of the Coates building. It also provides a unique teaching facility to students from M3 and different departments and faculties involved in space modules, projects or extra-curricular activities.
Nottingham Geospatial Institute Research Group - The University of Nottingham
Midlands Innovation Space Group
Astropharmacy and Astromedicine - The University of Nottingham
Space - The University of Nottingham (UoN Space Careers)
Space - The University of Nottingham (UoN Space Expertise)
Story credits
If you would like any more information on the above, please contact Faith Pring, Media Officer.
Faith Pring - Media Relations Manager
Email: faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: 0115 748 4411
Location: University of Nottingham, University Park
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…