1 December 2015 “Human Spaceflight” London

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Official NASA portrait of British astronaut Timothy Peake. Photo Date: August 28, 2013. Location: Building 8, Room 183 - Photo Studio. Photographer: Robert Markowitz
Official NASA portrait of British astronaut Timothy Peake. Photo Date: August 28, 2013. Location: Building 8, Room 183 – Photo Studio. Photographer: Robert Markowitz

As one of the many energetic events leading up to the launch of UK astronaut Tim Peake into space, the Royal Aeronautical Society is holding a conference, full title “Human Spaceflight: UK Strategy in the Run-Up to Tim Peake’s Flight”

09:00-17:00, Tuesday 1 December 2015

RAES Headquarters
No. 4 Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7BQ

Register for the event

See full programme

Overview from the Human Spaceflight RAES Event Website:

This conference will provide an opportunity to respond to the publication of a UK Government policy paper on human spaceflight. The timeliness is heightened by the impending launch of Tim Peake to the International Space Station (ISS).

In July 2015 the UK Space Agency published the paper “National Strategy: Space Environments and Human Spaceflight”. The major new feature of the strategy is that it formally confirmed that the UK now supports the human exploration of space. In the 1980s, Britain pulled back from the decision by other European countries to partner with the USA (and eventually Russia, Japan and Canada) in building the ISS. This negative decision by the UK had the effect of denying British citizens the chance to become part of Europe’s astronaut community and also closed off significant business opportunities to UK industry. The new Strategy document signals a change to the 30-year policy of restricting participation in space exploration to robotic missions.

The background to the conference is dominated by the impending launch of Tim Peake to the ISS as the first British ESA Astronaut. Tim is a member of the European Astronaut Corps at the European Space Agency (ESA), and is due to spend six months on the ISS undertaking a variety of scientific and technological experiments. His mission also includes activities designed to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The conference will provide an opportunity to review the status and significance of his mission just two weeks before his scheduled launch.

This conference will provide an opportunity for the UK Space Agency to explain its new strategy. The Society’s Space Specialist Group is preparing a discussion paper in response which will be presented and published at the conference. In addition, the Society’s Aerospace Medicine Specialist Group will identify and discuss key issues from their perspective. The conference will include presentations by recognised human spaceflight experts and practitioners and the programme will be released shortly, so please check back for updates.

Confirmed presentations include:

Keynote – Dr Simon Evetts, International Collaborations Development Manager, Wyle GmbH

Tim Peake’s Mission – Libby Jackson, Astronaut Flight Education Programme Manager, UK Space Agency

UK Human Spaceflight Strategy – Andrew Kuh, Human Spaceflight & Microgravity Programme Manager, UK Space Agency

RAeS Space Group Response to the UK Space Agency’s New Strategy – Philip Davies FRAeS, Managing Director, Elecnor Deimos & Chairman, RAeS Space Group

SkinSuit – Dr David Green, Senior Lecturer of Human & Aerospace Physiology, King’s College

Cochlear Cerebral Fluid Pressure Experiment – Dr Robert Marchbanks, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust

Bedrest Studies – Prof Marco Narici, Professor of Clinical Physiology, University of Nottingham

Tele-Monitoring of Health and Well-Being Through Voice Analysis – Prof Mark Huckvale, Professor of Speech Science, University College London

Functional Re-Adaptive Exercise Device – Dr Nick Caplan, Reader in Clinical Biomechanics and Orthopaedics & Director of Postgraduate Research, Northumbria University

*** A reminder that Space Policy journal covered the topic of human spaceflight in two debating Viewpoints, in issue 29(4): “The Essential Role of Human Spaceflight” (Rovetto) and “Response: Against manned spaceflight programs” (Weinberg)

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Dr Jill Stuart is an academic based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is an expert in the politics, ethics and law of outer space exploration and exploitation. She is a frequent presence in the global media (print, radio, television, documentary) and regularly gives lectures around the world. From 2013-2017 she was Editor in Chief of the Elsevier journal Space Policy where she remains on the Editorial Board. She is also on the Board of Advisors of METI International, conducting scientific research into messaging potential extraterrestrial intelligence. She is one of an elite number of people to be endorsed by the UK Home Office as an Exceptional Talent Migrant/ World Leader in her Field. In 2015 she was awarded the prestigious Margaret Mead Award Lecture by the British Science Association in recognition of her cutting edge research. She is trained in both domestic and international mediation and has done consultancy work for the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. She has a sub-specialism in women, peace and security and gender based violence. She is a Trustee of Luton All Women’s Centre.

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