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
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)
