RAL Space

Hello LinkedIn! We're very excited to be here to share the stories of our incredible people, facilities, science, engineering and technology. Here's a little look at what you can expect…   #ralspace #spacetech #spacetechnology #spacescience #spaceresearch #spacesector #spaceindustry #LifeAtUKRI #ukspace

Are you ready to launch your career in space? 🚀 We're offering roles in the following fields as part of STFC's graduate scheme: 📡 RF Engineering (based at Chilbolton Observatory): https://lnkd.in/e_AwzF6E 🛰️ Product Assurance: https://lnkd.in/eus9TWf5 🌍 Environmental Data Science: https://lnkd.in/esgfKn3G 📆 Apply by 20 October! SpaceCareers.uk | #SpaceCareers #Graduate #GraduateScheme

We kicked off #WorldSpaceWeek with our "Mission Phoenix" activity, engaging 170 school children in a hands-on satellite mission! 🛰️🧩 Based around the fictional Ember Island, which has faced devastating wildfires in recent years, teams must work through a series of challenges to help bring residents to safety. From suiting up in clean room gear, to using infrared cameras to detect heat sources, and analysing real satellite images, each task brings them closer to completing Mission Phoenix: a new satellite that will keep a watchful eye over Ember Island to monitor future wildfires. As teams progress, they earn puzzle pieces to build a map of the island. The map reveals the locations of wildfires and the direction of smoke, allowing the students to figure out the safest evacuation route for a school on the island. We first introduced this activity to the public during Harwell Open Week, where it showcased the huge range of work behind real space missions as well as the real-world impacts of Earth observation. After its success there, we're delighted to have welcomed local schools to give it a go for #WorldSpaceWeek! STFC | UK Research and Innovation | #LifeAtSTFC | World Space Week Association | #HOW2024 | Harwell Science and Innovation Campus

🥳That's a wrap for day 1 of ARTES Final Presentation Days 2024! We look forward to welcoming our attendees back to ESA-ECSAT's Magali Vaissiere Conference Centre on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus tomorrow morning. Our special line up of exhibitors will also be present to network with all participants over the next two days: 🛰️Astroscale 🛰️Oxford Space Systems 🛰️Lacuna Space 🛰️Open Cosmos 🛰️D-Orbit 🛰️RAL Space 🛰️Deimos 🛰️Orbital Astronautics 🛰️EnSilica Don't forget to check out our programme below for a taster of what you'll have to look forward to over the coming days 👇 #esa #europeanspaceagency #artes #afpd24 #event #telecommunications #telecom #satellites #satellitecommunications #satcom #unitedkingdom #uk #europe #canada #competitiveness #research #applications #innovation #services #spacesystems #market #global #joinus #oxfordshire

The largest infrared map of our Galaxy has been completed! The VISTA (Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy), a European Southern Observatory facility in Chile, has successfully mapped over 1.5 billion objects in the Milky Way. ✨ Over the course of 13 years, the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey and its extension, the VVV eXtended survey (VVVX), observed the central regions of the Milky Way. These surveys required 420 nights of observation to capture approximately 200,000 images, monitoring over 1.5 billion celestial objects and generating 500 terabytes of scientific data. This represents the largest volume of data ever collected for an ESO observational project. Dante Minniti, an astrophysicist at Universidad de Los Andes in Chile, who led the overall project, said: “We made so many discoveries, we have changed the view of our Galaxy forever.” This data has already produced more than 300 scientific publications and 30 doctoral theses in South America and Europe. Working closely with partners across 18 UK Universities in the VISTA Consortium, the STFC, through its team at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh, played a key role in the development and delivery of the telescope to ESO. In addition, the Imaging Systems group from STFC’s RAL Space (alongside collaborators from UK ATC and the Durham University) were responsible for the design and construction of the Infrared camera, which at the time it was built was the largest ever produced. Now, ESO’s Paranal Observatory is being prepared for the future: VISTA will be updated with its new instrument 4MOST and ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) will receive the MOONS instrument. Together, they will provide spectra of millions of the objects surveyed here, with countless discoveries expected. Dr Oscar A. Gonzalez, Senior Project Scientist at UK ATC, said: “I have a deep affinity for VISTA. The early VVV data was instrumental to my PhD thesis. I then had the pleasure to be the Paranal Instrument Scientist for VISTA during my time at ESO in Chile. I believe VISTA to be a prime example of a facility designed and constructed with an end-to-end vision, with telescope, instrument, and software working as an entity - built for each other to perfection - to be then smoothly operated by ESO to deliver these remarkable public surveys to the community. We are now using all the knowledge gained from VVV and VVVX data in the design of the spectroscopic surveys that we will do with MOONS, a next-generation spectrograph for the Very Large Telescope, which we are currently building at UK ATC.” Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ez4spwiF

🛰️ Join the Institute of Physics' hybrid event — a Discussion of the National Space Strategy — on 7 October at 12pm. This event will feature insights from Dr Paul Bate, CEO of UK Space Agency, as well as a panel discussion with space sector leaders including RAL Space director Dr Sarah Beardsley. 📍 Join the discussion at the IOP in London or online. 🎟️ More information and registration: https://lnkd.in/gHFMP7aT

Last week, we were delighted to welcome Dr Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, to Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. RAL Space and UK Space Agency hosted meetings to discuss the exciting upcoming missions our organisations are involved with, as well as tours to showcase innovation and technology development in the UK space sector. Dr Fox was also impressed by school students' mission designs on display from our engagement programme with Jon Egging Trust! 🪐 Later in the day, Dr Fox gave an inspiring lecture for staff across the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on "NASA's Vision for Powerful Science " - covering her career journey, the current NASA fleet, and valuable advice for early careers staff: “the key to being a scientist is to love asking questions – keep asking questions!” STFC | UK Research and Innovation | NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Great to see our Engagement Officer Vicky Hall showcasing her award-winning work with Jon Egging Trust at the #Interact symposium today! 👏

Some of our team are marking an important milestone this afternoon: today, they will be sending their final operations file for the remaining #Cluster satellites to the European Space Agency - ESA. 👋🛰️ Last weekend, after over 24 years in orbit, the first of four Cluster satellites returned to Earth in a controlled re-entry over the South Pacific. This marked the beginning of the end for a mission that has played a pivotal role in bettering our understanding of space weather. Throughout the satellites' time in space, the Joint Science Operations Centre (JSOC) team has been meticulously planning, preparing, and sending operations for all the instruments on board. It's a bittersweet day - some of the team have been involved with Cluster for over 30 years! - but it's a testament to their hard work and dedication, as well as that of other organisations worldwide, that the mission has lasted far beyond its expected lifetime. And it wouldn't be a RAL Space celebration without some cake! 🍰 (Not pictured, unfortunately!) Read more about Salsa's re-entry and our team's involvement 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewypGGKB European Space Agency - ESA | ESA Operations, Engineering & Space Safety | STFC | UK Space Agency | UK Research and Innovation

It’s a privilege to support the Blue Skies students who impress us every year with their pitches for new space missions! 🛰 Our graduates, technicians and ambassadors also build their communication skills and are looking forward to leading more school workshops with JET that have a great impact on the next generation 🌠 👇