The second North West Constellation was held at the Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) in UCLan on June 19th, the day after UCLan had hosted the UK Space Agency Trajectory Roadshow. Alan Cross opened the event and gave an update on recent Space activities. He then reminded all about the Sattucino events held at Harwell on the first Wednesday of the month and the fact that there is the opportunity for individuals to meet up and dial in from the Space Enterprise Laboratory in Daresbury.
The popular two minute lightening pitch followed. Speakers included Professor Jim Wild Lancaster University, Ann Elisabeth Seach of Liberty Coaching, Joanne Pledger UCLan, Alexandra Bromhead STFC, Peter Hodgson Quinas Technology, Sara Myers ESERO, Doug Robinson Keplar Communications, Mark Prince, Jodie Faitakis UKSA Accelerator, Flow Collingwood Pan Galactic, Mick Salt TUV SUD Nuclear Technologies, Greg Goodall AWOL Adventure, Vincent Evans, Dominic Coy Jacobs, Sam Hilton Cerebus Nuclear, Ray Stott Space Specialists and Adam Paigge of Supernova Labs,
The pitches covered a wide range of topics including Space Weather and Space Data, Communications Technology, Materials Chemistry, Radiation Testing Facilities and Radiation Shielding, Use of Facial Recognition, the Civil Aviation Authority, Space Robotics, Consultancy and Coaching, STEM and Space Planes.
Professor Robert Walsh then described the Space work and facilities at UCLan including the EIC. Space work included Space weather instrumentation and measurement and participation in the NASA sounding rocket program. Space companies they work with include ESR Technology Limited in Warrington. UCLan also hosts the UK office of the United Nations Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN- SPIDER).
Although currently there is no specific Space course the undergraduate aerospace course is broad with a ‘space flavour’. UCLan also runs an active outreach program and has a Sun sculpture that is used at public events. Jeremiah Horrocks Institute is part of UCLan and as well as astronomical research it too involved in outreach.
Dhanushka Amaradasa, a Space Mechanisms Researcher at UCLan, then talked about lubricants, their use in Space and the number of mechanical issues due to lubricant failure. The testing of lubricants is mainly done on the ground with limited testing in Space. A tribometer is a device that measures lubricancy and he is planning to build one into a cubesat to test in Space.
The last presentation was by Professor Jim Richards from the School of Health, Sport and Work who studies muscle activation. Electromyography measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle and is used to detect neuromuscular abnormalities that can indicate certain diseases. Although various affects of being in Space have been studied there has been limited work in this particular area. In fact the only actual test on astronauts was on the Space Shuttle in 2006 when, after only two weeks, a different muscle behaviour was observed.
The formal meeting then ended with ample time for networking. Another very interesting meeting showcasing the range of Space activities in the region.