A few years ago Jim started a project called Space in Africa, he and a small team produced/contributed to the following reports:

http://isulibrary.isunet.edu/opac/doc_num.php?explnum_id=200

http://www.spacerenaissance.org/ASRC/

http://www.espi.or.at/index.php?option=com_content&id=21

However Jim is no longer able committee time to this research and would like to pass the baton over to the next generation – that means you.

If you’re interested I advise dropping him an email.

With just over a month to go until the UKSEDS National Annual Conference we can start taking registrations for this fabulous event.

To re-cap -

• Kent University – 31st March/ 1st April
• Two days of talks on everything from astrobiology, space planes, colonisation, rockets and our most successful projects of the year so far.
• Exhibitions from industry leaders including; HE Space, Vega, AspireSpace and many more!
• UKSEDS AGM – election of next years committee.
• Social fun!

Interested? Sign up on the registration page and join our Facebook event for you tickets and more info. Also keep upto date by following the Ecliptic and the conference home page

Conference information (more coming soon!):

Main

Registration

Venue

Programme

Speakers

Exhibition

Sponsors

Social

AGM

Chris Brunskill attended the 2011 Space Studies Programme in Austria.  He said “During the programme I had the chance to take lectures provided by leading experts in the many disciplines that make up the modern space industry.  I was able to get hands on experience with technical equipment and participate in the planning of a live mission.  I was also able to work with a fantastic, proactive and intelligent group of fellow participants from around the world.  I hope future beneficiaries of the UK Space Agency funding programme will gain as much as I have from this experience.”

The successful candidates will be chosen by a panel consisting of representatives from the UK Space Agency and Space Education Trust, with consultation from ISU. Students will be expected to show evidence of some external support including sourcing €1000 towards their study themselves.  The deadline for applying for funding for the Space Studies Programme is 31st January 2012; the deadline for the Masters programme is 15th March (deadlines for non-funded places are later). Application is through the ISU website.

Source: UK Space Agency

The UK space industry contributes £7.3bn to the UK economy and employs close to 19,000 people. This new and innovative course uniquely combines academic and vocational study with industrial experience and other exciting special features. It can lead to degrees in physics, mathematics and engineering and to employment in the space and engineering industries.

You will study:

• AS and A-Level Mathematics
• AS and A-Level Physics
• Engineering – academic and practical studies, through the BTEC Level 3 Diploma inEngineering (equivalent to two A-Levels):
  • Mechanical, electrical and electronic principles and applications.
  • Engineering design, including Computer Aided Drafting.
  • Mathematics for engineering.

Leading to:
A wide range of engineering, physics, maths and other degrees (including space engineering) at many high-ranking universities, and also to employment.

We are looking for:

• GCSE grades A in mathematics, AA in science double award (or ABB in triple award),B in English, plus another GCSE at grade B.
• Highly-motivated, talented and ambitious learners.

Special features include:

• Classes at the National Space Centre and Loughborough College
• Master classes and talks from some of the UK’s leading space scientists
• Work experience, industry visits and work-related projects
• An emphasis on the skills valued by employers
• A summer school with the new National Space Academy programme

To find out more about the course, please contact Emma Griffin, email emma.griffin@loucoll.ac.uk or phone 01509 515431.

Course information page: http://cms.loucoll.ac.uk/blogs/space/

(Source: Loughborough College, via Rocketeers.co.uk)

Well check out this competition being run by Youtube in collabertaion with a few of our favourite space agencies…

…check out http://www.youtube.com/spacelab for more information.

• Space systems engineering workshop with Dr Jenny Kingston – how to plan and design your own space missions.
• “The Scientific Case for renewed Robotic and Human Exploration of the Moon” – a talk by Dr Ian Crawford
• Branches summit – a chance to network with colleagues and develop new project ideas.
• MBed workshop – Electronics and integrated chip programming for your projects.
• Spacecraft operations with VEGA and Dan Kent – software training and introduction.
• High Altitude Ballooning with Steve Randall – demonstration of how easy it is to run your own HAB missions.
• Zoe’s birthday – not actually part of the workshop but as we’re making Zoe work on her birthday, we probably should do something to say thanks (for the cake)

Whether you’re in an established branch looking for help or expertise with your projects, or just looking to be inspired by all the exciting things our members get up to, we’ll have something for everything. We especially want to see you if you’re interested in setting up a new branch – just be there with your friends and we’ll be on hand to help you with any and all your queries.  All you’ll need is a laptop, stationary, lunch and plenty of ideas and enthusiasm!

To keep up to date with developments, please add yourself on our facebook event where applicable

We look forward see you all there

UKSEDS Committee 2011/2012

16:30 – Arduinos making music (or noise take your pick) and you can controll them by hand. Awesome. Roger made a red LED imitate human heartbeat

15:30 – The whole place turned into an Arduino workshop the two room now merged that second Labview workshop finished

15:20 – I just meet Bristol branch rep and they are planning a balloon launch experiment, and we will help them to get the funding for their idea. If you are near Bristol and want to get involved contact them!

14:50 – People hacking away on Arduinos. Loads of laptops and blinking LEDs everywhere.

14:39 – Arduino workshop, currently learning about the wearable LilyPad which is a sawable, washable arduino chip!

13:45 – Second LabView hands on session happening now! Also an open discussion is going on about possible future myPocketQub projects.

12:30 – After loads more interesting STK scenarios we break for lunch. Off to the pub! Others stay for the first LabView workshop.

12:15 – Playing more with STK and Q&A. How to fly your aircraft with STK, and what is that UAV doing over Scotland? A live simulation with many 100s of objects, live UAV control and military target identification all in STK.

12:00 – We have a satellite on orbit with communication link to New York. Nice one!

11:50 – Back at the STK workshop the satellite orbit simulation is coming along nicely. People following the instructions on their laptops. STK can use collada models, we put an A380 to space you can also export google sketchup models directly.

11:45 – I just saw the setup for the Labview workshop. Loads of laptops, it looks really exciting, I can’t wait.

11:40 – I just chatted to the Arduino workshop people, and we agreed that Arduinos are the easiest and fastest way to interact software and hardware for your DYI project. They have a small robot for the workshop.

11:35 – STK workshop starting. Free trial license for everyone.

11:30 – Slight change in the program to allow everyone to attend the sessions they want to. Workshop website now updated accordingly.

11:20 – Adruino workshop is being set up. Loads of cool looking hardware and some new Arduino Uno boards from coolcomponents!

11:10 – Tour of the telescope outside. Everything snowy!

tour of the observatory

11:00 -10 min coffee break, I should catch up with people, oh and there are jaffa cakes

10:55 – Live STK demo, you can even model terrain! Even on the Moon, or Mars!

10:45 – STK presentation starts, workshops after this!

10:44 – Labview offers student internships. Considering they do stuff with CERN, NASA and loads of other interesting companies around the globe you might want to get one! Check out their website for details!

10:30 – Live Labview demo. A temperature sensor hacked together in less than a minute. It is very high level, powerfull and easy to use.

10:16 – Labview presentation starts

10:15 – AMSAT deploying ground stations to schools and universities. If you want to join or get a radio license drop us a line.

10:10 – AMSAT launched over 70 satellites to date and they are planning a mission to Mars!

9:46 – AMSAT presentation starts.

9:45 – I arrived late after getting lost in the pretty snowy countryside. Its a nice drive up to the observatory. Sadly I missed Roger and Michael talking, I will ask them to give me an update later.

note: all this from a single perspective, there are loads more going on here, and loads of interesting people to talk to!

More details on the UK Space Agency website: http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/About-BNSC/Space-for-All/12167.aspx

Space Research Institute (IWF), Austrian Academy of Sciences, invites applications for a postdoctoral research staff position in the area of space plasma physics. The applicant should have completed a Ph.D. by the beginning of the term of appointment and have had experience with data analysis or numerical modeling techniques in space plasma physics or a related field. Experience with team-oriented working environments is desirable. The successful applicant will work on data analysis or modeling relevant to the ongoing multi-spacecraft magnetospheric missions Cluster and THEMIS, particularly targeting science goals applicable to the future MMS mission, in which IWF is involved.

The initial appointment is anticipated for three years, with renewal up to another three years, contingent on performance and funding. Candidates should submit their curricula vitae, publication list, a brief statement of research interests, and names of three individuals who can be contacted for letters of reference.

For application and further information regarding this position, contact Rumi Nakamura.

Review of applications will begin July 31, 2010, and will continue until the position is filled.