University of Leicester lecturer wins Global Space Award

A University of Leicester lecturer has won the Science Breakthrough Award at the Global Space Awards for her work on a mission relating to Mars.

Dr Beatriz Sanchez-Cano, of the University of Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, and Space Park Leicester, has been recognised for her leadership of the Mars Magnetosphere Atmosphere Ionosphere and Space-weather Science (M-MATTISSE) mission.

M-MATISSE is a European Space Agency Medium class candidate study which aims to provide vital insights into how charged particles and solar wind shape the Martian environment to deepen our understanding of Mars and help prepare for future human and robotic missions.

Dr Sanchez-Cano said: “I’m so thrilled to have won this award on behalf of everyone who has worked on the M-MATISSE mission which is helping us to better understand how the Martian atmosphere responds to space weather. 

“It was fantastic to attend the awards at the Natural History Museum in London and to see so many illustrious people from the space community.”

The Global Space Awards shine a spotlight on the breakthroughs and leaders defining the future of space science, technology and sustainability.

Guests at last week’s awards ceremony and gala dinner included the family of the late Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell, who guided the mission safely back to Earth in 1970 after an attempt to land on the Moon was aborted because of an explosion onboard the spacecraft while it was hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth.

The event was hosted by the world-renowned physicist and author Brian Greene.

Professor Simon Vaughan, Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester, said: “Beatriz’s recognition with the Global Space Award speaks to the ambition and creativity behind the M-MATISSE mission concept. 

“Leading the proposal and design of a mission that could transform our understanding of Mars’ magnetic and atmospheric environment is an extraordinary achievement, and it showcases the world-class science in the School of Physics and Astronomy and Space Park Leicester.”

Professor Leigh Fletcher, Professor of Planetary Science at the University of Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, added: “ESA’s medium-class missions provide incredible opportunities for ambitious new space exploration concepts, but taking charge of an international team proposing and studying these new mission ideas is no small undertaking. 

“Beatriz and her team are hoping to fly two spacecraft into the Martian plasma environment, providing multi-point measurements to explore how Mars’ magnetic field, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere are all interconnected. 

“It’s an exciting idea with an international team, and we’re immensely proud of Beatriz for leading this endeavour.”