Astronaut reveals challenges of human spaceflight in exciting workshop
An astronaut has revealed the challenges of going into space during an exciting workshop for students aspiring to join the space industry.
Dr Franco Malerba – the first Italian astronaut to go into space – was among the high-profile speakers at the workshop organised for MSc Space Exploration Systems and MPhys Physics students from the University of Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy.
Dr Malerba flew with the space shuttle Atlantis in 1992, as the payload specialist of the first mission of the Tethered Satellite. It included experiments involving a 12.5 mile long tether connecting a satellite to the orbiter Atlantis to demonstrate the feasibility of the technology for a variety of uses from generating electrical power to researching the upper atmosphere. It was the first time a satellite had been deployed on a long tether in space.
During the Human Spaceflight Workshop at Space Park Leicester, the students also heard from Piero Messidoro, the former Deputy Chief Technical Officer at global space manufacturer Thales Alenia Space, and University of Leicester Visiting Professor Anu Ojha, who is also the Director of Championing Space at the UK Space Agency.
The event was organised by Dr Emily Jane Watkinson, of Space Park Leicester, who is a Lecturer in Space Projects and Instrumentation at the University of Leicester.
She said: “During the lectures we taught students about the effect being in microgravity and in a radiation environment has on the human body.
“This knowledge is vital to human spaceflight so it’s crucial that students going into the space industry and research careers understand what affects astronauts’ health and performance.”
Dr Watkinson, who led the event, guided a special session on exercise countermeasures.
Professor Ojha ran an interactive session which included an examination of human spaceflight artefacts, including some special suits. He also gave a presentation on international space developments and future trends, with a wider focus on space careers.
Dr Malerba talked to the students about his space mission and his experience of living and working in low earth orbit.
Mr Messidoro helped the students to learn more about the International Space Station and international space exploration.