I had a fascinating afternoon in Stevenage today, as I was invited to the Headquarters of Astrium Ltd. The Company is Europe's leading specialist in satellite communications, and at the forefront of the UK Space Industry. I had known before that the Company was responsible for putting up satellites around the Earth's orbit, but until today, I had no idea as to the extent of Astrium's activities in Space.
Astrium not only uses its satellites to monitor climate change as well as examining significant problems in the developing world (notably Central Africa), it is also building a robot to ride around Mars, to check for signs of life. Even more astonishingly, they are developing a satellite/camera that is set to go close to the sun, to examine the sun's particles. The ambition is to develop a machine that can withstand 600 degrees on the outside but retain average room temperature on the inside. Another satellite programme is being developed to make a detailed catalogue of millions of stars.
What is even better, is that so much of this technological genius is being designed and built in England - much of it in Stevenage. Moreover, Astrium makes every effort to be deeply involved in the local community, working with numerous universities and schools to bring space science, first hand to students - in fact I learned that Astrium has been active in Stewards School in Harlow, working with students on a balloon rocket programme to support the school's space day.
Astrium not only uses its satellites to monitor climate change as well as examining significant problems in the developing world (notably Central Africa), it is also building a robot to ride around Mars, to check for signs of life. Even more astonishingly, they are developing a satellite/camera that is set to go close to the sun, to examine the sun's particles. The ambition is to develop a machine that can withstand 600 degrees on the outside but retain average room temperature on the inside. Another satellite programme is being developed to make a detailed catalogue of millions of stars.
What is even better, is that so much of this technological genius is being designed and built in England - much of it in Stevenage. Moreover, Astrium makes every effort to be deeply involved in the local community, working with numerous universities and schools to bring space science, first hand to students - in fact I learned that Astrium has been active in Stewards School in Harlow, working with students on a balloon rocket programme to support the school's space day.
Normally, when I think of Space, Nasa and the United States comes to mind. Yet, Britain is a Space power house in its own right. The British Space sector contibutes £6 billlion and 70,000 to UK GDP and has a 7% share in the world space sector.
It was good to go to Astrium today - it felt like going to a scientific discovery park, more than a commercial business Yet Astrium is very much a business and employs thousands of people all over the UK, a number of whom come from Harlow. I was also pleased to see that Astrium spent £81,297 in Harlow last year, by working closely with a number of local businesses.
By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com
