Space Expeditions | Explore 2022

Let's talk about space expeditions!

Led by James Kempton, the Oxford University Exploration Club journeyed to the Explore 2022 conference at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in London this weekend. My favourite talk was by Myles Harris on his PhD research on executing an analogue space mission! In the process, he founded the UCL Space Health Risks Research Group.

1) This is an incredible way for new space technologies and systems to be tested and improved for real missions.
2) Learning about humans and medicine in space and extreme environments teaches us so much about our biology on Earth and enriches our lives.

Having been at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory over the summer, I was inspired by the speakers and my mentors to learn about planning space missions (robotic or human) to other astrophysical systems. It occurred to me, I ought to learn how to plan missions on Earth first!

As an avid scuba diver with my PADI open water certification and with interest in the Europa Clipper mission, ocean and marine worlds are particularly meaningful to me. Exploring life on a place other than Earth! Back to Earth, it always saddened me to have to pick up rubbish as I went on my dives and a future where scuba diving entails sifting through rubbish to navigate the sea. Thats the cue for Climate Tech! This conference was just awesome for someone with interests in space and climate.

The conference had other incredible talks on the ocean, polar and mountaineering expeditions that explore wildlife, indigenous communities and climate change effects. Check out the website on grants on expeditions to discover, document and trace this dynamic world!

https://lnkd.in/eXfDbYBS