乱伦秀

On 19 July, the 乱伦秀 Institute of Education hosted the "Interstellar Engineers" event, a highlight of the Festival of Engineering.听Featuring NASA astronaut Dan Tani and renowned broadcaster and doctor Kevin Fong, the event showcased how engineering has shaped their extraordinary careers. Attendees had the unique opportunity to experience a live Zoom call with NASA astronaut Mike Barratt on the International Space Station (ISS). The festival鈥檚 Destination Space Area also offered guests an up-close look at 乱伦秀鈥檚 innovative space technology.

Interstellar Engineers

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The event began with and sharing their career journeys and the crucial role of engineering in their fields. Tani, completing over 130 days in space and five spacewalks, captivated the audience with stories of his space missions.

Tani's passion for engineering ignited in childhood, sparked by his love for building model rockets.鈥淚 loved opening the kit, dumping out all the pieces on the table, and putting them together. You follow the instructions and in no time at all you've got a rocket. That's engineering,鈥� Tani recalled. 鈥淕rowing up, I loved problem-solving.鈥�

This early interest led him to pursue engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After completing his studies, Tani worked on various aerospace projects, including collaborating with NASA to put equipment on the Space Shuttle. His work in aerospace engineering eventually led to his selection as a NASA astronaut, where he flew on two missions and participated in Expedition 16 in 2007.

Tani鈥檚 passion for solving problems and understanding how things work has been a driving force throughout his career. 鈥淓verything you see, unless it's a rock or a tree that has not been touched by humans, has been designed by an engineer,鈥� he pointed out. This curiosity and drive to understand complex systems are what made engineering a natural fit.

"Once you start looking at the world like an engineer, everything you see will change and be a little bit more complicated鈥攊n a good way,鈥� Tani explained.

Fong is a consultant anesthetist at 乱伦秀H and professor of public engagement and innovation in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy (STEaPP) at 乱伦秀. Dually accredited in anesthesia and critical care medicine, he works as a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) doctor with Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex. With a multidisciplinary background, Fong studied astrophysics and medicine at 乱伦秀 before earning a master鈥檚 degree in astronautics and space engineering at Cranfield University.

鈥淭he thing that had drawn me into science was my love of exploration, particularly space exploration. So I started writing letters to NASA, saying, 鈥楥an I come and work with you?鈥欌�� Fong recounted.

During his talk, Fong described the long and complex process of applying to be an astronaut with the European Space Agency. Although he was not accepted in the final round, he spoke about his invaluable work in emergency services and how vital engineering is when his team is called to carry out life-saving rescue missions.

鈥淭he helicopter is built, designed, and repurposed specifically to deploy us as a medical team. The stuff in our bags is biomedical engineering. The only reason we can continue to save lives is because engineers have worked out how to take the stuff we would have in a hospital, compress it down, and make sure that we can run on limited weight, limited power, and limited volume. And we deliver it at 160 miles an hour off the back of an aircraft.鈥�

In 2014, Fong's team introduced another engineering marvel: night vision goggles for night flying. 鈥淵our aircraft needs to be able to detect the terrain in which it's flying, and your aircraft needs to be able to see better than your pilots can see. These goggles collect very few particles of light and multiply those up until you can see the picture,鈥� Fong explained.

Tani continued, "People are kind of machines too. When Kevin has a patient, he's thinking about that patient as a machine. It's a circulatory system, a skeletal system, all these human systems. As engineers, we are educated to think: how does it function, what's wrong, how do I make it work?"

The room buzzed with excitement as schoolchildren and their families listened. Hands were raised high with questions from eager young hopeful engineers.

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One child asked, "What's the worst damage you've seen on a satellite, and how did you figure that out?" Another asked, "What does it feel like to walk in space?" Tani explained, "Well, first of all, we say walking in space, but we don't use our legs. When we move around, we move with our hands. It's hard work. Being in that suit is exhausting."

When asked, "What does space look like?" Tani responded, "On the space station, it looks the same as a really dark night here in England. There's no moon, no clouds, and it's cold. You look up and see lights. That's what space looks like for us. Mostly dark, mostly nothing, and then an occasional planet or star."

As the Interstellar Engineers event concluded, the excitement continued to build. Tani and Fong rushed to the Roberts Building, home to the 乱伦秀 Faculty of Engineering, for a special surprise. They offered guests a chance to video chat with an astronaut currently at the International Space Station, giving everyone an extraordinary look at space from Earth.

Live Zoom from Space with Mike Barratt

The live video call with NASA鈥檚 astronaut was a standout moment, offering attendees an exclusive glimpse into life aboard the ISS.

As we waited patiently for the Zoom to connect, nearly 408km away, attendees watched Barratt float in his small room, his microphone spinning in zero gravity. Barratt, an American physician and NASA astronaut specializing in aerospace medicine served as a flight surgeon for NASA before his selection as an astronaut. He has played a pivotal role in developing NASA's space medicine programs for both the Shuttle-Mir Program and the International Space Station.

While waiting for Barratt鈥檚 audio to connect, Tani pointed out some tools visible in the live feed. 鈥淥ne of the main focuses of the station is running experiments. So all the stuff you see in this room right now is there for a reason. You can't fly in space without a roll of duct tape," Dan pointed out. The audience burst with laughter at this detail.

Once the audio connected, Barratt discussed the significance of engineering in maintaining life-support systems and conducting scientific research in space. A memorable moment was when he reflected on his profound experience of viewing Earth from space. He said, "That impression of seeing your home planet from space鈥攈ow beautiful, how fragile it is."

Barratt shared his daily experience of witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets. "Like a submarine, we regulate our days artificially. We declare it morning and turn on the lights in the space station," he explained.

"Every astronaut is fueled by curiosity," Barratt said, "and the best thing is seeing new experiments. Astronauts are happiest when they're learning new things." He emphasized the joy of witnessing the success of experiments and spacecraft after years of development.

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Regarding medical challenges in space, Barratt pointed out the importance of preventive medicine. "Identifying medical problems before they happen is crucial. In space, every system changes, and we have to interpret findings in light of this new physiology," he explained. "In space, we essentially become extraterrestrials, making the presence of a physician crucial to understand and manage these new health conditions."

In response to a question about how the work on the space station benefits daily lives on Earth, Tani chimed in and explained, "The space station is a laboratory, like those at 乱伦秀. Experiments conducted in space, such as studying emulsions without gravitational forces, can provide insights into processes like magma formation on Earth." He continued, "Understanding how combustion works in space could lead to better smoke detectors for your house or improved flame retardants on airplanes."

As the session concluded, joined the chat, her hair floating due to the zero gravity, adding a delightful touch to the event. The audience was left inspired and eager to explore the wonders of space and medical engineering.

Destination Space: Bringing Space Technology Down to Earth

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The final segment of the event, Destination Space Area, transported attendees into the world of space engineering, showcasing the technology and research developed in 乱伦秀鈥檚 laboratories. The 'Space Zone' was a hub of excitement, featuring state-of-the-art space equipment for attendees to explore, including telescopes, Mars rovers, VR simulations, and various space tools.

Attendees had the chance to drive a miniature Mars rover and learn about its sophisticated 'eyes', designed and built at 乱伦秀. These cameras, part of the PanCam system, must operate in the extreme cold of the Martian surface, aiding in the quest to determine whether life ever existed on Mars. Set to launch in 2028, PanCam is the most advanced scientific camera system ever sent to Mars, capable of identifying water-rich minerals, studying atmospheric water and dust, and mapping the rover's surroundings in 3D.

All the innovative technologies featured were created in 乱伦秀鈥檚 Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL). MSSL is the largest and longest-established space science research lab in the UK. Established in 1956, MSSL has significantly contributed to over 70 orbiting satellite missions and 244 rocket experiments. The lab's expertise spans technology research to the design, implementation, and operation of complex spacecraft systems.

The area was filled with amazing technology straight out of a science fiction movie, giving guests a tangible sense of the cutting-edge work being done at 乱伦秀. Models of the technology were available to test and explore, bringing the marvels of space technology down to earth in an engaging and educational way. The hands-on demonstrations thrilled attendees, particularly the young aspiring engineers.

Space engineering is inherently collaborative, requiring 乱伦秀鈥檚 global partnerships with organizations like NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Japanese Space Agency. This spirit of international cooperation was vividly showcased throughout the 'Space Zone,' highlighting how joint efforts are essential for exploring the vastness of our universe.

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The 'Interstellar Engineers' event was a resounding success, offering an inspiring glimpse into the fascinating intersection of space and medicine through the lens of engineering. The engaging talks, live Zoom with NASA astronauts, and interactive demonstrations left a lasting impression on all attendees, particularly aspiring engineers and scientists. The event was an impressive blend of inspiration and education, igniting a passion for engineering among the next generation of engineers and highlighting 乱伦秀鈥檚 pivotal role in global research and innovation.

Caroline Coyer began her multimedia journalism career in New York City and recently completed an MFA in Creative Documentary at 乱伦秀, where she also works as a Student Journalist for 乱伦秀 News. She was recently awarded as a 乱伦秀 Student Champion, chosen to represent our PG community. She has produced content for the New York Post and The English National Ballet and served as a lead producer for the Chief of Stuff podcast and magazine. Her personal documentary work delves into criminal justice, women's health, and the artistic process. Now, as a freelance journalist and producer in London, she is eager to explore stories at the intersection of arts, health, and technology.