Scheduled Discussion Topics
Please note the talks start at slightly different times because they vary in length and the aim is to finish them around 9.30pm, so they will start promptly. Arrive early if you want to settle down and listen to them with a cup of tea or coffee.Talks are listed below in reverse date order
Von Kármán Lecture: Spacecraft Assembly, Test, and Launch Operations (ATLO)
23rd January 2024 20:45What does it take to build a spacecraft? It’s up to the Spacecraft Assembly, Test, and Launch Operations (ATLO) team to assemble it, bake it, shake it, get it to the pad and launch it.
Von Kármán Lecture: How do missions get formed?
28th November 2023 20:45We’ll talk to one of our robotics engineers about project formulation and demonstration, looking at the process of generating ideas - from napkin sketch to prototype to development and testing. We’ll also look at how they figure out the right questions to ask in order to understand what technologies are needed to get the job done using real life experiences and stories about the Mars Rovers and Mars Sample Return Mission. Speaker:
Von Kármán Lecture: Voyager – 45 Years in Space
19th September 2023 20:45As the twin Voyager spacecraft approach their 45th anniversary, we take a look at where the mission has been, what they’ve taught us, and where they go from here. In this conversation with Suzanne Dodd, Voyager Project Manager, we’ll discuss how Voyager came to be, highlight some of the major discoveries, and hear stories about this mission that has captured the public’s attention for years.