ESA explores the future of space with the UK
ESA joined more than a thousand delegates at the UK Space Conference in Belfast this week to exchange ideas and build partnerships that will help to shape the future of the country’s space industry.
The biennial event – which was held from 21 to 23 November – brought together attendees from academia, industry and government to participate in a packed agenda of panel discussions, workshops and outreach sessions.
The conference opened with a wide-ranging panel discussion featuring UK Space Agency Chief Executive Paul Bate and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher that set the tone for the event.
Key talking points in the “Space for our future” plenary session included the importance of satellites for daily life and the UK’s excellent contributions to space ambitions in Europe and beyond.
ESA astronaut reserve member John McFall, who is taking part in a ground-breaking study to investigate the challenges that space flight presents to people with physical disabilities, travelled to Belfast to take part in an outreach programme designed to inspire young minds about career and learning opportunities in the space industry.
Several other ESA delegates attended the conference to highlight the significance of UK expertise in areas such as Earth observation, exploration, telecommunications and sustainable applications.
As part of its strong presence in Belfast, the agency presided over a collaborative space named “ESA Connects” that encouraged countless conversations between ESA professionals and other attendees about opportunities in Europe’s space industry.
After three successful days of networking, presentations and outreach, the event came to a close on Thursday, having hosted some 1700 delegates and 450 school children.
Discover more about ESA’s contributions to the UK Space Conference in the images below.
