Abstract

On the 13^th April 1961 one news story dominated the front and inside pages of Britain’s newspapers. In the year that marks the 65^th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin this presentation will look back at how the newspapers published on that day told the story of this historic event. It will cover themes including how the papers reacted to the flight, the details they gave about it and how the news was received in Moscow and Washington. It will also cover how the papers reported the new-found fame of Gagarin, predictions about the future and the humorous and quirky side of the coverage.

Abstract

The arrival of Chinese Electric Vehicles in the UK has triggered some controversy and this presentation aims to examine what is or may be possible for the “Internet of Vehicles” using Chinese satellites presently in orbit.

The first half considers the BeiDou 北斗 satellite system. Although well- known as (just) another PNT (navigation) system like GPS, it also has a global two-way short-message function. Available at a national, regional and global level, it is fitted as navigation to Chinese EVs and even said to be navigating Iranian drones in the present Middle East war.

Also considered is the Geely 吉利 Jílì Automotive Company’s satellite constellation and its (EV) cars, as a prelude to autonomous driving.

This is highly topical and original research and contains some video from Chinese sources.

Abstract

The region covered by Czechoslovakia, now divided into Czechia and Slovakia, is an area with a long tradition in astronomy and space science.  After a brief historical introduction, this presentation looks at some medieval astronomers and early 20^th.-century rocket pioneers.  After the Second World War Czecho-slovakia participated in a number of projects leading to the Interkosmos programme and its own Magion satellite series.

Abstract

The recent evacuation of NASA astronaut Michale E Finke from Expedition 74 on the ISS has highlighted again the issue of in-space diagnostics, treatment and surgery. At present in LEO, any astronaut facing a medical emergency will be evacuated for treatment on earth over similar treatment in space. Given the 3-day travel time from the Moon, we are facing the same likelihood there. Lack of precedent, an ethical unwillingness to experiment or take risks on human health, and a shortage of proven in-space road testing of medical procedures and equipment off-planet increases the likelihood of evacuation rather than off-planet treatment if the option of returning them to earth is present. This forces the difficult scenario of the first astronaut to face surgery in space being on Mars or en route to Mars: a scenario that astronauts and medical professionals are unlikely to accept.

Abstract

Lunar regolith is fully inorganic and formed by thermodynamical interactions with galactic and solar cosmic rays, solar wind particles and meteorites. It is mainly made of a combination of rocks, mineral fragments, impact and volcanic glasses. Among glasses, “spherules” result from cooling before landing after volcanic eruptions or meteorites’ impacts. Apollo, Luna and Chang’e programs brought black, green and orange samples to Earth, revealing the presence of water encrusted in the glass beads, formed by the reaction of regolith oxygen with solar wind ionized hydrogen. Multiple purification processes allow the separation of water from lunar regolith, to support lunar missions and infrastructure development with in situ resources rather than Earth supplies. For example, modest quantities of water could be extracted from ilmenite, a lunar regolith compound rich in iron oxide-bearing minerals, via the PROSPECT Sample Processing and Analysis (ProSPA) instrument, onboard the Luna 27 lander [1]. Introducing gaseous hydrogen in a static system containing ilmenite, water is first condensed at a cold finger and then vaporized at a furnace. Using gaseous methane, water can be extracted from regolith also via carbothermal reduction. Carbon heating and hydrogen washing cycles keep the reduction flowing, while methanation, Water Gas Shift and Sabatier reactions produce water in a condenser, first freezed and eventually liquefied at ambient temperature [2]. Water delivered from in-situ regolith purification processes represents a highly valuable output, decreasing costs and complexities of the development of lunar systems. However, also purified regolith resulting from water extraction represents an asset, whose value varies with the purification process. The discussion will focus on evaluating the value chain of regolith glass spherules according to their purification process, for the business development of jewellery, home décor or collectibles, whose returns would be reinvested in lunar missions’ budgets to make the business supply chain sustainable.

References

[1] Sargeant, H., Barber, S.J., Anand, M., Abernethy, F.A.J., Sheridan, S., Wright, I.P., & Morse, A.D. (2021). Hydrogen reduction of lunar samples in a static system for a water production demonstration on the Moon. Planetary and Space Science, 205, 105287. DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2021.105287.

[2] Dottori, A., Troisi, I., & Lavagna, M. R. (2025). Demonstration of the low-temperature carbothermal process for producing oxygen from lunar regolith: Terrestrial test campaign. Planetary and Space Science, 266, 106154.

Abstract

The lack of indigenous space infrastructure and academic facilities in Africa has been recognised as one of the main factors hindering the development of the African space industry, and the high cost of capital is the key obstruction to development. This presentation explores how existing telecommunications infrastructure can be repurposed as a fully functioning satellite ground station. This would significantly reduce the installation costs, giving new life to decommissioned technology. It will also discuss whether the timing is right for such projects, looking at African user needs for satellite data services and the expanding work force. This is presented as a case study of the Atomic Hills Space Science Research Laboratory; a new start-up currently pursuing an ongoing project to convert an existing telecommunications site into the first satellite ground station in Ghana. The African space industry is growing, predicted to be worth $39.52 billion by 2030 (Iderawumi, 2025), driven by an increasing demand for satellite data services. The obstacle to access remains, as there are very few satellite ground stations in Africa, meaning data is often imported. Furthermore, there is limited regional collaboration, meaning each nation is importing its own data and there is no opportunity to share the cost, knowledge or resources. The project aims to complete a demonstration of technology capability, showing the conversion is possible, and that data can be received, processed and analysed on-site. Additionally, it will address the growing demand for satellite data, providing opportunities for workforce development, and creating a platform for international collaboration and knowledge sharing. This will initiate the improvements that data sovereignty brings to the industry and wider economy. Overall, the presentation discusses the potential for this emerging technology in Africa, and serves as a call to action for collaboration, expert contributions, capacity building and educational opportunities in Africa.

Abstract

1- How good can lunar telescopes be?

2- What can lunar crater survey tell us about the solar system?

3- What resources can we extract from the moon?

4- Can lunar telescopes co-exist with heavy traffic and mining ?

5- How would the bases look, and where to build them?

6- How would a re-usable and sustainable lunar transport system look like?

References:

[1] [2] “Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century”, W. W. Mendell et al, 1985

[1] – “Astronomical Interferometry on the Moon” – Bernard F. Burke
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/books/lunar_bases/LSBchapter05.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks&page=3
And also 2023 Royal Society seminar “Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades”
https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2023/02/astronomy-moon/

[2] – “Mass Extinctions and Cosmic Collisions: A Lunar Test” – Friedrich Hörz
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/books/lunar_bases/LSBchapter05.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks&page=66

[3] – Dennis Wingo’s book “Moonrush” (2004) and first and second conference above has most of the resources field covered.

[4] – This would be partly my own work, based on several sources. 
Actionable items would be “Ehricke spaceport” that would mitigate the accumulation of rocket exhaust gases, and secondly active methods to collect the exhaust gas on lunar polar orbit.

[5] – Base design and site references are mostly NASA studies. 1972-73 Lunar base studies have plenty of interesting topics, “Lunar Bases” conference series have plenty, and recently there is Dr. Pascal Lee’s excellent presentation “A Moon Base at Clavius”, that makes an interesting case why the first moonbase would better be built on Clavius crater than straight on South pole:
https://youtu.be/lDzV2ZXsMI4?t=390

[6] – “Space Transportation System” studies span all the way from 50’s, via 1969 “Integrated Program Plan” and nuclear shuttles, then 1971-74 aerobraked hydlox shuttles, then to 1976 – 2000 “Orbital Transfer Vehicle” studies.
Recently there has been John K. Strickland’s 2021 book “Developing Space”, that makes the case of using Lagrange points to split the Delta-V requirements to more manageable chunks for single-stage hydlox vehicles. There is plenty of interesting stuff here. 

Abstract

Abstract

Workshop session focussing on four challenges: 

• Moon Base
• LEO
• Mars First
• Asteroid Capture

Working in 4 groups (one for each challenge), the aim is to discuss the best technical proposals for your group’s challenge and prepare to debate your position.

Main Challenges to solve are: Cost, Science Benefits, Technical Challenges, Income, Potential, and Other Benefits (psychological/cultural).

Abstract

This proposal transitions from the environmental hazards of current space debris mitigation strategies to an innovative recycling architecture. The primary threat to space sustainability stems from catastrophic collisions between large derelicts, specifically expended rocket upper stages and defunct payloads. Traditional grapple and sink methods are inherently flawed because atmospheric reentry deposits harmful metal particles directly into the stratosphere and leaves unpredictable ground impact footprints spanning up to two thousand kilometers. Moreover, chemical propulsion remains too inefficient for extensive orbital maneuvering. Following a brief look at orbital recycling alternatives, the narrative introduces Project CHOMPER: Converting Hazardous Objects Metal Propellant Extraction Rocket. Instead of dumping massive debris like the heavy Zenit upper stages into the atmosphere, CHOMPER harvests them. By combining an orbital shredder, an induction furnace, and a metal printer, it processes junk into raw solid fuel for a Super Magdrive. This creates a cycle where debris becomes propellant for future cleanup missions.