*** Space still available! ***

Dr Ravi Margasahayam, NASA Kennedy Space Center, will talk about the International Space Station.

International Space Station after undocking of STS-132. Credit: NASA via Wikimedia

On the day of this lecture, 15 December, British Astronaut Tim Peake will be the first from the European Space Agency to visit the International Space Station. He will launch on board Soyuz TMA-19M and spend six months on the ISS carrying out scientific experiments.

This lecture will provide a brief overview of previous space stations and what it means to live and work in zero gravity for extended periods. Topics of interest include Astronaut health and hygiene requirements, housing and sleeping quarters, communication from space to earth, the need for rigorous exercises to maintain good health and working on myriad of experiments, repairs, maintenance of infrastructure, as well as having some fun and relaxation aboard this remote, one-of-a-kind Earth Observation and Diagnostics station. The presentation will conclude with a tribute to Atlantis, honoring the Space Shuttle's role in building the greatest engineering orbital lab in space in the history of mankind, namely the ISS.

Dr Ravi Margashayam M.S., M.B.A., was the manager of the International Space Shuttle launches at NASA Kennedy Space Center and is now a VIP tour guide and international speaker for NASA. He has responsibilities for safety and was involved with the noise and acoustics of the launch vehicle. He continues to work with NASA payload customers domestically and internationally, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japanese Space Agency (JAXA), in technical interchange meetings about hundreds of ISS experiments.

Date: Tuesday 15th December 2015

Time: Refreshments served from 18.00. Talk starts at 18.30. Finishes around 20.00 following Q&A.

Venue: Lecture Theatre 0, Cambridge University Engineering Department, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ (directions).

Parking: Parking on the CUED site is limited due to the ongoing construction. It is reserved for the speakers, university staff, helpers, those with disabilities and our elderly members. If you have a disability that makes it difficult to walk, contact us to reserve a place.

There are cycle racks directly outside the entrance. The nearest public multi-storey carparks are Grand Arcade and Queen Anne Terrace (see map), which are 0.5 mile and 10-15 minutes walk.

Free to attend. Limited places, so booking recommended.

This talk is open to the public and is suitable for young people, students and engineers. You are encouraged to pass on this invitation and bring with you colleagues, friends and family who are interested in spaceflight technology.

A poster to advertise this event can be downloaded here.

This event is organised by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Cambridge Network, Royal Aeronautical Society Cambridge branch and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Beds and Cambs area.