Space Exploration: past, present and future – a European perspective
David Parker, the European Space Agency’s space exploration director from 2016 until June 2023, presents a personal view of the race to the Moon, the role of international collaboration and the current status of plans to return humans to the Moon and also to explore Mars. He draws attention to the crucial role of Europe and also how the real-world issues of politics and financing underly the pace of progress. The scientific objectives and the wider benefits to society of space exploration are also highlighted in this wide-ranging and engaging talk.
ESA’s space exploration director from 2016 until June 2023, David Parker created its Terrae Novae exploration programme which includes astronaut missions to the ISS, Mars exploration with ExoMars and Mars Sample Return as well as Europe’s contributions to Artemis including the European Service Modules for Orion and the lunar Gateway. At the 2022 ESA space conference in Paris, ministers approved a further one-third funding boost for the programme allowing the start of the Argonaut lunar lander programme enabling sustained exploration of the Moon throughout the 2030s.
Trained in aeronautics and astronautics, David Parker’s thirty-three years in the space sector includes fourteen in industry, six with UK government space research agencies and four as Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.
In 2019, David Parker received the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Geoffrey Pardoe award for long and valued service to the space sector.
Free to all.
Please book by 1pm on the day of the event for a link to view at home. This will be sent by 5pm
If attending in the Victoria Hall there is no need to book
Doors: 7.30pm for refreshments
Start: 8pm