Success in rocket science helps two Engineering graduates impress space industry leaders
Two Masters of Engineering graduates have been making valuable high level contacts in the space industry while presenting the findings of their final year Group Design Project to develop a hybrid rocket at a prestigious international event in Rome.
Riccardo Castelli (MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics) and Remko Moeys (MEng Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace) addressed an influential audience of business leaders and researchers at the 2016 Space Propulsion Conference, attended by representatives from NASA, the European Space Agency and Airbus.
“The University of Southampton has a great reputation for research into space technology and we were honoured to be invited to take part in the conference,” says Riccardo. “It was a tremendous opportunity for us to speak about our project, but also to learn about latest developments in the space industry by going to other talks at the event and networking with leading figures in the sector.”
Their project challenged them to design, manufacture and test a rocket suitable to power a lunar lander to move around the moon. Powered by a combination of a liquid oxidant of hydrogen peroxide and a solid fuel of high density polyethylene (HDPE), their hybrid rocket has also attracted the interest of academics at the University who are continuing work on the concept.
“My experience in testing the rocket was certainly a factor in helping me get my job as a consultant at Altran, I’m now a test engineer working on the Bombardier C Series aircraft at the aerostructures firm Sonaca in Belgium.” says Remko. “In my experience, other universities in Europe tend not to specialise in areas such as aeronautical engineering so my degree from Southampton has given me a head start,” adds Remko.
Riccardo is now a Graduate Propulsion Engineer at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage: "Winning a place on the Airbus Graduate Scheme was very competitive but my studies at Southampton helped me write a convincing job application and I am enjoying working at several sectors within the company,” he adds.
Both graduates have paid tribute to their supervisors Dr Graham Roberts and Professor Antony Musker for supporting them throughout their project.