This event is aimed at promoting STEM subjects to 14 to 16 year old students of Lincolnshire, hopefully to inspire them into onward studies and ultimately careers in the fascinating and varied world of Science, Technology and Engineering.

 

Following an introduction from Grp Captain Mark Hunt, President of The IMechE, Phillippa described her involvement in the exciting and innovative propulsion engine being developed by Reaction Engines.  Called the SABRE this engine combines elements of classic Rocket propulsion with the ability to harvest the oxygen supply required for use in the atmosphere.  This dramatically reduces the payload of Liquid oxygen to be carried by the vehicle to that only necessary for use in the final stages of the excursion into the upper atmosphere.  

 

The SABRE engine is pivotal in the proposed next generation of “reusable space launch vehicle”.  This vehicle called SKYLON will take off and land like a conventional aeroplane, thus significantly reducing the cost and turn-around time of any launch.  A proposed alternative use for the vehicle is to dramatically reduce inter-continental travel times by flying into a “near earth” orbit at very high speed.

 

Phillippa also described her own route and experiences into the industry in an intuitive and engaging way.  This was followed by some vibrant and intelligent questions from the students before drawing the event to a close.

 

It was fitting that this presentation took place in the Whittle Hall at RAF College Cranwell, the venue carrying the name of Sir Frank Whittle, whose own revolutionary aircraft propulsion engine revolutionised air travel.  It was also noted that this technology is being developed here in Great Britain, not the USA, Russia, India or China, dispelling the myth that space innovation is performed in other countries, and that the future of Space innovation was very much alive and part of the Great British Engineering fraternity.  

 

(The Isaac Newton Lecture is co-sponsored by The IET, The IMechE and The Royal Aeronautical Society and held by kind permission of the RAF at RAF College Cranwell.  Schools liaison and promotion is performed by Education Business Partnership who currently hold the STEMNet contract for Lincolnshire and Rutland.)





Report by Phil Hill