The National Conference of the UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS) was held over the weekend of March 4th/5th 2023 at Manchester University. This was the 35th National Conference and by far the largest with over 600 student attendees and more than 40 exhibitors including the UK Space Agency, the two biggest space companies in Europe, Airbus and Thales Alenia and established companies such as Skyrora, Space Forge, MDA, CGI, Astroscale, BAE Systems, Inmarsat and Bright Ascension.
The NSC as well as members Space Specialists, Catax, 4wardfutures, ManSEDS, LASER, UCLAN and Edgehill also exhibited. Space Societies from other universities were also present. The British Interplanetary Society with it’s Soyuz simulator where individuals can attempt to dock with the ISS was always popular.
Presentations were given by many of the industry’s leading figures including Ian Annett, Deputy CEO UK Space Agency, Anita Bernie, Katherine Courtney and Derek Harris and covered a wide range of industry topics. There were also several workshops specifically for students.
NSC Chairman Bob Morris, Alan Cross, Lancashire LEP Nathan Shoesmith and Elaine Scott from the North East Satellite Applications Catapult were part of a panel chaired by Phil Carvil, STFC Daresbury, to discuss “Building a Thriving Northern Space Sector.”
On the Liverpool Association for Space Engineering Research stand Ahmed Al-Irhayim and Rida Hussein ran a space quiz. At the end of the exhibition Ian Annett presented the winners with their prizes, LASER T-shirts.
Bob Morris, Ian Annett UKSA, Greg Thorpe GKT Industries
“It was a really good conference with excellent industry presenters and great to see so many students and student societies attending and well done to all the student organisers. It’s amazing to think that this event is designed and run by students and we are very happy to support it and their societies. We also had the opportunity to meet and have time to explain to Ian Annett exactly what is happening in Space in our region and for him to meet some of our members” Bob Morris.
For further information on the above or the Space Industry generally contact bob.morris@thensc-uk.com