Astronauts, Robots and Digital Media: The Perfect Combination

Nicknamed “Space City”, Houston has always played a major role in aerospace. It’s the home of NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Centre (JSC), where innovative aerospace technology is tested, finding its way into medicine, energy and communications that we use every day here on Earth. It’s also where Mission Control counts down, sending teams of astronauts to explore the great unknown.

Before liftoff, astronauts from around the world train and prepare for missions here in my hometown. Among those astronauts-in-training is Tim Peake, the first UK national to fly in a European Space Agency Mission. Two years ago, the UK government announced that Peake will journey to the International Space Station (ISS) in November 2015.

This is an exciting time for the UK aerospace sector. The UK has identified robotics and autonomous systems as a key priority for economic growth. In 2010, the UK Space Innovation and Growth Strategy (Space IGS) set the goal to increase the UK’s share of the world’s space economy from 6.5% to 10% by 2030. It’s clear that the government is committed to reaching their aims in space. In November 2012, the UK announced an investment of £240 million in Europe’s human space flight programme. All this investment will help the UK reach new heights in space exploration.

Space has always been captivating to the human imagination. Yet it’s not often that the public gets an opportunity to chat with an astronaut-in-training. Since Peake was based in Houston, a Google Hangout was the perfect platform to showcase his upcoming mission. It was also a chance to position the UK as a major investor in space technology and the space industry, while highlighting a unique aspect of our post.

The key to making this hangout successful was bringing together the right participants. Our host, the European Space Agency, invited Dr. Matt Taylor, who has gained worldwide fame for landing the first spacecraft on a comet. Both British nationals, Peake and Taylor made a great pair, talking about the use of robotics in space missions. The Rosetta Mission is a great example. We have a robot in space exploring comets and studying them in great detail.

UK Space Agency and NASA Johnson Space Center were also great partners. NASA, where Peake is training, kindly lent us their Astronauts Appearance studio. They also helped coordinate the technology needed to make the conversation come to life. With so many parties involved, coordination was crucial and a lot of work. But in the end it was all worth it, and the hangout was better than we could have imagined. Check it out for yourself: The whole conversation can be viewed on ESA’s YouTube page.

By far, this is one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever worked on. It’s an example of how the FCO can use digital media platforms to connect with audiences and promote the best of Britain.

Living in Houston, meeting an astronaut is on everyone’s bucket list. Now, thanks to our Google hangout, I – and thousands of space enthusiasts — have the picture to prove it!