Advising the UK Space Agency

A broad range of cross-disciplinary research on space-related technologies has seen Dr Minkwan Kim selected to join the UK Space Agency’s Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC).

The committee’s role is to advise the UK Space Agency on matters relating to robotic and human space exploration programmes, and on UK participation in European exploration programmes – including Mars exploration and the International Space Station.

Dr Kim, Associate Professor in Astronautics, joined the SEAC in February 2022 for a two-year term. His research expertise in in-situ resource utilisation, life support systems, planetary protection (cleaning and sterilising spacecraft), atmospheric entry technologies (thermal protection and radio blackout), and space propulsion, will be called upon.

He said: “I was so excited when I was informed that I was selected as a member of SEAC. The University of Southampton is one of only a few universities that has an active space-related research and teaching programme. However, as a University, we did not have a voice at the Agency to speak for the University’s research activities and desired future space missions and programmes. Becoming an SEAC member will give us a chance to contribute ideas and suggestions on space exploration.”

Outlining his aims during his two-year term on the SEAC, Dr Kim added: “I want to help enable more opportunities for academia to participate in European Space Agency and UK Space Agency exploration programmes. In addition, I want to encourage the UK Space Agency to consider Universityled space missions, which often occur at universities in the United States. Finally, I want to contribute to the Agency’s awareness of the importance of sustainable space development.”

Dr Minkwan Kim

In addition to Dr Kim, the SEAC has nine members, who are:

• Head of Collections, Natural History Museum

• Professor of Planetary Science, University of Oxford

• Honorary Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University College London

• Associate Professor in Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter

• Lecturer in Planetary Science, University of Glasgow

• Director of Astrobiology, The Open University

• Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University and Chair of Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC

• Technical Director, Reliance Precision Limited

• Head of Science, Airbus UK