Libby Jackson Explained

Elizabeth "Libby" Anne Jackson (born 18 March 1981)[1] is a British space exploration expert who works for the UK Space Agency.

Early life and education

Libby Jackson's enthusiasm for space travel started young, when, as a seven-year-old, she wrote a Travel Guide to Mars. Aged fifteen she attended Space School, before choosing A-Levels in Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Music.[2] [3] She developed an interest in human spaceflight aged seventeen, after shadowing a flight director at NASA Johnson Space Center.[4] She went on to complete a BSc in physics at Imperial College London in 2002 and an MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield University in 2003.[5]

Career 

After graduating from Cranfield, Jackson worked as a graduate engineer at EADS Astrium.[6] From 2007, Libby Jackson worked at Europe's control centre for the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight instructor and controller.[7] She became director for the ISS European Space Agency (ESA) Columbus Module in 2010.[8] Jackson joined the UK Space Agency in 2014 and became spokesperson for Tim Peake's mission to the ISS.[9] In 2016 and 2018, Jackson spoke at the National Student Space Conference, hosted by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS), the UK's national student space society.[10] She coordinated the UK Space Agency education and outreach programme for Peake's mission.[11] She previously managed the Human Exploration Programme at the UK Space Agency, representing the UK's interest in human spaceflight and microgravity,[12] [13] and is currently the Head of Space Exploration.[14]

In July 2019 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Kent[15] and in the 2023 New Year Honours was awarded an Order of the British Empire "for services to the Space Sector".[16]

Public engagement and outreach

Jackson works to improve the public perception of space science and engineering, contributing to mainstream media and speaking at large events.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] In 2016, Jackson ran the London Marathon in an astronaut costume, whilst at the same event, Tim Peake became the first male to run a marathon in space.[23] She was part of the team awarded the Sir Arthur Clarke Award from the British Interplanetary Society in 2016 for the outreach activities surrounding Tim Peake's Principia Mission.[24] [25] Her first book, A Galaxy of Her Own, was published in 2017.[26] Her second book, Space Explorers, was published in 2020.[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jackson . Libby . How to get started in space BFOS . 17 July 2014 .
  2. Web site: Libby Jackson. www.destinationspace.uk. en-GB. 2017-12-11.
  3. Book: Libby, Jackson. A galaxy of her own : amazing stories of women in space. 978-1473553262. London. 1009335446. 16 November 2017.
  4. Web site: Swindon spaceflight expert bound for TV on BBC2's Astronauts. Swindon Advertiser. 21 August 2017 . en. 2017-12-11.
  5. Web site: An Imperial alumnus is helping Tim Peake inspire a new generation of astronauts. Imperial College London. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226014446/http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_14-12-2015-15-29-9. 2015-12-26. dead. 2017-12-10.
  6. UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS). 2014-07-17. How to get started in space BFOS.
  7. News: How many people does it take to put an astronaut in space?. Lyons. Tom. 2016-05-19. The Guardian. 2017-12-11. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  8. Web site: National Space Academy - Libby Jackson. nationalspaceacademy.org. en-gb. 2017-12-11.
  9. Web site: UK Space Agency's Libby Jackson is a rising star Swindon Link. Fitzgerald. Ben. swindonlink.com. en-GB. 2017-12-11.
  10. Web site: UKSEDS National Student Space Conference. UKSEDS.org. 2017-12-11.
  11. Web site: Faculty of Natural Sciences Alumni Imperial College London. www.imperial.ac.uk. en-GB. 2017-12-11.
  12. Web site: New UK projects look at the impact of spaceflight on the human body - GOV.UK. www.gov.uk. en. 2017-12-11.
  13. News: Surrey team wins funding for experiments that could help humans adapt better to space. University of Surrey - Guildford. 2017-12-11. en.
  14. Web site: New Year Honours recognition for space experts - GOV.UK. www.gov.uk. en. 2023-01-04.
  15. Web site: July 2019. Martin Herrema 1. Singer Ellie Goulding among those to receive honorary degrees from Kent - University of Kent. 2020-06-04. The University of Kent. July 2019 . en-GB.
  16. Web site: New Year Honours recognition for space experts . 2023-01-03 . GOV.UK . en.
  17. Web site: One Direction's space-themed Drag Me Down video explained - BBC Newsbeat. Rosney. Daniel. 2015-08-21. BBC Newsbeat. en-GB. 2017-12-11.
  18. Web site: STEM AMSAT-UK. amsat-uk.org. en. 2017-12-11.
  19. Web site: Mars by 2021? Thoughts from the author of 'The Martian' and the former NASA Chief Scientist . Snelling . Tara . 13 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516122919/http://oxfordstudent.com/2017/05/13/mars-2021-thoughts-author-martian-former-nasa-chief-scientist/ . 2017-05-16 . The Oxford Student (OxStu) . en-GB . 2018-04-15 . live.
  20. News: Libby Jackson. New Scientist Live 2017. 2017-12-11 . en-GB.
  21. Web site: Libby Jackson interview for Heston's Dinner in Space - Channel 4 - Info - Press. www.channel4.com. en-us. 2017-12-11.
  22. News: Tim Peake: What has he achieved?. Shukman. David. 2016-06-17. BBC News. 2017-12-11. en-GB.
  23. Web site: Latest News Peake's partners in space suits to open London Marathon Expo. www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com. 2017-12-11.
  24. Web site: Sir Arthur Clarke Awards Winners. www.bis-space.com. en-US. 2017-12-11.
  25. Web site: Winners of the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards 2016. www.bis-space.com. en-US. 2017-12-11.
  26. Book: A Galaxy of Her Own, Amazing Stories of Women in Space by Libby Jackson. 16 November 2017 . www.penguin.co.uk. en. 2017-12-11.
  27. Book: Space Explorers by Libby Jackson. www.hachette.co.uk. 3 March 2020 . 9781526362117 . en. 2023-01-04 . Jackson . Libby . Hachette Children's .

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