42nd Maurice Lubbock Memorial Lecture

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42nd Maurice Lubbock Memorial Lecture

By Department of Engineering Science

Date and time

Wed, 25 May 2016 13:30 - 19:15 GMT+1

Location

Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford

Oxford OX1 3PJ United Kingdom

Description

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

The 42nd Maurice Lubbock Memorial Lecture

'Paving the Path for Human Space Exploration: The Challenges and Opportunities'

Speaker: Lauri N. Hansen, Director of Engineering, NASA Johnson Space Centre

Lauri N. Hansen

Lauri Hansen will discuss the challenges of human space exploration. The future of human exploration begins with our current earth reliant missions in low earth orbit. These missions utilise the International Space Station to learn how to safely execute deep space missions. In addition to serving as an exploration test bed and enabling world class research, the International Space Station enables NASA to build international and commercial partnerships.

NASA’s next steps will be to enable the commercialisation of low earth orbit while concentrating on developing the spacecraft and infrastructure necessary for deep space exploration and long duration missions. The Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle and the Space Launch System rocket are critical building blocks in this next phase of exploration. There are many challenges in designing spacecraft to perform these missions including safety, complex vehicle design, and mass challenges. Orion development is proceeding well, and includes a significant partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and build the Service Module portion of the spacecraft. Together, NASA and ESA will provide the capability to take humans further than we have ever been before – 70,000 km past the moon. This will be the next big step in expanding the frontiers of human exploration, eventually leading to human footprints on Mars.

Lauri started her career with NASA in 1984 as a co-op student at Johnson Space Centre. She was employed full time in January of 1986 and began work in the Mission Planning and Analysis Division. Her contributions there include leading the development of the variable altitude strategy for the Space Station, as well as leading the Space Station design reference mission development, integrated operation scenarios and development of the International Space Station (ISS) Design Analysis Cycles. She became the Deputy Manager of the ISS Vehicle Office in 1996 and was a key leader during early ISS development through the first assembly mission.

Following that, she returned to the Engineering Directorate and held successively responsible positions including Manager, Engineering Project Management and Deputy Director of Engineering. Following the Columbia accident in 2003, she co-led the Crew Survival Working Group and then became the Deputy Director of Safety and Mission Assurance at Johnson Space Centre. She moved to the Constellation Programme in 2006 and held several key positions there, including Director, Constellation Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance, Project Manager, Altair Lunar Lander, and Director, Constellation Systems Engineering and Integration.

In 2011, Lauri was named Chief of Staff for Johnson Space Centre, responsible for integration activities at the Centre level including policy development, strategic and tactical planning, and technical and business integration decisions. She served in that role until 2013, when she became the Director of Engineering.

As Director of Engineering, Lauri is able to leverage her wealth of experience from her senior leadership roles in technical, programmatic, and institutional organisations. She manages an organisation of approximately 2000 civil servants and contractors and is responsible for the technical engineering of the ISS programme, the Orion Programme, supporting the Commercial Crew Programme, and developing technology and engineering domains necessary for human spaceflight to Mars.

Special Honours: NASA awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal, Exceptional Achievement Medal, Equal Opportunity Award, and numerous JSC Honour Awards. She is also the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award.


Programme - Wednesday 25 May 2016 1.30pm onwards:

Guests arrive/registration in Thom Building Reception Area
Research Exhibition
4th Year Project Exhibition
Refreshments: coffee/tea and biscuits

2.00 – 2.35pm:

Mini-lecture, Thom Building First Floor - Professor Matthew McGilvray, University of Oxford: 'Hypersonic to Hypervelocity Spacecraft Heat Transfer'

2.35 – 3.10pm:

Mini-lecture, Thom Building First Floor - Dr Anna Orlowska, Science, Technology and Facilities Council: 'Space engineering at Harwell'

3.10 – 3.45pm:

Mini-lecture, Thom Building First Floor - Paul Bailey, University of Oxford: 'Cooling the Mid-Infrared Instrument'

3.45 – 4.05pm:

Presentation of 4th Year Project Exhibition Prizes
Lecture Room 1, Thom Building

4.05 – 4.45pm:

Research Exhibition
4th Year Project Exhibition
Refreshments: coffee/tea and biscuits

4.45 – 5.00pm: Guests walk from Department of Engineering Science to Mathematical Institute on Woodstock Road

NB: Guests to be seated in Lecture Theatre 1 at the Mathematical Institute by 5.00pm 5.00 – 5.05pm:

Introduction by Professor Lionel Tarassenko
Head of the Department of Engineering Science

5.05 – 6.05pm: The 42nd Maurice Lubbock Memorial Lecture:
'Paving the Path for Human Space Exploration: The Challenges and Opportunities' presented by Lauri N. Hansen, Director of Engineering, NASA Johnson Space Centre
6.05 – 6.15pm: Vote of thanks by Lord Avebury
Chairman of the Lubbock Trust
6.15 – 7.15pm: Drinks reception

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The Department of Engineering Science has an international reputation for its research in all the major branches of engineering, and in emerging areas such as biomedical engineering, energy and the environment. We place a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and collaborative work, both within engineering science and across the physical, medical and life sciences. The Department also has an excellent record of engagement with industry, and has generated numerous successful spin-out companies.

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