Professor Richard Holdaway – Credit RAL Space

Professor Richard Holdaway will give the keynote presentation “What else does Space do for You!” at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium at 1:30 pm on Saturday, July 25.

Professor Richard Holdaway has just retired from serving 16 years as Director of RAL Space at Harwell. He commenced his studies and obtained a Ph.D at the University of Southampton. This was followed by a period working on the design of the Harrier VTOL aircraft at Hawker Siddeley before joining the Appleton Laboratory in 1974 and RAL in 1980. He has been the Director of the establishment since 1998

RAL Space carries out an exciting range of world-class space research and technology development. They have had significant involvement in over 200 space missions and are at the forefront of UK Space Research.

They have more than 200 staff who are dedicated to supporting the programmes of the STFC and the Natural Environment Research Council as well as undertaking a large number of space projects for UK and overseas agencies, universities and industrial companies. They work alongside the UK Space Agency who co-ordinate UK civil space activities.

RAL Space undertake world-leading space research and technology development, provide space test and ground-based facilities, design and build instruments, analyse and process data and operate S- and X-band ground-station facilities, as well as lead conceptual studies for future missions. They work with space and ground-based groups around the world and have very recently opened a new test facility on their campus at Harwell. This is adjacent to the newly established  European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) which is ESA’s newest facility and its first in the United Kingdom.

Richard Holdaway has had 40 years of experience in Space Programmes, having worked on numerous missions in Space Science and Earth Observation with NASA, ESA, China, Russia and the UK National Programme.

He was awarded a CBE – Commander of the Order of the British Empire – in the New Years Honours List 2013; in recognition of his remarkable services to Science and Technology.

The Colloquium takes place July 25-26 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ and is open to all. Admittance on the Saturday and Sunday is £10 each day. Further information is at https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/