I have an academic background in astrophysics and knew I wanted to have a career in the space industry, but was not sure how to get my foot in the door. The MSc Space Science and Technology course at UCD gave me the opportunity to learn about the different sectors of the space industry and how many different kinds of jobs there are. I really enjoyed learning all about satellites on the course, the different orbital possibilities, the harsh space environment they have to withstand, the different subsystems that make up satellites and what to consider when planning a space mission. The MSc course allowed me to expand my knowledge and develop important skills for the space industry. The project management skills I learned in the Space Sector Professional Skills module and developed during the Tuppersat project in the Satellite Subsystems module directly led to me securing my job at Goonhilly Earth Station.
In my position as Mission Operations Engineer at Goonhilly, I work as part of a team that operates GHY-6, a 32-meter deep space antenna, to track satellites for NASA and ESA missions such as Mars Express and Artemis 1. I use my project management skills in my secondary role managing the development of procedures and other projects.