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If you have ever wanted to chat to an astronaut, find out about stars and galaxies or ask how a Mars rover is built then tune in to the UK Space Agency twitter feed (@spacegovuk) for World Space Week 4th-10th October.

The Agency is hosting a series of one hour ‘tweet the expert’ twitter Q&As between 15.00-16.00 (BST) each weekday of World Space Week. This is your opportunity to have your questions answered by the people who work in the space sector.

World Space Week is a United Nations initiative to celebrate science, technology and the wealth of benefits mankind enjoy from the peaceful use of outer space. The week is held every year from the 4th – 10th October so there is still time to get involved in 2012 and learn more about space.

How to get involved
Where ever you are in the world and whatever you are doing, join us on Twitter between 15.00 and 16.00 (BST) to ask an expert your question.

During the live period, simply tweet your question to @spacegovuk and the @ of the expert you want to ask, e.g. “@spacegovuk @astro_timpeake What is your daily routine? #wswq&a”.

Or send us your questions now either via Twitter @spacegovuk, Facebook or email steven.watson@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk and we will put them to our experts via Twitter. Again, please make sure you indicate who you want to ask.

The hashtag for the event will be #wswq&a.

Thursday 4th October - Space Science - Prof Matt Griffin @spacegovuk (Principal Investigator for the Herschel-SPIRE instrument)
Matt is currently Deputy Head of School and Director of Research at Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy. His research interests include far infrared and submillimetre astronomy and instrumentation, especially developing instruments for both ground-based and satellite-borne observatories. Matt is Principal Investigator for the Herschel-SPIRE instrument. The Herschel Space Observatory is the largest ever infrared space observatory; it collects radiation from some of the coldest and most distant objects in the universe to examine the formation of galaxies and stars.

Friday 5th October - The ESA Astronaut Corps - Tim Peake @astro_timpeake (European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut)
Tim was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2009. He has since completed a range of astronaut training. This has included spending 12 days almost 20m underwater for NASA’s Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO). Tim is an ambassador for UK Science and space-based careers in 2009 and is involved in working with the UK Space Agency in developing the UK’s microgravity research programme.

Saturday 6th October - Exploration - Ralph Cordey @RalphCordey (Head of Robotic Exploration Business Development)
Ralph works at Europe’s leading space company, Astrium. The company has been involved in many major space missions. They are currently working on the Solar Orbiter spacecraft which will travel closer to the Sun than any previous space craft as well as missions to Mercury and to monitor the Earth. Ralph’s team leads the development of the Mars rover vehicle for the Exomars project.

Monday 8th October - Space Security and Near Earth Objects - Richard Crowther @spacegovuk (Chief Engineer at the UK Space Agency)
Richard’s primary research interests are man-made orbital debris, planetary protection, and Near Earth Objects (asteroids and comets that pass close to the Earth). Richard represents the UK Space Agency to our international partners for example, the United Nations and the European Space Agency, to ensure the peaceful use of outer space and to work towards the safety of space craft from the growing amount of space debris in orbit.

Tuesday 9th October - TBC

Wednesday 10th October - Space Careers - Emma Lord @spacegovuk (Director of Policy and Operations at the UK Space Agency)
With a background in Mathematics Emma is well placed to advise our next generation of scientists, engineers (and astronauts!) on how studying STEM subjects can lead to a career in the burgeoning UK space industry. She regularly visits schools to talk about UK space activities and is a mentor to colleagues in the Government Science and Engineering network. On a day to day basis Emma heads a directorate responsible for a wide range of responsibilities from budget management to website management to licensing satellite launches. You can follow Emma through the UK Space Agency Blog.


World Space Week activities are happening up and down the country and throughout the world. Check out the events calendar to find out what is happening locally to you.