An 11-year-old boy’s ‘out of this world’ design will be featured on a spacecraft launching later this year.
Businesses at the BASE Bordon Innovation Centre have joined forces to fly Sam Jackson’s design after his creation impressed judges at In-Space Missions, who launched the competition to design a patch for the side of the Faraday-1 spacecraft.The spacecraft, weighing just 8kg and similar in size to a cereal box, is set to blast off into space on an Electron rocket from Mahia, New Zealand in April.
Carrying seven experiments, known as payloads, the small spacecraft will test different types of technology for customers from around the world. It will be sent up into an orbit 500km above the Earth, higher than the International Space Station, and will circle the planet 15 times a day over a five-year period.
Dr Susan Jason, In-Space Missions Principal Systems Engineer, said: “Our judges from In-Space Missions, Oxford Innovation, Crux Design Agency and Night Sky Consulting were so impressed with Sam’s design. It was very clear and he had considered the design brief carefully.
“What’s particularly exciting is the fact that together with our customers around the world, Sam’s design is sharing a ride on a spacecraft, which was built and tested here in Bordon. It’s been wonderful to witness how the Faraday-1 Mission has brought together businesses, schools and the local community.”
Sam, a student at St Thomas of Canterbury School, in Guildford said: “I thought it was quite effective to show our planet and also a banner with the name of the spacecraft on.
“It was great to meet the designer who showed me how he made the badge which will go on the satellite. It’s amazing to know that something I designed will be up there in space orbiting the earth.”
BASE Bordon business, Crux Design, experts in graphic design, were commissioned by In-Space Missions to create a digitised version of Sam’s design incorporating the national flags of the spacecraft’s sponsors.
Steve Neaves, Creative Director of Crux Design, said: “We were so impressed with the overall standard of the entries across all age groups from primary to university students. Everyone captured the essence of the Faraday Mission in a unique range of styles, colours and techniques. Sam’s winning design ticked all the boxes for us and answered the design brief brilliantly.”
Another BASE Bordon company, Pivale, created a software platform for In-Space Mission’s payload customers to access their data from the spacecraft when in orbit.
Duncan Gill, Manager of the BASE Bordon Innovation Centre, said: “It’s been great to see businesses in the Centre working together on such an exciting project. We have a thriving eco-system of creative businesses in one building, who are collaborating to meet client needs in a unique way.
“We quip that our beautiful business lounge and coffee machine are the reasons why our Centre is so well known for helping small businesses succeed. We have 30 businesses here and over 60 per cent of them are interacting and doing business with each other.
“We take great pleasure in helping firms to grow and flourish and we are delighted to see the thriving community that has evolved here.”
Duncan Gill added: “Another company, powerQuad, is working with In-Space on innovative energy technology that will power their spacecraft during periods of orbit when they are shielded by planets from the Sun. They are also working with In-Space on a new energy storage solution that will provide resiliency by protecting their mission-critical equipment from power-cuts.”
Set in the former Louisburg Barracks, BASE Bordon Innovation Centre brings together a diverse mix of start-ups, SMEs and high-growth businesses to create an exhilarating community of collaborators, innovators and entrepreneurs. This historic former Officers’ Mess has been re-designed to provide modern and inspiring workspaces including spacious meeting rooms, a business lounge and access to dedicated business support from an expert, on-site team.
