Elizabeth "Libby" Anne Jackson OBE FRAeS (born 18 March 1981) [1] is a British space exploration expert who works for the UK Space Agency.
Libby Jackson's enthusiasm for space travel started young, when, as a seven-year-old, she wrote a Travel Guide to Mars. [2] Aged fifteen she attended Space School, before choosing A-Levels in Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Music. [3] [4] She developed an interest in human spaceflight aged seventeen, after shadowing a flight director at NASA Johnson Space Center. [5] She went on to complete a BSc in physics at Imperial College London in 2002 and an MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield University in 2003. [6] [5]
After graduating from Cranfield, Jackson worked as a graduate engineer at EADS Astrium. [7] From 2007, Libby Jackson worked at Europe's control centre for the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight instructor and controller. [8] She became director for the ISS European Space Agency (ESA) Columbus Module in 2010. [9] Jackson joined the UK Space Agency in 2014 and became spokesperson for Tim Peake's mission to the ISS. [10] In 2016 and 2018, Jackson spoke at the National Student Space Conference, hosted by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space ( UKSEDS), the UK's national student space society. [11] She coordinated the UK Space Agency education and outreach programme for Peake's mission. [9] [12] She previously managed the Human Exploration Programme at the UK Space Agency, representing the UK's interest in human spaceflight and microgravity, [13] [14] and is currently the Head of Space Exploration. [15]
In July 2019 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Kent [16] and in the 2023 New Year Honours was awarded an Order of the British Empire "for services to the Space Sector". [17]
Jackson works to improve the public perception of space science and engineering, contributing to mainstream media and speaking at large events. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] In 2016, Jackson ran the London Marathon in an astronaut costume, whilst at the same event, Tim Peake became the first male to run a marathon in space. [24] She was part of the team awarded the Sir Arthur Clarke Award from the British Interplanetary Society in 2016 for the outreach activities surrounding Tim Peake's Principia Mission. [25] [26] Her first book, A Galaxy of Her Own, was published in 2017. [27] Her second book, Space Explorers, was published in 2020. [28]
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Elizabeth "Libby" Anne Jackson OBE FRAeS (born 18 March 1981) [1] is a British space exploration expert who works for the UK Space Agency.
Libby Jackson's enthusiasm for space travel started young, when, as a seven-year-old, she wrote a Travel Guide to Mars. [2] Aged fifteen she attended Space School, before choosing A-Levels in Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Music. [3] [4] She developed an interest in human spaceflight aged seventeen, after shadowing a flight director at NASA Johnson Space Center. [5] She went on to complete a BSc in physics at Imperial College London in 2002 and an MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield University in 2003. [6] [5]
After graduating from Cranfield, Jackson worked as a graduate engineer at EADS Astrium. [7] From 2007, Libby Jackson worked at Europe's control centre for the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight instructor and controller. [8] She became director for the ISS European Space Agency (ESA) Columbus Module in 2010. [9] Jackson joined the UK Space Agency in 2014 and became spokesperson for Tim Peake's mission to the ISS. [10] In 2016 and 2018, Jackson spoke at the National Student Space Conference, hosted by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space ( UKSEDS), the UK's national student space society. [11] She coordinated the UK Space Agency education and outreach programme for Peake's mission. [9] [12] She previously managed the Human Exploration Programme at the UK Space Agency, representing the UK's interest in human spaceflight and microgravity, [13] [14] and is currently the Head of Space Exploration. [15]
In July 2019 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Kent [16] and in the 2023 New Year Honours was awarded an Order of the British Empire "for services to the Space Sector". [17]
Jackson works to improve the public perception of space science and engineering, contributing to mainstream media and speaking at large events. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] In 2016, Jackson ran the London Marathon in an astronaut costume, whilst at the same event, Tim Peake became the first male to run a marathon in space. [24] She was part of the team awarded the Sir Arthur Clarke Award from the British Interplanetary Society in 2016 for the outreach activities surrounding Tim Peake's Principia Mission. [25] [26] Her first book, A Galaxy of Her Own, was published in 2017. [27] Her second book, Space Explorers, was published in 2020. [28]
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