Libby Jackson is one of Britain’s leading experts in human spaceflight, having spent over a decade working at the forefront of the field.
Space was a childhood passion and after completing degrees in physics at Imperial College and astronautics and space engineering at Cranfield University, she has worked in the space industry ever since.
Libby spent seven years working at the European Space Agency’s Mission Control for the International Space Station in a number of roles including her dream job as a Columbus Flight Director.
She played a key role in Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station and continues to work in the field.
Libby is a frequent contributor on television and radio, including Stargazing Live, The Big Think: Should We Go To Mars? and Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?
Accompanied by my first ever co-host, my 10 year old daughter, Amélie, we spent a brilliant hour chatting with Libby about space, her earliest recollections of being fascinated with it and followed by some heart in mouth stories from mission control.
We discussed how space is such a huge industry now that there are so many ways for young people to get in and how annoying it still is that there are blue and pink aisles in toy shops.
Why is mission control such a quiet, almost spiritual, place that fills us with such awe and excitement? How does the extensive training prepare you for all eventualities?
And the moral of Libby’s tale – ALWAYS ask the question, the answer might be no but if you don’t ask you will never know if it could have been yes.
Seize every opportunity that comes your way and find what it is you love and drive towards it full steam ahead!
Libby is passionate about sharing stories of human spaceflight and encouraging young people to follow their passions in life. Her first book, A Galaxy of Her Own: Amazing Stories of Women in Space was published in 2017 and Space Explorers: 25 Extraordinary Stories of Space Exploration and Adventure was published in 2020.
We have a copy of the first book and it is fascinating, supremely interesting and beautifully illustrated – the next one is firmly on Amélie’s birthday list!
You can follow Libby on:
Twitter: libbyjackson__
IG: libbyjackson__
Facebook: Libby Jackson
Website: www.libbyjackson.com (where you can order her awesome books)