60 Second Spotlight on Matthew Oxborrow, RALSPACE
Ahead of the Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Exhibition on 16 May, we caught up with Matthew Oxborrow to find out more about his presentation and his thoughts for the future.
Please briefly explain your current role.
I carry out both vibration and shock testing at subsystem level for space hardware. Both of these are needed for anything being launched into space. As well as this, I am working on the commissioning of the new National Satellite Test Facility.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past two years?
The UK space industry has grown significantly in the past few years. There are an increasing number of start-ups working on space hardware so the market is now much more than the historic giants.
What is the most important development in this field at the moment, either within your organisation or in the industry in general?
The main change in the industry is the emergence of the small, disposable satellite. Even small scale companies can now launch their own satellites for use. The timescale for launching has significantly shortened as well for satellites of this size allowing more focused research to be conducted by these missions.
What key development(s) in test and measurement are you most interested in for the future and why?
The main area of development for space testing in the UK is
the construction of the new National Satellite Test Facility. The facility will
have the largest thermal vacuum chamber in the UK, a vibration facility and an
electromagnetic compatibility facility all in the same building.
What will you be presenting at the Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Exhibition and how will this benefit participants?
I will be presenting on a research paper I conducted looking at measurement methods for pyroshock testing. I compare results obtained using Digital Image Correlation to those obtained using traditional accelerometer methods.
Why is it important for engineers to join this event?
Engineering is an industry that requires innovation to move forward. This innovation may be made in a certain sector but could benefit engineering as a whole. This event allows collaboration between these sectors not normally available.