Solar Orbiter & Beyond a Career in Space Engineering

Explore the journey from early engineering ambitions to leading contributions on major ESA and NASA missions. Explore the journey from early engineering ambitions to leading contributions on major ESA and NASA missions. In this lecture, Chris Brockley‑Blatt, Senior Project Manager and Chartered Engineer, shares insights from her two decades at UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, including hands‑on experience with Solar Orbiter, James Webb Telescope and other flagship missions. The session highlights how complex space instruments are conceived, built, and delivered, and reflects on the realities of international collaboration, mission culture, and the evolving landscape of space engineering. She offers an engaging look at the challenges, rewards, and future opportunities in a career spent pushing technology beyond Earth.