UK SPACE DESIGN COMPETITION FINAL 2012

30 Mar 2012

The contribution of four talented scientists from Hertfordshire-based Bishop’s Stortford College helped their team win the national final of the 2012 UK Space Design Competition, held at Imperial College London last weekend.

Sixth Formers Ross Gardiner, Duncan Ingram, Andrew Round and Max Thorpe were put into one of four teams, each with forty students from different schools, to form a simulated design company. In just 24 hours, they had to design a space settlement for up to 10,000 inhabitants.

The four places were secured after impressing judges in the first round of the national challenge. Project Manager Max Thorpe explained the process they went through:

“The original team of twelve sixth formers had to present a design of a lunar outpost on the moon for the first stage of the competition. It was an intense three weeks leading up to the presentation of our design! I then had the difficult task of selecting the four team members, who would represent Bishop’s Stortford College at the finals. The whole competition has been a fantastic experience and we were delighted to do so well. As the project manager, I have gained valuable people and organisational skills along with a much increased knowledge of the moon! These skills I’m sure I will draw upon at university, studying mechanical engineering, and beyond as an engineer.”

The original College team of Sixth Formers also included: Nick Reynolds, Tom Bicknell, Luke Bramley, Dom Eddershaw, Ralph Jordan, Jim Bratt, Greg Chant and Cameron Horne.

Photo: BSC Space Design Finals team