Society News
Name: Sean Goldsbrough FRAeS, 37
Location: Barnsley, UK
Job title: Operations Director – NORSS/Senior Orbital Analyst – UK Space Agency.
What inspired you into aerospace? I think most people are fascinated with space from an early age, myself included. Even as a youngster, anything to do with space and the Solar System was high on my list of desired toys, books and TV shows. Just as I was finishing my education, I was presented with a fantastic opportunity to work in the space industry, specifically at RAF Fylingdales where satellite surveillance and tracking is a major focus. Once I began in the role, I had an instant realisation that it was exactly what I wanted! The more experience I gained while in that position, the more obsessed I became with space. Throughout my tenure there, I worked with a number of fantastic people who were a true inspiration to me and helped me to become who I am today. I look at some of those I worked with then but also even still and the incredible, impactful roles they’re fulfilling and hope that when my career is over, I can look back with real pride and think ‘I made a positive contribution’ to this industry and the people within it as they do.
What is the best thing about your current role? I find great pleasure in working with young people who are just starting or are early in their careers, helping them to achieve their own goals and aspirations. In my current role, I am responsible for the fantastic technical teams we have brought together and the operational analysis and tasks they are involved with. We have a desire to enable opportunities for bright, young individuals who wish to develop within our industry and to-date I feel we have been successful in that area. I take great pleasure in watching such people evolve and grow while assisting by passing on knowledge and ensuring they can be involved in many exciting projects.
Furthermore, I represent the UK in a number of programmes and forums on behalf of the UK Space Agency, from EU and European Space Agency projects through to being a working group lead at the Inter-Agency Debris Committee (IADC), for which I am extremely grateful and have been proud to be a part of for a number of years. Having the opportunity to work with fantastic individuals across many areas of government, commerce and academia, both nationally and internationally, has had an incredibly positive impact on my own personal development and is something I continue to take great pleasure from today.
I believe there are things we can do better in how we behave in space operations and the governance of those actively operating in the space environment, and I have been given the rare opportunity of having an impact in exactly that.
What made you join the Royal Aeronautical Society? The Royal Aeronautical Society is famous for bringing together the best and brightest in aerospace to further the advancement of the many areas within which we are all involved. I had a real desire to be a part of such an important endeavour. Additionally, I believe having the opportunities to hold discussions with other members will be invaluable for my own personal growth and the ability to work with others to advance new ideas and further develop relationships with international peers is something I am always looking to build on.
What do you hope to get out of your membership with the RAeS? I look forward to the opportunities being a Fellow of RAeS will present to me with regards to meeting with others and learning new things from them, while having the ability to pass on my own knowledge where possible. Being a part of what the Society is designed to do will bring me great pleasure if I can have a positive influence in such things along the way.
What three items would you take with you to the space station? I’d take a pencil, a notebook and a camera so I could record everything I did while on board. I should probably take a picture of the family but I think I could attach one of those to a page in my notebook before I left so, technically, I would say that is still three things…!
What’s your favourite aircraft? One particular aircraft which I have always considered to be incredibly impressive is Lockheed Martin’s C-130. The versatility and impact the aircraft has made to the armed forces is so impressive, proven by the length of time is has been in operation.
Who is your biggest inspiration? I don’t believe I have one specific person who I could call my biggest inspiration but, if I had to break it down as best I could, I would say, my father is someone who has always pushed me to be the best I can be. I always looked up to both my parents growing up and he has been very successful in his own career, something I have always wanted to emulate. Another would be Bob Clarkson, who was a mentor to me in many ways for the first ten years of my own working life. He taught me how to work with people in an effective manner and how to approach complex situations. I think it would be fair to say Bob has been the most influential person I have had the pleasure of working with in my career to-date.