WELCOME TO CARDIFF SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

Up until fairly recently the idea of humans colonising outer space seemed one fit only for fiction. Times are changing. Although perhaps only hypothetical at the moment the answers to the problems faced when designing a habitat capable of sustaining life, are ones currently being speculated, and it is considered a long-term goal of many national space programmes. In 2005, Michael Griffin, then NASA Administrator acknowledged space colonisation as the definitive aim of space exploration programmes, stating: “the goal isn’t just scientific exploration….it’s also about extending the range of human habitat out from Earth into the solar system as we go forward in time… today the technology is such that this is barely conceivable. We’re in the infancy of it”. It is with this hope of the technology stepping out of its infancy and into full growth that the International Space Settlement Design Competition was created.  The competition aims to give today’s budding young aerospace engineers the opportunity to come up with their own ideas for space colonies by considering the problems which would be faced by these early outer space inhabitants.

The International Space Settlement Design Competition is an industry simulation experience open to all current secondary school students in the United Kingdom. The US competition aims to give secondary school students first-hand experience of what it is like to work in the aerospace industry. Imperial College London was running the search for a winning UK team to send to the USA, in association with the charity Space Science Engineering Foundation (SSEF). At the US competition, the winning team will meet astronauts, space shuttle engineers and other experts, who will teach them about space exploration, engineering and management.

Two teams of students from Wales, made up of students from Cardiff Sixth Form College, Bishop of Llandaff and Cathedral School Llandaff, amongst others,  took part in the International Space Settlement Design Competition at Imperial College London on the 24th and 25^th March 2012. The first of these two teams was Grumbo Aerospace, the winners of the Welsh Regional Qualifiers. These were held in Wales for the first time this year at Cardiff Sixth Form College, on the 3^rd and 4^th March 2012.  The second team were from Cardiff Sixth Form College, whose team contained students who formed part of the company who triumphed at the grand final competition in Houston, Texas, last year. This team gained a place in the UK Finals through a successful video entry.

The existing teams were split up and divided into 4 different companies (Grumbo Aerospace, Vulture Aviation, Dougledyne-Fletchel and Rockdonnel) each consisting of 30-40 students from a variety of different backgrounds. Each company was mentored by an adult chief executive officer with extensive managerial experience.

The first job of each company was to choose a student president and to appoint members and directors to each of the four engineering departments required to satisfy the Request for Proposal. These departments were: Structural Engineering, Operations Engineering, Human Engineering, and Automation Engineering. Although the CEO was there to give recommendations as to how to do this, ultimately, structuring the company and appointing its leaders was the responsibility of the students. The teams explored how to overcome a range of design challenges as they developed their proposals. These included how to grow food in space and recycle the air so that it is breathable. The students also had to work out how to design workspaces, homes and recreational facilities that were liveable. This highly demanding task challenged their teamwork, communication and time management skills as the student had less than 24 hours to come up with their design and construct a presentation which was to be put before the judges on the final day.

After excellent presentations from all teams, the judges had the hard task of deciding the winner. The winning team was Dougledyne-Fletchel, who proposed an innovative “ice-cream-cone” settlement structure that protected residents from harmful solar flares. This team included three students from Wales – Nathaniel Alcolado, Dan Barker and Sophie Gorno, celebrated their well-deserved win to rapturous applause. The winning company will send 12 of its members to the US competition at Gilruth Conference Centre, part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Lyndon. B. Johnson Space Centre, in Houston, Texas, USA, at the end of July. Last year’s winning team from Cardiff Sixth Form College will also be joining them in Houston as an invited team.

The competition, although challenging, was greatly enjoyed by all. One participant, Krishna Ramesh of Cardiff Sixth Form College, said “Despite the fact that it was a lot of hard work, there was never a moment where I wished I had never signed up for it, as a matter of fact, the staying up all night working, which is what I was dreading the most, ended up being one of the most enjoyable parts and it all came together to create an awesome experience”.  Although not part of the overall winning team, Krishna was presented with a special award, The Dick Edwards Award for Exceptional Leadership. He said of it: “Winning the Dick Edwards leadership award was also an achievement I was very honoured to receive. It felt like the work I had done had not gone unnoticed however, I believed that everyone in our team contributed an immense amount and we worked very well together as a team, making my role as Vice President a lot easier”.   Another Cardiff Sixth Form College student, Kamogelo Thutoetsile, won the Rutherford Appleton Award for Exceptional Scientific Insight.

Of their students’ outstanding wins, Yasmin Sarwar, Executive Director of Cardiff Sixth Form College said “We are immensely proud of what Krishna and Kamogelo have achieved, as well as the hard-work and dedication put in by all our students who took part. This not only reflects well on our college, but on Wales as a whole. These budding young scientists and aerospace engineers are the Pride of Wales, and represent what is best about this small country of ours.  I wish Dougledyne-Fletchel every success, and know that they will represent Wales and the UK admirably in the Grand Final in Texas.”