Astrogazers: Journey Through The Celestial Realm

Wimbledon High alumna, Ashvi Ilot, visited Croydon High on the 8 November to talk about her pivotal role at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). Ashvi’s trajectory in the space industry has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. As a systems engineer for the Rosetta Mission and a 3D CAD designer for the International Space Station, she laid the groundwork for her later successes. Venturing into propulsion procurement and spacecraft control, she delved deep into the intricate workings of space technology.

Her stint at the Spacecraft Control & Operations Facility and the Skynet 5A mission honed her operational finesse, preparing her for international collaborations with the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. In her current role, leading the Lunar Pathfinder Mission and the Moonlight mission, her endeavours promise to illuminate the enigmatic dark side of the moon, unravelling its mysteries for humanity.

The workshop gave us the opportunity to ask questions and discuss how we can ensure the success of our own satellite launch (as part of Mission Pegasus) which we are all very much looking forward to and are busy planning for already! We will provide lots more information in the weeks to come – stay updated by following our YouTube channel and Instagram!

Ashvi’s unwavering dedication to unravelling the celestial mysteries has propelled her to the forefront of the space industry. Her journey epitomises perseverance, innovation, and a profound commitment to advancing humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.

Anaiya S
Year 9
Astrogazers Crew Operations & Resources Engineer