WAS July meeting: Superconductors in Space - Ben Mallet

WAS July 2025 Society meeting

Anyone is welcome to come along to this presentation.

Also accessible online through Zoom.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86837857650?pwd=JkfBkxl3kWAXjbz3mzx6cFzY9bq70U.1

This month's meeting will contain the following:
1. Night sky in July
2. Astronomy News
3. Main talk at 7:50 pm

Title: Superconductors in Space - Dr. Ben Mallett

The Space team at Paihau Robinson Research Institute in Gracefield is developing technology for spacecraft propulsion and shielding. The research builds upon the institute's track record in superconductivity and involves close collaborations with institutes around the world. The team works to improve the technology readiness level of several technologies for space that involve high-temperature superconductors. The current research is focused on a planned on-orbit demonstration of the technology in 2025.

This talk outlines the context of the Space team's work and shares its progress in getting the Hēki mission ready for its trip to the International Space Station.

About our speaker:
After trying his hand at philosophy, Ben Mallett graduated with a Ph.D. in physics from Victoria University of Wellington under the supervision of Prof. Jeffrey Tallon. He undertook postdoctoral research in the group of Prof. Christian Bernhard at Fribourg University in Switzerland. In 2016, he returned to New Zealand, taking up a Rutherford Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Auckland. He is now a Senior Scientist in the Space team at the Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington.

Also check out other Meetups in Wellington, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Wellington.