Podcast Ep. #33 – Black Arrow’s Vision for a Seaborne Launch Capability and STEM Engagement

Aerospace Engineering Podcast

Paul Williams is the Executive Director of the British startup Black Arrow Space Technologies. Black Arrow is developing a sea-borne launch capability based on their current expertise in developing composite propellant tanks for satellites. The launching of rockets from ships has a previous history in America, and as an island nation, the concept is clearly suited for a UK launch provider. Paul and I talk about the heritage of the Black Arrow name, the advantages of a sea-borne launch approach, and the importance of audacious technical challenges in galvanising and inspiring the next generation of engineering talent. In fact, Black Arrow is currently supporting and working with a number of ambassadors from the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) campaign. One of these ambassadors is Liv Scott-Golding, a 3rd year Physics undergraduate student at the University of Bristol, who is also joining us on this episode. Liv has been involved with Black Arrow from the start, and with contagious enthusiasm, tells us about her passion for the space industry and her interactions with Black Arrow as a WISE ambassador. This episode of the Aerospace Engineering Podcast is brought to you by my patrons on Patreon. Patreon is a way for me to receive regular donations from listeners whenever I release a new episode, and with the help of these generous donors I have been able to pay for much of the expenses, hosting and travels costs that accrue in the production of this podcast. If you would like to support the podcast as a patron, then head over to my Patreon page. There are multiple levels of support, but anything from $1 an episode is highly appreciated. Thank you for your support! Selected Links from the Episode Black Arrow's webpage latest newsletter sign-up to the newsletter Twitter and YouTube Sister company Astrotanks Ltd History of Black Arrow rocket History of Sea Launch WISE Campaign Additional podcast with the Interplanetary Podcast