Michael Dempsey
Technological journalist
David Boutflour
David Boutflour – From the truck driver engineer to space systems
The history of David Boutflour are as far from the glamor of space launches as possible to imagine.
The 31-year-old worked in hospitality for nine years, becoming director general of a gastro-pub in the Cheshire. But it was not the real career for him. “I felt that I could do more,” he said.
Mr. Boutflour was interested in space and aviation from a young age, mentioning Concorde as an early inspiration.
A course at the University of Portsmouth attracted its imagination – the first learning of the United Kingdom Systems Systems was launched in conjunction with BAE Systems.
To build funds to help pay the course, he went to Lorry’s conduct – a decision that has not prepared his social circle for his change of management.
“Everyone thought I was lying when I said that I had been accepted on this course. They thought I was pulling my leg, passing from the truck driver to the space engineer!”
The four and a half year course implies learning to work on sites where BAE Systems designs and assembles satellites.
Back in Portsmouth, they will study engineering of space systems.
The academic side of the course consists of four modules, in thermodynamics, programming, digital systems and mathematics, all separated between conferences and laboratory time.
BAE systems
Alice Overend had worked on satellites before joining the course
Mr. Boutflour is joined by four other people on learning.
One of them is Alice Overend.
21 years old, she had already worked on assembly and satellite tests when she applied for the Portsmouth course.
This work involved the unhappy satellites of Prometheus 2 which were lost during a failed attempt to launch a satellite in space by Virgin Orbit in 2023.
This incident made him a deep impression. “It was quite surreal, we all looked at the launch in the office and when the cover ended, we just returned home.”
Satellite launches are part of life in the space sector. But the loss of virgin orbit remained in the minds of other Portsmouth students. It means the risk element in spatial work.
The history of MS Overend in satellite tests gave him a whim in terms of understanding the way in which an extent of the British space industry fits. “The whole space sector goes in a good direction.”
She explains the true meaning of “space systems” in her world.
“Systems are to ensure that everything is where it should be, like the satellite weight being precisely correct.”
BAE systems
George Smith hopes that the course could help him become astronaut
George Smith is the youngest in the group at 18 and has joined the course directly with a level of physics, mathematics and engineering.
In his hometown of York, he and a few friends separated an old lawn to lawn to build a Kart of the pieces.
How did Kart work? “He only wanted to turn to the right, but we learned a lot why it didn’t work.”
Everything in space exploration does not take place either, but practical work like this is an integral part of the course.
“Learning called me. I find that the study and application of the lesson of practice means that I learn better. I therefore looked at the diploma learning and this course was a control list of all that I wanted to do. “
Space is an expanding sector and it houses a desire to go beyond the atmosphere of the earth one day “if I can check all the good boxes to become an astronaut”.
Currently, the course meets its expectations. “To say that it is a dream come true is cheesy, but I had the door.”
Getty images
Virgin Orbit’s failure ended the initiative to launch national satellites in the United Kingdom
Elizabeth Seward is the head of space strategy at Bae Systems.
Despite her own history as a physicist, Ms. Seward thinks that people are discouraged from this sector by a perception that it is exclusively for rockets.
“Space tends to be put on a pedestal. But the truth is that we need more people from other horizons. A career here is for anyone interested in space, like project managers or Lawyers. “
The attraction of space is obvious at the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, where Dr. Stephanie Docrty teaches orbital mechanics, how a satellite arrives on the right track, as part of the aerospace course.
It should be less important than the ability in the space sector. “Employers want a problem with spirit resolution. And I noticed a real appetite for students for more spatial content in their course.”
The proposals for the construction of rocket launching sites in distant places such as the Shetland Islands mean that more positions should open in the British space industry in the very close future.
After setting up the space shuttle in 2011, Mr. Boutfleur felt space exploration “took a step back”.
Now he says that the success of Elon Musk’s reusable launchers is extremely significant.
“Musk has rekindled the space race a lot”.
The three students agree that the practical side of the course is inspiring.
And outside the space program, what are they doing?
“Most of us are playing video games,” said Smith, with Ms. Overend Hocant in agreement.
Underwater diving is another popular hobby. “We all like the game,” explains Mr. Boutflour, “and scuba diving is a good training to work in space.”
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