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Dr Hannah Sargeant

Planetary Scientist

SKILLS

Project Management

Budgeting

Report Writing

Prototype Building/Breadboarding

CAD & 3D Printing

MATLAB & Python

Precious Sample Handling

Mass Spectrometry

Data Analysis

Public Speaking

Honours & Awards

Forbes 30 Under 30 (2020)

Amelia Earhart Fellowship (2019)

EDUCATION

2016-2020

PhD Planetary Science

The Open University, UK

2015-2016

MSc Space Exploration Systems

University of Leicester, UK

2013-2014

PGCE Physics and Mathematics 

Loughborough University, UK

2010-2013

BSc Physics

University of Sheffield

PROFILE

I am a researcher in space resources, specialising in accessing and utilising water and oxygen on the Moon. More recently I have been focussed on the development and applications of radioisotope power technology, for space exploration missions.

Outside of the office I work with schools and external organisations to promote space science to children and the general public. 

WORK

2023 - Present

Research Fellow

University of Leicester, UK

  • PI for UK Space Agency – International Bilateral Fund Study. Identifying pathways for inclusion of UK Space Nuclear Power Systems on US and European Civil and Commercial Missions

  • Development of possible use-cases for radioisotope power systems in space, including an Ice-Mining Lunar Rover

  • MEng/PhD student/intern project supervision

2021 - 2022

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Central Florida, USA

  • Leading lab- and model-based projects linked to ISRU payloads and experiments

  • Relevant research areas: Modelling lunar dust and its interactions with rover wheels, lunar regolith and simulant mechanical properties testing, understanding the effects of regolith composition on melt properties

  • Supporting Exolith Lab simulant development and testing

  • MSc/PhD student project supervision, and delivering undergraduate module ‘Intro to Astronomy’

2020 - 2022

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Open University, UK

  • Developing low-power payloads for the LUVMI-X rover

  • Lead a dust mitigation project modelling rover wheel interactions with lunar regolith

  • MEng/PhD student project supervision

  • Project specialist for ‘Remote Experiments in Physics and Space’ undergraduate module

2018

Exploration Science Graduate Intern

Lunar and Planetary Institute, USA

  • Conducting research to better understand the physical properties of the lunar surface, and develop traverse routes for future lunar rovers

2014 - 2015

Science Teacher

The Polesworth School, UK

  • I obtained Qualified Teacher Status in Secondary Education

  • Science teacher for ages 11-14, Physics teacher for ages 14-18 at The Polesworth School

Thesis Title: "Water from lunar regolith: Reduction by hydrogen for a small-scale demonstration of in situ resource utilisation for the Moon"

Additional Experience

2023-Present

Chair of UK ISRU Representative Group

The UK ISRU Representatives are individuals working across the sector, and specialise in different areas of In Situ Resource Utilisation. They represent the interests of the wider UK ISRU community. The group includes early career and established professionals working in academia and industry, and provide a breadth of expertise and points of view.

2023-2024

ESA AstroLEAP Facilities Definition Team

An Astronaut-deployed Lunar Environment Analysis Package (AstroLEAP) is being prepared as a potential European contribution to crewed landed missions (e.g., Artemis IV). AstroLEAP aims to provide in-situ analytical measurements to help understand the complex interactions and dynamics of the lunar surface with solar radiation, dust, space plasma, energetic particles, meteoritic flux, and exosphere. FDT members provide scientific expertise in the lunar environment and analysis instruments.

2021-2024

Breaking Ground Trust - Trustee Board Member

The Breaking Ground Trust prototype policies for managing lunar resources in a way that is sustainable, lawful, and multilateral. As a trustee I represented the scientific interests of the space resources community. 

2021-2022

LEAG Executive Committee

LEAG provide analysis of scientific, technical, commercial, and operational issues in support of lunar exploration objectives and of their implications for lunar architecture planning and activity prioritization. In my role I provided ISRU expertise and supporting LEAG activities such as reviewing NASA activities and providing inputs and findings documents

2016-Present

PROSPECT Science Team

The Package for Resource Observation and in-Situ Prospecting for Exploration, Commercial exploitation and Transportation (PROSPECT) is a package to access and assess potential resources on the Moon and to prepare technologies that may be used to extract these resources in the future. I provide expertise in the ISRU experiment that will be conducted with PROSPECT via hydrogen reduction of ilmenite.

2018-2020

STFC PEER Forum

The PEER Forum is for practising early-career scientists and engineers who have passion and ambition for carrying out public engagement alongside, and complementary to, their career in science or engineering. I was a member of the STFC PEER Forum for 2 years where we investigated the experiences of Early Career Researchers with respect to outreach and engagement.

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