David Southwood

European Space Agency

Abstract

The Herschel Space Observatory

With his discovery of the infra red, Herschel opened our physicists’ eyes to light hidden from our physical eyes. The building of the Herschel space telescope, dedicated to looking at the universe as illuminated in such light, would never be easy. Some of the engineering tasks associated with meeting the scientific goals of the Herschel astronomy mission will be described as well as some of the results.

Biographical Details

David Southwood was appointed ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration (D/SRE) in April 2008, and took up duty on 15 June. Prof. Southwood was previously Director of Science. After graduating in 1966, he went on to obtain a PhD in Physics from Imperial College, University of London, UK. He then became a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where he later taught as a visiting professor. In 1971, he returned to Imperial College, eventually becoming Head of the Blackett Laboratory from 1994 until 1997. In 1997, he joined ESA as Head of Earth Observation Strategy, where he introduced a new programme in Earth science, called 'The Living Planet'. In 1999 he returned to academia to become Regents Professor at UCLA, and then returned to Imperial College. In May 2001 he was invited back to ESA to lead the Space Science programme. He is credited with more than 200 publications and scientific articles, and has worked on a variety of space missions. One of his most challenging roles was leading the team that built the Cassini magnetometer for the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini-Huygens mission, now orbiting Saturn. He has chaired a number of committees associated with space science in Europe, including the ESA Space Science Advisory Committee from 1990 to 1993 and the ESA Science Programme Committee from 1993 to 1996.