Hi, I’m Sam! I’m an engineering student, rocketry enthusiast and all-round space nerd. I spend most of my time working on things related (however tangentially) to the future of space exploration. Feel free to send an email to smross106 at gmail dot com.
CUSF
I’m the Program Director for the White Giant liquid engine program at Cambridge University Spaceflight, as well as the outreach/recruitment officer on the society committee. I oversee a team of 15 undergraduates from various STEM degrees working towards the development, manfacture and test of our 10kN engine. This will (fingers crossed!) propel the Griffin sounding rocket above the Karman line by 2023.
I also work with society members to help our annual recruitment drive, which usually involves wrangling over 50 first-years into a 4 week crash course in rocketry.
Mars
Since 2020 I’ve been a keystone member of the Nexus Aurora citizen science community. I was one of the principal authors of our report on a Martian City State, opened our presentation at the 2020 Mars Convention and generally contributed to our first-place placement in the Mars’ Society’s excellent competition of the same theme.
Since then I’ve worked on a number of projects in the community including thermal and structural analysis of modular space stations. My main contribution is leading the development of an open-source agri-robot for Martian colonies, to be tested with the Transatlantic Mars crew at MDRS.
I’m also Director of Operations on the executive of the UK Student Mars Society, responsible for coordinating a range of projects within the society.
Education
I’m a third year engineering undergraduate at the University of Cambridge (St Catharine’s College). I’ve been lucky enough to study a wide range of technical areas – from mechanical devices to material science to jet engine design to control theory. The degree has also included a wide range of practical labs and design-and-build projects with varying degrees of success.
Starting from 2021 I’ve specialised in a narrower selection of modules generally focused on aeronautical engineering but dipping into other areas of interest (nuclear engineering, sustainable design, mechanics of machines, electric drive systems).
Experience
I’ve done work experience and internships at a range of companies, of various types
- TTP – 2021 summer intern in Medical Devices unit
- Ocado Technology – 2020 summer intern in 10X advanced concepts team, working on concepts for future robotic systems
- Inmarsat – 2018 summer work experience scheme
- Hilson Moran – 2018 summer work experience working on HVAC system design
- WSP – 2018 summer work experience in transport planning division