In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium we are joined by Debjyoti “Deb” Sengupta (MEng Mechanical Aerospace Engineering) to discuss his Group Design Project 'Venus Specialised Exploration Rover (VESPER)'.

As per the scientific community, there is a consensus that Venus, often referred to as Earth’s evil twin, may allow us to understand our planet in a way that could help us tackle climate change (SDG 13) whilst encouraging development of new technology. However, recent concerns with sustainability in space exploration (e.g., space debris and costs) and the political agendas of space powers such as the US, Russia, India, Europe, and Japan has introduced new dynamics and stakes to this scientific quest (or shall we say – new space race!) With NASA announcing two planned missions to explore Venus in 2031, a group of our students led by the speaker were chosen to deliver a functional proof-of-concept prototype for a rover to explore the Venusian surface, allowing everyone to research on topics ranging from geology to exoplanet identification to climate change mitigation. This group project caters to a variety of UN SDGs, with discussions on the innovative concept for a non-electronic mechanical spacecraft and its constituting systems (SDG 9), manufacturing requirements and reduction in silicon mining (SDG 12) and the opportunity for space to become a mainframe economic sector (SDG 8).

Our host and our guest speaker also talk about the project serving as a platform for upskilling and inspiring upcoming generations (SDG 4) while emphasising on the need for international collaborations to ensure any form of space exploration is peaceful and does not become a front for conflicts in this new era of astropolitics (SDG 16 and 17). In the words of our guest – “The project serves as a platform for true change while serving as a reminder that mankind must learn from its past mistakes with technology. If space were to become unsustainable or a front for future wars, then the day will come when mankind would stop admiring the night sky and curse the work of the pioneers of space exploration, just like the nuclear community.” ”

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Guest: Debjyoti Sengupta
Host: Prof Simon Kemp
Editor: Jack Dinham