On 15th May 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to visit The Space Magnetometer Laboratory at Imperial College London. I’m really grateful to Richard Baughen, the Research manager at the lab, for his warm hospitality and for taking the time to show me around. His openness and thoughtful answers to many of my questions made the experience truly special.
This visit was a turning point for me, something I had quietly hoped for ever since I learned about the lab. It brought into focus the kind of work I want to be part of.
“Researcher” might still feel like a big word for me, but it’s the direction I’m striving toward: to be someone who contributes meaningfully to science, exploration, and innovation
Although my Bachelor’s degree in Computing Systems may not seem directly aligned with space instrumentation, it has given me crucial insights into the paths available to me. My final year project a satellite tracking and trajectory prediction application was my way of testing whether my long-standing interest in space was more than just high school curiosity. That project helped confirm that this passion runs deep.
Now, I’m preparing for a Master’s degree that will help me take the next leap toward a career in spacecraft instrumentation and engineering. I believe it will bridge the technical knowledge I’ve gained in computing with the scientific and engineering understanding required in space science.
The Space Magnetometer Laboratory wasn’t the kind of lab I imagined. Instead of a vast hall filled with technicians, it’s a close-knit space of a few converted office rooms each buzzing with quiet focus and energy. What stood out wasn’t the size, but the intensity and passion within those walls.
One moment that really stood out to me was when Richard shared how the eight researchers in the lab are the driving force behind the design, development, and testing of highly sensitive space magnetometers that are launched aboard NASA and ESA missions across the solar system. Each of these team members plays the role of an engineer, a physicist, and a software developer. It struck me how different this is from the conventional notion of specialisation.
We’ve often heard that a “jack of all trades is a master of none”, but Richard offered a more powerful take: in a lab like this, being skilled across disciplines is not a weakness it’s a strength. These individuals aren’t just dabbling across fields; they are experts continually learning, adapting, and delivering at the highest standards. The final products they create meet the exacting requirements needed for spaceflight – no small feat.
Richard also highlighted the lab’s growing focus on the NewSpace sector, which emphasizes innovation, cost-efficiency, and the role of private enterprise in the future of space exploration. This vision of agile, interdisciplinary, and future-facing research is deeply inspiring.
Visiting the Space Magnetometer Laboratory has given me more than just a look at hardware and systems; it has given me a glimpse of the kind of professional I hope to be a part of. The kind who blends curiosity with discipline, depth with breadth, and passion with persistence.
Thank you again to all the lab members:
Richard Baughen
Helen O’Brien
Tim Oddy
Patrick Brown
Emanuele Cupido
Alex Strickland
John Hodgkins
Chris Greenaway
…and others associated with the lab.