A large and complex
space mission such as Herschel requires the collaboration
of the brightest and most experienced scientists from
many countries. The SPIRE
instrument team in England is in fact a group of less
than ten people; therefore getting expert help is
critical. Many partner institutions from Europe and
North America work together on SPIRE. All countries
involved in the Herschel mission contribute staff
to the instrument test and control teams. Canada funds
two positions at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories
in England, where the SPIRE instrument is assembled
and tested.
The international nature of the mission creates great
opportunities for students from the University
of Lethbridge, allowing them first-hand experience
with a space project. Two graduate students spent
six months in England at the SPIRE verification facility
in the first half of 2004. Summer and co-op students
at the University of Lethbridge are involved in problem
solving for the SPIRE project on a regular basis.
Countries involved
with the SPIRE project.
Graduate
students Locke Spencer (left) and John
Lindner spent 6 months at the SPIRE test lab in the UK.
John Lindner and Locke Spencer, two graduate students at the
University of Lethbridge, discuss their roles in contributing
to the development of the SPIRE spectrometer. Click here
to watch.
Peter Davis-Imhof and Trevor Fulton explain how Canada helps
to prepare the SPIRE instrument for launch. Click here
to watch.
