An 11-year-old girl from Bath has been crowned the South West winner in a national competition to design a logo that will be displayed on the first rockets launching small satellites from the UK.
Winner Bluebelle Paul, from Bath | Photo courtesy of the UK Space Agency
Bluebelle Paul created a detailed two-tone logo showing the Earth split into two halves: one green and leafy, powered by bicycles and wind turbines, and the other blackened by fossil fuel refineries and dead wildlife.
Above the globe is a small satellite made from trees with the slogan: “Satellites helping to monitor and stop climate change”.
More than 10,000 primary school children aged between 4 and 11 entered the Logo Lift Off competition, which was run by the UK Space Agency in collaboration with Hopscotch Consulting to encourage the next generation to consider a career in the space sector.
The overall winner, announced on the International Day of Human Spaceflight, 12th April, was six-year-old Callum Wilkinson from Bolton, who will have his logo displayed on the rockets.
As a regional winner, Bluebelle will receive a personalised certificate, goody bag, a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) learning kit, and an opportunity for her class to attend an online talk with a UK Space Agency representative.
The UK is set to become the first country in Europe to host small satellite launches this year, as set out in the National Space Strategy.
As well as monitoring climate change, satellite data can be used to help provide essential daily services, such as television broadcasting and navigation systems, and to improve connectivity.
The UK already employs more than 45,000 people in space jobs and having its own domestic launch capability will create new opportunities to benefit people and businesses across the UK.
Ian Annett, Deputy CEO at UK Space Agency, said: “Thousands of people across the UK already work in our growing space sector, and there will be even more high-value jobs created as satellite launches begin from British spaceports this year.
“To support this exciting and important industry, we must inspire talented young people to consider future careers in science and engineering.
“The Logo Lift Off competition has uncovered fantastic ideas from children right across the UK and given them an opportunity to learn how satellite data is helping to tackle global challenges such as climate change.
“Congratulations to the winners, and all those who took part.”
The UK’s first small satellite launch is set to take place from Spaceport Cornwall later this year, followed by vertical launches from Scotland at both Space Hub Sutherland in the Highlands and SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.
Bluebelle, a pupil at Combe Down Primary School, said: “I’m so excited to win. I was inspired by my love of drawing because I think my design can clearly help others be aware of climate change through satellites.
“My design is an artistic idea made real by the magic of pencils.”
Logo Lift Off competition judges included TV presenters Maddie Moate, Martin Dougan, Michael Underwood and Greg Foot, as well as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Maya Ghazal.
They described Bluebelle’s design as “fantastically drawn, amazingly artistic, and really well thought out”.
Around half of the different types of data needed to accurately monitor the Earth’s climate are currently collected from space.
Satellites are used routinely to monitor the polar ice caps and changing sea levels, measure the temperature of the oceans and deserts, and even count endangered animals such as whales.
