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A human spaceflight expert, with experience spanning mission control, space exploration policy, and science communication, Libby shares her experiences of the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency. From astronaut training to life on the International Space Station and the future of missions to the Moon and Mars, she looks at surprising stories from the history of human space exploration as well as insights into teamwork, leadership under pressure, and how lessons from space can inspire innovation and resilience on Earth.
Libby Jackson is one of Britain’s foremost experts in human spaceflight, with nearly two decades of experience at the forefront of space exploration. A former European Space Agency Mission Control Flight Director, Libby has also served as Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, and has combined her work with public outreach and communication projects to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for space and science.
A lifelong space enthusiast, after studying physics and space engineering, she embarked on a career dedicated to advancing, as well as communicating, space science. Libby spent seven years at the European Space Agency’s Mission Control, taking on a number of roles, including as a Columbus Flight Director, overseeing operations on the International Space Station. She later joined the UK Space Agency, where she led the education and outreach programme for Tim Peake’s Principia mission, engaging over two million students and inspiring a new generation to look to the stars. As Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, she was responsible for the UK’s involvement in human and robotic missions, from the International Space Station to the Moon and Mars.
As the first-ever Head of Space at the Science Museum, Libby leads public engagement in space science, working with curators to expand the national space collection, and strengthening partnerships with global space agencies. A passionate advocate for STEM education and wider involvement in science, she frequently appears in the media, including on Stargazing Live and Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?, sharing insights into life in space and the future of exploration.
Libby is also the author of A Galaxy of Her Own: Amazing Stories of Women in Space and Space Explorers, which brings to life extraordinary, instructive and entertaining adventures from space history. She shares the realities of astronaut training and life on the ISS, the challenges of missions to the Moon and Mars, and the lessons from spaceflight that can be applied to leadership, teamwork, and resilience.
