Institute for Earth and Space Exploration at Western University

10/19/2026

The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope will set the stage for innovative ways to look deep into our galaxy. Western University PhD candidate Sami Lambier wrote for the Conversation on the impact the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope will have on stellar observations – it can study a patch of sky 200 times larger than Hubble!

While other powerful telescopes may sacrifice a broader viewing area for spatial resolution, the Roman telescope will combine a wide field of view, high resolution, and a key third factor – time. This technique will allow researchers to study changes over time to the same patch of sky.

Learn what we can learn from studying starlight here: https://theconversation.com/how-nasas-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-will-open-a-window-into-the-milky-way-291966

10/16/2026

welcomed astronaut, former Canadian Space Agency astronaut, and RCAF Colonel Jeremy Hansen to the Staff and Leader Learning Day event! 🚀

Jeremy brought with him engaging insights, shared out-of-this-world stories, and inspired us with his wisdom on the power of teamwork. Our director, Sarah Gallagher co-hosted the event with Commercial Aviation Management director Jackie Book, with an introduction for Jeremy given by president Alan Shepard.

Photos: NEO Image Creations – Nicole Osborn; Maya Soukup.

Read more: https://news.westernu.ca/2026/10/jeremy-hansen-artemis-ii-lessons-western-university/

Western University

10/08/2026

It's World Space Week!

This week-long celebration expands on the UN-declared World Space Week that works to focus attention on the dynamic, evolving, and interdisciplinary field of space. World Space Week commemorates two significant events in our shared history of space exploration:

October 4, 1957: Launch of Sputnik 1, the first human-made Earth satellite; and
October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration & Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

For us at Western Space, every day is for celebrating space, but we want to draw particular attention to our members that are building space for the human race in a multitude of ways; through advocating for space debris policy, discovering new ways of studying radiation effects on astronauts, using open source meteor cameras to limit GHG emissions from contrails, to imaging the building blocks of stellar evolution in space, and more.

Space is for everyone, so join us in celebrating building a strong future in space, together.

10/02/2026

It is an exciting day for the space community of London, and for the rest of Canada. 🇨🇦

On October 1st, the Canada Rocket Company broke ground at the London International Airport on a new $30-million rocket testing facility. Western Space director Sarah Gallagher, industry partners and members of local government were in attendance to celebrate the new facility. Gallagher spoke to CTV News about how exciting it is to be adding rocket scientists to London's already-strong space community of engineers, planetary scientists and astrophysicists.

To be named after London-born Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the new facility will reduce Canada's reliance on other countries for space launches and help boost London's economy. The site will be operational by 2028, with launch capability as early as 2032.

We cannot wait to see what the future of this new facility holds for Canada, and for the growing presence of Canada in space.

10/01/2026

From co-op to mission control: students help launch the future of space research. 🚀

Western University Physics and Astronomy professor Stanimir Metchev Metchev was recently awarded the 2026 Employer Impact Award for Impact in Research from the University of Waterloo!

Metchev's research team studies exoplanets, and hired two Waterloo Co-op students last summer to develop and test an instrument known as POET. POET, which stands for Photometric Observations of Exoplanet Transits, will be used to study stars and exoplanets, and has applications to future space missions.

To learn more about these unconventional co-op assignments of sending a research instrument into the stratopshere, check out the link: https://uwaterloo.ca/hire/news/co-op-to-mission-control

Learn more about POET: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWUK3TVDtxF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Sending a research instrument into the stratosphere isn't the typical co-op assignment. However, Professor Stanimir Metchev trusts students to solve problems and contribute to complex research.

09/14/2026

Western University professor Catherine Neish and Planetary Science PhD Student Sashank Vanga were featured on a recent episode of CBC Quirks and Quarks discussing their research in Hawaii.

Using remote sensing tech, they're testing innovative ways to understand the Moon's volcanic history using terrestrial analogues.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/summer-science-special-9.7340381

09/14/2026

Western professor Catherine Neish and Planetary Science PhD student Sashank Vanga were featured on a recent epsiode of CBC/Radio-Canada Quirks and Quarks discussing their research in Hawaii.

Using LiDAR and other remote sensing technologies, they are testing innovative ways to understand the Moon's volcanic history using terrestrial volcanic analogues.

Listen to the full article here: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/summer-science-special-9.7340381

09/09/2026

Welcome back to the Fall semester, Western Space members! 🚀

We are looking forward to bringing you another great year of activities, opportunities and more. Follow along on our socials and on our website at https://space.uwo.ca

08/10/2026