Royal Society right to keep Elon Musk as member, says new astronomer royal

9 months ago

The UK’s new astronomer royal, Prof Michele Dougherty, supports the Royal Society’s decision to retain Elon Musk as a fellow.
Musk was elected in 2018 for contributions to space and electric vehicle industries, despite recent controversies.
Dougherty highlights the benefits of private sector involvement in space exploration, citing advancements like SpaceX’s reusable rockets.
She emphasizes the economic and technological advantages of private companies in the UK space sector.
Dougherty, involved in the Cassini mission, discovered potential habitability signs on Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
She is now leading the magnetometer team for ESA’s Juice mission to study Jupiter and its moons.
Dougherty believes extraterrestrial life may exist in extreme environments, drawing parallels to deep-sea bacteria on Earth.
As astronomer royal, she aims to inspire public and children with the excitement of scientific exploration.

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