- 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.