Angela Ashill said she “never expected to work anywhere like” RAL Space
A crafting enthusiast has described putting her talents into working on space missions.
Angela Ashill manufactures thermal blankets for satellites at RAL Space, based in Harwell, Oxfordshire.
The blankets protect space instruments from extreme temperatures and are vital to keep things working.
Ms Ashill told BBC Radio Oxford her creations ending up in space was “ultra-cool”.
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She had been running a card-making business for 10 years before seeing an advert for the position at RAL on a local Facebook group.
“I was intrigued – at the very least I thought it would be interesting to go to the interview. I never expected to work anywhere like this,” she said.
Ms Ashill recently gained notoriety on social media following an appearance on ITV quiz show The Chase, where she explained her job to host Bradley Walsh.
Ms Ashill said the process was a bit like “making a dress”
Space blankets are used on the exterior surfaces of spacecraft and are recognisable for their shiny appearance.
“It’s high-tech materials, all in a clean room, and then it ends up in space – which is the mad bit.
“We get given a pattern from the engineers and what they want to achieve,” Ms Ashill explained.
“We need to work out the stages of putting everything together. There really isn’t as much sewing as I had thought, much more cutting the pattern and sticking with special tape.”
She said making the blankets was like “making a dress”, adding it was “beautiful”.
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
