“Space Race 2.0”
Dr Bradley Tucker
Astrophysicist and Cosmologist
Australian National University
Date: Thursday, 21 April 2022 6.30 pm AEST
Venue: RSL Mittagong, Carrington Room
Summary: Space exploration is happening at a rapid pace. Missions, projects, and events that are now happening were not even on the radar a few years ago. From private space travel and Hollywood movies, to building satellites to detect fires and searching for life in the Solar System, we’ll see what is happening in space. There are huge changes occurring with wide- ranging implications in law, policy, international relations, economics, and even the way we live. We’ll see what role Australia is playing and what it means for us over the next decade
Dr Brad Tucker is an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mt. Stromlo Observatory and the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, at the Australian National University.
Brad received Bachelor’s degrees in Physics, Philosophy, and Theology from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology from Mt. Stromlo Observatory at the ANU. He’ leads programs using NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope and TESS to understand why and how stars blow up. He is also building a network of ultraviolet telescopes in the upper atmosphere, a search to find Planet 9, as well as issues surrounding the mining of asteroids.
Brad frequently gives talks to school groups and the public about Astronomy and has regular segments on various radio and TV stations. He has also developed a series of Astronomy coins with the Royal Australian Mint, consulted on science fiction movies, and has been featured in TV specials. He is currently in the process of writing his first popular book.