Dr Jennifer Kingston

Areas of expertise

• Space Systems

Background

Dr Kingston joined the academic staff of Cranfield University in 2003, first as a Research Fellow and from 2005 as a lecturer. Prior to this she had completed a Bachelor's Degree in Physics with Space Science and Technology at the University of Leicester, and a Master's degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield.

She spent 15 months working for the European Space Agency, based at ESTEC in The Netherlands and the Centre Spatiale Guyanais in French Guyana. During this time she was part of a team of young engineers who built and launched a technology demonstration satellite, TEAMSAT, on Ariane 502. Dr Kingston had key roles in satellite integration, test, and flight operations, and participated in the launch campaign. This developed her interests in fast-track development of small satellites for opportunity launches, and in 1998 Jenny returned to Cranfield to start an Engineering Doctorate in modular satellite design. The doctoral work involved working closely with industry, and also included taking a year of Cranfield's Executive MBA programme.

As a Cranfield academic, Dr Kingston now lectures in Space Systems Engineering and Spacecraft Thermal Analysis, and since 2011 has been Course Director of the Astronautics and Space Engineering MSc course.

In 2011-12 she was heavily involved in the production and test of a payload for the TechDemoSat-1 satellite.

Since 2006, Dr Kingston has also provided technical consultancy for satellite insurance underwriters and regularly attends space insurance briefings.

Current activities

Dr Kingston is Course Director for the MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering and
module leader for Spacecraft Systems Engineering and Spacecraft Thermal Analysis modules on the MSc course.

Clients

• EADS Astrium Ltd
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
• European Space Agency
• Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd

Publications

• Articles in journals
• Conference papers
• Books