Question: Why do you think satellite data is important?What was your dream job when you were a child? Why do you like doing your job?

Steve Williams answered on 8 Mar 2018:

Three questions here for the price of one. If you have used or seen a sat-nav you will know how much satellites can change things. One of the main benefits from satellites is communications as before them TV pictures used to be sent on cables around the world and few countries were connected. These cable connections weren’t that good so the picture quality was poor and the number of TV channels they could carry was very limited. Now TV pictures are beamed around the world carrying many channels all in HD and stereo sound. Weather predictions although still not perfect have improved greatly with the aid of satellites as weather patterns are monitored 24 hours a day now. I could go on.

I was only just a teenager when the moon landings happened so being an astronaut was the dream job for many of my generation. Not that I ever really believed that would happen to me. I don’t remember ever thinking about a dream job or even what I would do at that time.

The reason I enjoy doing what I do is the huge sense of achievement I get when it all starts working and doing what it is supposed to do. Making something and being to stand back and admire my finished work is a feeling like nothing else.