From space science back down to Earth - running 431 km for a good cause
Earth observation space scientists can be much more 'down to Earth', especially when it comes to a good cause like charity fundraising activities.
Robert Cullen, aged 47, is a British space scientist employed at ESTEC, ESA's technical heart in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, as a system and payload manager in the Copernicus Earth observation satellite programme*.
Starting on 9 January, Robert will take part in 'Britain’s most brutal race', the Spine Race: 431 km run non-stop. The race will take Robert through the Pennine hills of northern England and into Scotland and will involve running during 16 hours of darkness in the harsh British winter - an area which has sadly been devastated by severe flooding over the last few weeks. The race typically takes between five and seven days to complete.
Robert qualified for this race early last year and has been training hard ever since. He has decided to run the race for charity for the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London.
The GOSH is a world-leading hospital focused on reducing children’s illnesses through research and innovation, treatment of medical conditions, patient and family support and redevelopment of equipment. The hospital supports patients internationally with serious illness (often painful and sadly terminal) and funds are, as always, hard to come by.
The website for Robert’s fund raising provides more information: https://www.justgiving.com/RobCullen. The site will be regularly updated during the event and Robert will also provide live updates on his twitter account @rcullen9.
All competitors can be tracked in real time starting 9 January at 11:00 CET (10:00 GMT) and through the following week at http://live.thespinerace.com.
Go Robert, go!
*Copernicus is the most ambitious Earth observation programme to date. This initiative is headed by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Satellites of the Copernicus system will provide accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security.