Libby Jackson

Elizabeth "Libby" Anne Jackson OBE FRAeS (born 18 March 1981)^[1] is a British space exploration expert who works for the UK Space Agency.

Early life and education

Libby Jackson's enthusiasm for space travel started young, when, as a seven-year-old, she wrote a Travel Guide to Mars.^[2] Aged fifteen she attended Space School, before choosing A-Levels in Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Music.^[3][4] She developed an interest in human spaceflight aged seventeen, after shadowing a flight director at NASA Johnson Space Center.^[5] She went on to complete a BSc in physics at Imperial College London in 2002 and an MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield University in 2003.^[6][5]

Career

After graduating from Cranfield, Jackson worked as a graduate engineer at EADS Astrium.^[7] From 2007, Libby Jackson worked at Europe's control centre for the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight instructor and controller at the Columbus Control Centre.^[8] She became director for the ISS European Space Agency (ESA) Columbus Module in 2010.^[9] Jackson joined the UK Space Agency in 2014 and became spokesperson for Tim Peake's mission to the ISS.^[10] In 2016 and 2018, Jackson spoke at the National Student Space Conference, hosted by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS), the UK's national student space society.^[11] She coordinated the UK Space Agency education and outreach programme for Peake's mission.^[9][12] She previously managed the Human Exploration Programme at the UK Space Agency, representing the UK's interest in human spaceflight and microgravity,^[13][14] and is currently the Head of Space Exploration.^[15]

In 2019 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Kent.^[16] In 2023 she was awarded an Order of the British Empire "for services to the Space Sector" in the New Year Honours,^[17] and also the Leif Erikson Exploration History Award for "her tireless efforts in preserving the history of female astronauts and space professionals".^[18]

In 2025, Jackson became the first "Head of Space" for the Science Museum, London, responsible for science communication and engagement, and supporting curators.^[19]

Public engagement and outreach

Jackson works to improve the public perception of space science and engineering, contributing to mainstream media and speaking at large events.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25]} In 2016, Jackson ran the London Marathon in an astronaut costume, whilst at the same event, Tim Peake became the first male to run a marathon in space.^[26] She was part of the team awarded the Sir Arthur Clarke Award from the British Interplanetary Society in 2016 for the outreach activities surrounding Tim Peake's Principia Mission.^[27][28] Her first book, A Galaxy of Her Own, was published in 2017.^[29] Her second book, Space Explorers, was published in 2020.^[30]