James Penson

James Penson has extensive experience in the space sector, currently serving as a Downstream Space Applications Technical Officer at the European Space Agency (ESA) since October 2020. Responsibilities include managing Demonstration Projects and Feasibility Studies to exploit data from space-based Earth Observation, Satellite Communications, and Satellite Navigation. James is also seconded from Sapienza Consulting to ESA's Space Solutions department. Prior experience includes roles at CGI as an Earth Observation Exploitation Service and System Engineer, and at SSTL as a Senior Systems Engineer specializing in Earth Observation. James began a career in the aerospace industry with internships at The Vega Group, the University of Cambridge, and Airbus. Academic qualifications include a degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University and an MPhys in Physics with Space Science from the University of Kent.