Professor Ojha has been invited by Dr Jan Wörner (ESA Director-General) and Dr David Parker (ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration) to join HESAC - ESA's Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee. This is the senior ESA advisory body on all matters concerning the scientific exploitation of ESA's human spaceflight and exploration programmes, including scientific utilisation of the International Space Station, microgravity research, and plans for the future robotic and human exploration of the Moon and Mars. The appointment is for four years and includes ex officio membership of UK Space Agency's Space Exploration Advisory Committee for the duration of his ESA tenure.
The appointment will help to consolidate the National Space Academy's links with human spaceflight and exploration programmes at ESA and in the UK. These connections are vital in ensuring that the Academy can bring cutting edge space exploration contexts into the classroom in its student masterclasses and teacher CPD sessions.