Loughborough College continues its showcase of success stories to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2019 with space apprentice Harrison Grossman.
The 22 year old was named as an Apprentice of the Year finalist in the Leicester Mercury Education Awards and, alongside studying with Loughborough College, works at the Leicester University Space Research Centre on a three year Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacturing.
“One of the most interesting projects I’ve been involved with is SPLIT, which stands for Small Planetary Linear Impulse Tool. It splits rock to reveal hidden layers and could be vital for discovering signs of life on, for example, Mars. Both NASA and some of the Chinese space agencies are very interested in it.
“I have also really enjoyed playing a part in developing a device which has the capacity to make a major impact in forensics. I designed the assembly which allows the device to expose and image fingerprints. Processing takes five minutes rather than days and it ensures samples are not compromised by powder, which might affect DNA. A lot of the research around it shows it could be vital for catching bomb makers by efficiently taking prints off debris – so could save lives. I am listed as a co-inventor and feel very proud of that.
“I enjoy that there are applications beyond space for the work I do, whether that is in forensics, medical research or geology. And it’s great studying at Loughborough College because so much of the knowledge I gain from my course is relevant to the work I am doing every day at the University – it really enhances my skills.”