Kevin Beurle
Encyclopedia
Dr Kevin Beurle was a British
space scientist and programmer
at Queen Mary, University of London
, who played a key role in the Cassini–Huygens mission to study Saturn
and its moons. He was a specialist in space imaging
systems. He was the lead Cassini programmer at QMUL, developing software and designing the spacecraft's observation sequences.
Staff Instructor by the time of his death. He was also an enthusiastic mountaineer and skier.
In 2005, Beurle was on the Oval train during the failed 21 July 2005 London bombings
.
, Turkey
.. He was the only fatality, though others suffered severe and, in one case, critical injuries.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
space scientist and programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
at Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, who played a key role in the Cassini–Huygens mission to study Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
and its moons. He was a specialist in space imaging
Space Imaging
Space Imaging commonly refers to:* Astronomical image processing of objects usually beyond the Solar System* Images taken by Earth satellites* Images processed that are produced from the Exploration of Mars* Images produced by any Unmanned space mission...
systems. He was the lead Cassini programmer at QMUL, developing software and designing the spacecraft's observation sequences.
Life
Beurle had one daughter, Angharad, born in 1983, and was a fifth-generation vegetarian . He was a keen scuba diver amongst other water sports. He began formal diving training in 1997 and trained up to the level of PADIPadi
Padi or PADI may refer to:* Padi, Chennai, India* Padi , a musical group* Paddy field, a type of cultivated land * Professional Association of Diving Instructors, a scuba organization...
Staff Instructor by the time of his death. He was also an enthusiastic mountaineer and skier.
In 2005, Beurle was on the Oval train during the failed 21 July 2005 London bombings
21 July 2005 London bombings
On 21 July 2005, four attempted bomb attacks disrupted part of London's public transport system two weeks after the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The explosions occurred around midday at Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval stations on London Underground, and on a bus in Shoreditch...
.
Death
Beurle died on 29 May 2009 when the hot-air balloon he was riding in collided with another and plummeted 50 m (160ft) to the ground shortly after take-off in CappadociaCappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.. He was the only fatality, though others suffered severe and, in one case, critical injuries.