Oxfordshire crafting enthusiast uses skills on space missions

A crafting enthusiast has described putting her talents into working on space missions.

Angela Ashill manufactures thermal blankets for satellites at RAL Space, based in Harwell, Oxfordshire.

The blankets protect space instruments from extreme temperatures and are vital to keep things working.

Ms Ashill told BBC Radio Oxford her creations ending up in space was "ultra-cool".

She had been running a card-making business for 10 years before seeing an advert for the position at RAL on a local Facebook group.

"I was intrigued - at the very least I thought it would be interesting to go to the interview. I never expected to work anywhere like this," she said.

Ms Ashill recently gained notoriety on social media following an appearance on ITV quiz show The Chase, where she explained her job to host Bradley Walsh.

Space blankets are used on the exterior surfaces of spacecraft and are recognisable for their shiny appearance.

"It's high-tech materials, all in a clean room, and then it ends up in space - which is the mad bit.

"We get given a pattern from the engineers and what they want to achieve," Ms Ashill explained.

"We need to work out the stages of putting everything together. There really isn't as much sewing as I had thought, much more cutting the pattern and sticking with special tape."

She said making the blankets was like "making a dress", adding it was "beautiful".

RAL Space has developed equipment for space missions, including the James Webb Telescope and the recent Vulcan rocket - which is aiming to become the first American mission in 51 years to land on the Moon.​

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