ESR Technology is proud to recognise the exceptional career of Dave Forster, Assembly Manager in our Space team. This month, Dave marks his 44th year at the company, a testament to his knowledge in the field of space engineering. Throughout his career, Dave has been involved in all aspects of space mechanisms, from design and testing to assembly and project management.
His contributions have spanned a wide range of projects, including for ESA and commercial clients such as Airbus, SSTL, Kongsberg, RALSpace, Thales Alenia Space, Beyond Gravity etc.. Dave has worked on almost all 500 mechanisms and sub-assemblies produced by ESR during his career in the Space team. Notable achievements include the assembly and test of mechanisms for the Beagle 2 lander on Mars and the Rosetta spacecraft exploring a comet as well as supporting post-flight investigations.
Before joining the Space team, Dave worked in the nuclear industry, contributing to the development and operation of test rigs for fast reactor coolant systems. His transition to space in 1988, following the closure of the nuclear side of the company, marked a significant shift in his career as he joined ESTL, but his skills and commitment have remained constant.
As Dave approaches his 45th year at ESR Technology, he remains passionate about his work and continues to make valuable contributions to the company’s space engineering efforts. Dave stated, “I am still enjoying my work, and it appears that both Andrew Gibson, Head of Space Mechanisms, and Raghbir Chand, Managing Director, are happy for me to continue. I guess I must still be useful!”
As ESR Technology continues to advance within the space industry, Dave’s expertise and dedication will undoubtedly remain instrumental in the company’s future successes, as he continues to pass on his knowledge and strong practice to other employees working around him.
For any further information or enquiries about our space group, please contact us at info@esrtechnology.com.