{"id":59498,"date":"2026-07-18T11:35:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T10:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=59498"},"modified":"2026-07-26T15:34:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T14:34:57","slug":"bis-evening-lecture-the-centaur-rocket-stage-seven-decades-of-innovation-with-harrison-west","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/product\/bis-evening-lecture-the-centaur-rocket-stage-seven-decades-of-innovation-with-harrison-west\/","title":{"rendered":"BIS Evening Lecture: The Centaur Rocket Stage: Seven Decades of Innovation with Harrison West"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Image credit: NASA Glenn Research Center)<\/p>\n

The Centaur rocket stage, developed in the United States during the late 1950s and first launched in 1962, is widely regarded as a pioneering achievement in space technology and innovation.<\/p>\n

As the world\u2019s first rocket stage powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, Centaur introduced a new era of high-efficiency propulsion, enabling heavier payloads to reach higher orbits and interplanetary destinations. This technological leap was instrumental in supporting many landmark missions, including Mariner, Pioneer, and the Voyager probes, which explored our solar system and beyond.<\/p>\n

Harrison West will guide us through the development, challenges, and enduring legacy of Centaur, examining how the rocket stage\u2019s versatility and reliability also played a critical role in the launching of commercial, scientific, and military satellites, shaping the modern landscape of the space industry. Its innovative design paved the way for subsequent developments in upper-stage rocketry, influencing both American and international launch vehicle architectures to this day and firmly establishing Centaur\u2019s legacy as a cornerstone in the history of space exploration.<\/p>\n

Speaker bio: <\/strong>Harrison West<\/b> is the head of the BIS Space History Branch and has been a member of the BIS for 5 years.\u00a0 He enjoys a long-standing passion for learning and discussing topics such as world history, astronomy, and space history.\u00a0 In addition, he is conducting a study into the history of British spaceflight.\"\"<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BIS Evening Lecture<\/h4>\n

The Centaur Rocket Stage: Seven Decades of Innovation with Harrison West<\/h4>\n

Speaker:<\/strong> Harrison West<\/p>\n

Date:<\/strong> Monday 5th October 2026 @ 19.00 BST<\/p>\n

Venue:<\/b> BIS Headquarters, 27\/29 South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London, SW8 1SZ, and Online on Zoom<\/p>\n

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/p>\n

Join us at the BIS for an interesting in-person lecture at our London HQ, with live online access available via Zoom for those attending remotely. Whether you join us in the room or from anywhere in the world, you will be part of a dynamic and engaging event.\u00a0 Kindly note that this event will be recorded and, by attending, you consent to being included in the recording.<\/p>\n

Advance registration is required to attend. Tickets are limited, and events often fill quickly, so we encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.<\/p>\n

Members and Fellows can claim their complimentary ticket by selecting \u201cBIS Member\/Fellow<\/strong>\u201d during booking, and completing the checkout process.<\/p>\n

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with your ticket and full joining instructions, including your Zoom access link. A reminder will also be sent on the day of the event.<\/p>\n

Explore this and other upcoming events on our website: Events<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Become a BIS member to enjoy exclusive benefits, including discounts and free access to selected lectures and events: Membership<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":59523,"template":"","meta":{"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"pwb-brand":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[27],"product_tag":[],"class_list":["post-59498","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-event-tickets","product_shipping_class-zero","first","instock","purchasable","product-type-variable","czr-hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"brands":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/59498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"pwb-brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pwb-brand?post=59498"},{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=59498"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=59498"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bis-space.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=59498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}