Sustainable Space Future Engagement Event @ ESTEC, Noordwijk
In May, SPACE-Gov took its tour of engagement to the European Space and Technology Research Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk – the technical heart of the European Space Agency (ESA). The event brought together a group of policy, scientific and technical experts to collectively explore pathways towards a more inclusive and sustainable future of space activities.
The event was complimented with a guided tour of the Erasmus Innovation Centre situated within ESTEC. During the tour, the expert group was introduced to the latest R&D activities that push the frontier of space science. Integrating a multi-sensorial approach, the guided tour took us on a journey of striking visuals, sounds, touches and scents in marveling various groundbreaking space missions, including a real-life satellite that had returned from space, a life-size analogue simulator of the the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS), and conceptual prototypes of space suits and moon-based habitats.
The SPACE Gov project combined intersectoral engagement with an emphasis on inclusivity, ensuring that diverse voices are heard. The project provided the first opportunity to expose multisensorial performance as key for space science progress and sustainability. This enabled direct policy-relevant dialogue. I am deeply impressed with the project aims, efforts and thoughtful organisation. I want to specially extol the attention and care underlining the cruciality of diverse performance for the progress and sustainability of space science and the attention paid to ensure that all participants came out from the event with a fresh perspective to advance future space science activities.”
Dr Wanda Diaz Merced, The Astroparticle and Cosmology Laboratory in Paris
The SPACE-Gov group would like to thank Robert Willemsen for such a memorable behind-the-scenes tour through space and time.
Photos credit: Noviki