N° 32–2011: Call for Media: Space Lab ignites student passion for space

In October, ESA joined the launch of 'YouTube Space Lab', an exciting venture by YouTube, NASA, Space Adventures and Lenovo to challenge students around the world to design a science experiment for the International Space Station.
 
The event at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, will include ESA astronauts Frank De Winne, Reinhold Ewald and Christer Fuglesang.

It will be a key occasion to present the Space Lab campaign to Europe's media, and to allow students to discuss their ideas for experiments on the Space Station.

The presentations will also be live webstreamed via www.esa.int

Programme

Wednesday, 30 November, 10:00-12:00 CET

Astronauts and science on the ISS
ESA astronaut Dr Reinhold Ewald, former Head of Columbus Laboratory Operations, and Frank De Winne, ESA astronaut and first European Commander of ISS
Topics will include the Columbus laboratory, ATV cargo vessel, ISS maintenance, spacewalks, and life on the Station

The Space Lab campaign - how Google/YouTube are reigniting students' passion for science and technology
Zahaan Bharmal, physicist and Head of Marketing Operations EMEA, Google Inc.
(via live video link, from the USA)

Highlights of ESA's ISS science and microgravity experiments
Christer Fuglesang, ESA astronaut and Head of ESA Science on ISS.
European ISS science results, utilisation, cases of technology transfer and spin-offs

Highlights of thousands of submissions for the Space Lab campaign in Europe and worldwide
Stefan Keuchel, Google PR Manager, on site at EAC , with Reinhold Ewald and new ESA astronauts Tim Peake and Thomas Pesquet
Interaction with two local classes of German students who submitted proposals.

ESA's support for education-oriented science on the ISS
ESA astronauts Frank De Winne (European ISS Commander in 2009) and Tim Peake, with Nigel Savage, ISS Education Unit

Q&A and wrap-up

End of presentations around 11:00

Guided tour of EAC training facilities with astronauts and possibilities for TV interviews.
Columbus, ATV, Soyuz modules, ISS experiments, neutral buoyancy pool.

Media wishing to attend this event should fill in the online accreditation form: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESOC/SEMX3PZW5VG_0.html

For further information, please contact:

ESA Corporate Communcations:
Bernhard von Weyhe
Tel: +49 6151 90 25 16)
Email: bvw@esa.int

ESA/EAC, Cologne/PR Unit:
Jules Grandsire
Tel: +49 2203 6001 205
Email: jules.grandsire@esa.int

ESA ISS Education:
Dr Nigel Savage
Email: nigel.savage@esa.int)

Google Germany:
Stefan Keuchel, PR Manager DE, AT, CH
Email: skeuchel@google.com