N° 46–2004: It isn’t a UFO, it’s a space-age car.
10 August 2004
The world’s fastest solar-powered car is being driven through Sweden and Norway.
Nuna 2, the world’s fastest solar-powered car begins its journey on August 14 in Oslo and completes it on August 22 in Andenäs. It will primarily be driven on the E4, and will stop in Gothenburg, Linköping, Stockholm, Uppsala, Luleå, Kiruna, Narvik, and Andenäs. There is also the possibility of short stops in other locations.
“Journalists and photographers will also be able to take a look at the car at other locations near the route. Just call me and we’ll stop at an agreed location along the way,” says Rosita Suenson, ESA’s project manager for Nuna’s journey through Sweden.
The car was made with the help of space technology and can reach a top speed of 170 km/h. Nuna 2 is powered by solar energy and is covered entirely by solar cell panels.
“Space research and space technology have driven technical development forward in several areas, and the knowledge can be re-used in new contexts on Earth. Nuna 2 is a project that can illustrate and serve as an inspiration for new applications of space technology,” says Johan Marcopoulos, Information Officer, Swedish National Space Board (SNSB).
By travelling 3010 km in 31 hours and five minutes, Nuna 2 won the World Solar Challenge in Australia in October 2003. The car was built and driven by students from Delft University in The Netherlands. In Sweden, students from the Civil Engineering Programme in Space Technology in Kiruna, one of many space programmes in Sweden, are also participating.
“Sweden is quite advanced in the field of space research and space technology. Swedish researchers take part in most of our projects. Therefore we think that Sweden is an important country to visit with Nuna 2,” says Rosita Suenson.
Reserve a time along the route: To book times for interviews and taking photos during Nuna’s trip through Sweden contact Rosita Suenson by telephone:
before August 16 on 0031 652 06 21 58 (Holland),
from August 16 inclusive on 0705-83 44 08 (Sweden).
For more information contact:
(For Norway) Per Torbo, tel. 0047-2251-1817, e-mail: per.torbo@spacecentre.no
(For Sweden) Johan Marcopoulos, tel. 0706-40 64 88, e-mail: johan.marcopoulos@snsb.se
Sweden is a member state of the European Space Agency (ESA), which contributed technology, materials and knowledge for the construction of Nuna.
Schedule:
Oslo 14 August, 12:00 – 18:00 and 15 August, 12:00 – 16:00
Colour Line Scandinavian Grand Prix
Gothenburg 16 August, 12:00 – 17:00
Kungsportsplatsen – Avenyn – Götaplatsen – Universeum
Linköping 17 August, 11:00 – 13:00
Stora torget (Central Square)
Stockholm 17 August, 16:00 – 19:00
Kungsträdgården Ung 08 Festival
Uppsala 18 August, 12:00 – 15:00
Central Uppsala and Ångström’s Laboratory
Luleå 20 August, 11:00 – 16:00
Central Luleå and Teknikens Hus
Kiruna 21 August, 10:00 – 16:00
Esrange and central Kiruna
Narvik 21 August, 18:00 – 20:00
Narvik University
Andenäs 22 August, 14:00 – 17:00
Open house at the sports field
Facts about Nuna 2
Length: 5 m
Width: 1.8 m
Weight: 240 kg
Top speed: 170 km/h
To reach a speed of 100 km/h requires 1650 W, equivalent to the power used by a hair drier.
The progress of the Nuna 2 tour can be followed on the ESA portal at:
www.esa.int
For further information:
ESA Media Relations Division
Tel: +33.(0)1.5369.7155
Fax: +33.(0)1.5369.7690