ISS Symposium: Charles Bolden

Future use of the ISS for Human Exploration: Charles Bolden (NASA Administrator)

“Throughout history, nations have always explored in order to develop humankind. Exploration drives technological breakthroughs that benefit all of society. The ISS is there to advance us further…but if we are not tangentially relevant, not improving life on Earth, then we are missing the boat, and we need to help remind everyone that we are trying to make life better for people here on Earth. In doing so, we improve our ability to explore.”

Charles Bolden
Photo credit: Remco Timmermans

These were Charles Bolden’s opening words, at the International Space Station (ISS) Symposium in Berlin on Friday 4, May.

ISS Symposium: Long-term Space Monitoring & Exposure

The International Space Station (ISS) Symposium titled “Research in Space for the Benefit of Humankind” was held in Berlin, Germany from 2-4 May, 2012. Over 250 delegates were invited to attend, representing all of the ISS partners and more. This session looked at past and future science carried out on the ISS concerned with long-term space monitoring.

Waleed Abdalati, Pascale Ehrenfreund, Julie Robinson,
Masaru Matsuoka Gerhard Schmidtke, Boris Zagreev, Torsten Neubert

Waleed Abdalati, NASA’s Chief Scientist, introduced the round table discussion by saying the international space station (ISS) is a great platform and opportunity, which we need to take advantage of in order to understand Earth, the universe, and our place in the universe. The science we can do from space spans earth science, heliophysics and astrophysics.

ISS Symposium: “The ISS has changed the world forever”

“In building the ISS partnership we have made an impossible step, we have changed the world forever.  The ISS is a model for the future of humanity. We have to manage the ISS as one part of a wider exploration program for the benefit of humanity”

Jean-Jacques Dordain

With these remarks, Jean-Jacques Dordain ESA Director General, opened the International Space Station (ISS) Symposium: “Research in Space for the Benefit of Humankind in Berlin” on Wed 2, May. Over 250 delegates were invited to attend, representing the ISS partner nations.

ISS Symposium: Berlin

I successfully applied for an invitation to the International Space Station Symposium which took place in Berlin, 2-4 May, 2012, and enjoyed an amazing two days learning about the science being conducted on the ISS.

Top respresentatives from all five ISS partners were in attendance, including Charles Bolden and John-Jacques Dordain. Over 250 delegates attended, a diverse range of stakeholders including astronauts, scientists, engineers and politicians.

Paolo Nespoli (ESA astronaut) very kindly spent a couple of hours talking with a small group of us after the gala dinner.

Photo credit: Brigitte Bailleul

Brigitte Bailleul, Paolo Nespoli, myself