COLUMBUS, QUEST FOR A NEW WORLD
‘Columbus, quest for a new world’ is a theme heralding a new era, that of man exploring the solar system. The applications and technological progress space travel has brought us, are beyond questioning. Our world today would not be the same without the applications we owe to space travel (earth observation and knowledge of our planet, telecommunication,...). But, what’s more, manned missions to Mars and beyond constitute a challenge for mankind. We need this kind of challenge as an incentive for youngsters and for science, but also as a mental reference. Traveling to Mars will bring people closer together and make them put our place in space into perspective. Traveling to Mars will be an event, comparable with the discovery of America, an event changing the history of mankind. With this difference : contrary to Columbus, we will know very well what to expect when we get there.
But what is standing in the way of such manned space missions today, from a physiological point of view?
Man is not cut out to remain in space for a long time, let alone undertake such a hectic mission. That’s what this Mars Conference is all about. We will start with a general overview of the contribution ESA will make to the intermediate process in the years to come : the ISS and the research taking place there, the moon as a step in the process, and further robotic missions to Mars (ExoMars). (Hence, Columbus is a wink at the recently launched European module). How will we travel, means of transport?
Which difficulties of physiological and psychological nature are still to be overcome, and who is tackling this at present?
Naturally, we will also highlight the robotic missions that are in the news : Peter Smith (Phoenix) and the famous astrobiologist Chris Mac Kay will come to the floor and, to round things up, we won’t forget to mention the research on the atmosphere of Mars.
Nancy Vermeulen, Chairwoman 8th European Mars Society Conference, Solar Terrestrial Centre of Excellence
Prof. Dr. Floris Wuyts - Head of AUREA (Antwerp University Research centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace)
