Per Aspera Ad Astra*
A brief history of the Austrian Space Forum
Origin and main ideaThe idea to found a forum as a communication platform between space enthusiasts, experts and the next generation of space professionals was formed in 1997 as part of the International Astronautically Federation conference in Turin. At that time, Werner Balogh, Norbert Frischauf and Gernot Grömer joined forces to contribute in the Austrian space business.Motivated by the success of the activities of the Space Generation Forum during the UNISPACE III conference in Vienna in July 1999, the idea was born, with the help of other space enthusiasts (M. Biack, grave J. Hofer, A. Lentsch, G. Lientschnig, G. Weinwurm), to offer an infrastructure to support the individual initiatives to found the Austrian Space Forum as an association. A key guiding principle was that in spite of increased activities in the space sector, on the one hand an improvement in communication between politics, science and industry was evident, but on the other hand also a gap between established organizations and the young.
The activities as an independent organization began with two evening lectures in 1998 and 1999, which were attended by representatives of national and international organizations. The events on the subject "goals, programs, national priorities - the future of the Austrian space activities" and "technology transfer" were appreciated by the Austrian people, who are interested in space and were continued in other topics during the following years. (For example to satellite navigation, to lunar science, or space transportation). |
 Dr. Pierre Brisson, Head of ESA's Technology Transfer Programme, during the ASF evening lecture on technology transfer, 1999.  Dr. Klaus Pseiner Managing Director, Austrian Research Promotion Agency, during the Opening Statement about the aim of the National Space Programme, 1998.  Dr. Bernard Foing ESA's Head of Research Division/ Space Science, during a speech about lunar science, 2000.  Dr. John Connolly Johnson Space Center, NASA during an ASF evening lecture, 2001. |
PolAres Schedule Update
Between 01 - 28. February 2013, the Austrian Space Forum will conduct an integrated Mars analog field simulation in the northern Sahara near Erfoud, Morocco. Directed by a Mission Support Center in Austria, a small field crew will conduct experiments preparing for future human Mars missions mainly in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics/geology, life sciences and other.
This field mission is supported by the Ibn-Battuta-Center at the University of Marrakesh, Morocco. The Austrian Space Forum now solicitates proposals to be reviewed by a selection panel. The deadline for submissions is 15. June 2012, the announcement of the successful experiments will be released on 15. July 2012.
Detail
The analysis of Mars analogue environments on Earth is of paramount importance for the interpretation of the data from past, present and future orbital and landed missions, as well as mission planning (both robotic and human). Sedimentary environments in particular attract strong interest because they can retain the palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental history of the planet and under the right conditions may harbour fossil or present life signatures.
Date: 25. - 27. October 2012
Location: Conference Centre of the Hotel Meridien N'Fis at Marrakech, Morocco Organization: European Space Agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, International Association of Sedimentologits, Ibn Battuta Centre, IRSPS, Universite Cadi Ayyad.
Between 01 - 28. February 2013, the Austrian Space Forum will conduct an integrated Mars analog field simulation in the northern Sahara near Erfoud, Morocco. Directed by a Mission Support Center in Austria, a small field crew will conduct experiments preparing for future human Mars missions mainly in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics/geology, life sciences and other.
