ACTIVITIES

The European Space Agency (ESA) encourages young graduates that wish to gain experience in the space sector, in a stimulating international environment, to apply for one of the latest opportunities opened for them. As Romania is an ESA Member Stare, Romanian young graduates can compete in the selection process.

ESERO Romania, a project of the European Space Agency in collaboration with the Romanian Space Agency, is launching the second edition of the National CanSat Competition: a simulation of a satellite incorporated in the size and volume of a standard soda can. All secondary school students and teachers are invited to apply to the competition. The deadline for signing up is 1 February 2016.

The European Space Agency (ESA) welcomed more than 30 students to its ESTEC Headquarters in the Netherlands for the finals of the IRISS Space Robotics, which took place on 17-18 December. The mission of the eight teams was to use models of the International Space Station (ISS) and of ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) to unload as much cargo as possible in a given time. The task forced the teams to acquire a wide range of skills, reflecting the process ESA engineers follow when developing a spacecraft. Teamwork and an efficient division of labor were required to tackle the challenge.

This November could be a turning point towards a future career with the European Space Agency for Romanian students who are about to graduate - or have recently graduated - in Physics, Mathematics, Software engineering, Aerospace/Mechanical engineering, Biology etc.

Students interested in space exploration and aged between 7 and 22 can take part in the Odysseus competition, an exciting adventure that combines scientific learning with hands-on experience!

The Odysseus European Youth Space Contest targets students from around the world, irrespective of their cultural background or language.

Romanian students are invited to have a taste of life as a space scientist by entering the new edition of the 'Cassini Scientist for a Day' competition until 26 February 2016. School students from any of the ESA Member States and ESA Cooperating States must choose one of three targets that Cassini will image and write a 500-word essay to justify their choice to a panel of experts.

World Space Week 2015, the international celebration of science, technology and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition, will take place this year between 4-10 October, following the success of the 2014 edition when more than 1400 events in 80 countries celebrated the benefits of space and excitement about space exploration.

Romanian university students are invited to compete in designing a mission scenario for the next step in space exploration: a human–robotic partnership for exploring the Moon.

The “Human-Enhanced Robotic Architecture and Capabilities for Lunar Exploration and Science”, or Heracles, study describes an ESA-led mission that aims for the next steps in lunar exploration.

Two teams from Romania, I-Robot and RO-SAT ONE Junior, are among the finalists of the 'iriss' Space Robotics Competition, which were announced by Danish ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen during his 10-day mission to the International Space Station.

During 11-13 September took place the finals of the Exo-RO National Rover Competition, organised by the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA), in synergy with the European Space Education Resource Office - ESERO Romania, in Buzau County at the Muddy Vulcanoes. The event brought together nine teams of high school students across the country coordinated by a teacher, who accepted the challenge to build a planetary exploration rover and to measure their knowledge in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) with other competitors passionate about these areas.

Romanian students are invited to submit their experiment proposal for the eighth Drop Your Thesis! (DYT) campaign, which will take place between October - November 2016 and will offer the participants an opportunity to perform a microgravity related experiment using the the 146 m high ZARM Drop Tower Facility in Bremen, Germany, one of the most advanced research centres of its kind in Europe. Applications for DYT 2016 are open until 18 January 2016.

Until 15 November, students from ESA Member countries, including Romania, and from Cooperating States are invited to submit their experiment proposals for the seventh Spin Your Thesis! (SYT) campaign, planed for October - November 2016.