Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation

Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation
Κυπριακός Οργανισμός Εξερεύνησης Διαστήματος
Abbreviation CSEO
Formation 2012 (2012)
Type Non-governmental
Legal status Non-profit
Purpose Promote Space Exploration - R&D, Education and Industry
Location
  • Cyprus
Region
Space Exploration
Volunteers
500+
Website https://www.spaceexploration.org.cy

The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) is a Cypriot non-governmental, nonprofit organisation.[1][2] Its main functions are outreach,[3][4][5] education,[6] research,[7] development,[8] advocacy,[9][8] and international cooperation[10][11] in the field of space exploration, astronautics and astronomy. The organisation fosters collaboration with other space-faring nations in science, space and planetary missions.[1][12][13][14][15][16][17] It was founded in 2012[8] and has over 500 registered researchers,[17] members and volunteers and over 20,000 followers on social media.[17]

CSEO is the official representative of Cyprus to the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), as Cyprus’ “National Institute” to COSPAR.[18][19]

CSEO is member of:

CSEO's Board and Council are comprised with distinguished individuals that are highly decorated for their contribution to space exploration[25].

Notable achievements and awards

CSEO's research paper submitted by its team MarsSense, has been recognised and nominated in the best four in the world for an international award, at SpaceOps 2014 (at JPL, NASA in May 2014).[7][26]

CSEO's team ArachnoBeeA was selected by NASA judges as the global winner of the NASA International Space Apps Challenge for the "Best Mission Concept" (May 2015).[11]

CSEO's Chief of International Relations has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award 2017 of the International Astronautical Federation, for extraordinary dedication and commitment, in service of the Federation (March 2017).[27]

CSEO's President and Vice-President have been elected corresponding members to the International Academy of Astronautics, for outstanding contribution to space exploration (July 2017).[25][28]

Mission

CSEO's main mission is to promote Cyprus as one of the leading international space-faring nations.[20]

CSEO states[29] its mission as:

  • Place Cyprus on the space industry map,
  • Conduct space related R & D,
  • Promote innovation through the development and support of a local internal market for space,
  • Increase local technological competitiveness,
  • Leverage on local intellectual human capital,
  • Provide education and training for the future generation of space scientists and engineers, from an early age, in & out of schools,
  • Enhance and promote academic and industrial collaboration, through joint project participation.

Activities

CSEO operates with the following four basic pillars: “Education and Outreach”, “R&D”, “Industry”, and “International Relations and Collaboration”.[20][13]

CSEO main activities concentrate on:[20]

  • Promoting scientific research and development in space exploration, astronautics and astrophysics,
  • Actively developing the local space industry,
  • Bridging academic and industrial collaboration,
  • Galvanizing the potential of the local and global talents into applied high-tech innovation,
  • Contributing to turning high-tech industry into a vibrant sector with high employment opportunities,
  • Bringing widespread collaboration with other space-faring nations in science, technology and space missions,
  • Actively encouraging and promoting internationally and domestically, the future generation of scientists, via education and outreach, with continuous in-and-out-of-school programs and media outreach.

Space startups

CSEO as founding member of the Copernicus Academy of the European Commission (which aims to utilise space data for improving life on Earth) launched in October 2017 the “CSEO Space Startups” programme, a series of weekly innovation and entrepreneurship workshops that nurture, mentor and educate young talented Cypriots in utilising satellite data into innovative new products and commercial applications, forming startups that will be incubated into space companies.[30][31]

Through these programs, CSEO engages with creative talent and expertise throughout Cyprus, in order to make space accessible but also to provide solutions to issues faced on earth today, stimulating innovation and high-tech entrepreneurship, that will benefit our citizens and the future of our planet.

Space education

CSEO is actively involved in space-related educational activities to stimulate the interest of the younger generation in the field of science and space research.[4][32][5] One of CSEO’s pillars of primary focus is the education and empowerment of young people of all ages and backgrounds in its area of expertise, with the ultimate objective of assisting in the development of a highly skilled youth, equipped to address contemporary and future scientific challenges.[33][1][6]

As part of these activities CSEO runs the CSEO Space Club in schools throughout the island.[17] This club is an outreach and education project in Cyprus, in association with the International Space Community, for school classes and afternoon societies.[34] It brings to schools training and educational material, as well as astronauts and space engineers in order to prepare and build the next generation of scientists and engineers.[5][4][35][6][34]

CSEO organises Space Week annually since 2013, promoting space to the people of Cyprus.[9][4]

CSEO co-produced the First Cypriot Space Documentary with Tetraktys-Films, promoting space research on the island.[36] It was premiered at the CYTA Headquarters in November 2016 and then on National TV channel CyBC 1 the following month.[36]

NASA Space Apps Challenge in Cyprus

Since 2013, CSEO has been actively involved with the NASA Space Apps Challenge in Cyprus (thus far held in Limassol or Nicosia), either by holding events under its auspices or directly organising the Challenge.[37][38][39]

In 2015, the Cypriot team ArachnoBeeA that won domestically the Space Apps Challenge, went on to become global winner of the International Space Apps Challenge for the "Best Mission Concept", thus receiving an invitation from NASA to visit the Kennedy Center at Cape Canaveral and participate as guest viewers at a space launch to the ISS.[40]

In 2013, the Cypriot team MarsSense placed 2nd globally for the People's Choice Award at the International Space Apps Challenge.[41]

In 2017, the level of the contestants once again being very high, the CSEO promotes the Cypriot winning teams through major media campaigns.[42][43][44] Subsequently, one of the local winning teams, team NestFold goes on to become global winner for the People's Choice Award[45].

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO)". Space Information Days - Horizon 2020.
  2. ↑ "Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO)". Cypriot Scientists and Engineers (in Greek). Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation". Cyprus Mail.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Russian cosmonaut in Cyprus for the CSEO Space Week". Cyprus News Agency. 20 Apr 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Αστροναύτης θα μιλήσει σε μαθητές της Κύπρου για πρώτη φορά (Astronaut talks to students in Cyprus for the first time)". Καθημερινή (in Greek). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ο CSEO εμπνέει τα σχολεία με διάστημα (CSEO inspires schools with space)". Nicosia Municipality - Capital City of Cyprus (in Greek). 22 Sep 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Networks Research Laboratory, University of Cyprus". University of Cyprus.
  8. 1 2 3 "The truth was out there". Cyprus Mail. 19 April 2015.
  9. 1 2 "1η Εβδομάδα Διαστήματος της Λευκωσίας (First Space Week of Nicosia)". Nicosia Municipality (in Greek). 7 Apr 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "Official Gala of the first Nicosia Space Week". CyprusLegalServices.eu. 11 Apr 2014.
  11. 1 2 "NASA invites Cypriot world winning team". Sigma Live. 23 Jul 2015.
  12. ↑ "The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO)". European Parliament - Audiovisual Services for Media. 30 Mar 2016.
  13. 1 2 "The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation". NGO's in Cyprus.
  14. ↑ "Space Activities Overview in Cyprus". Space Generation Advisory Council.
  15. ↑ "Cyprus to contribute to SETI's efforts for detection of ET intelligence". Cyprus Mail. 29 Jul 2015 – via Cyprus News Agency.
  16. ↑ "Cyprus to contribute to the search for life in the universe". Sigma Live. 29 Jul 2015 – via Cyprus News Agency.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Πέντε λεπτά με τον Γιώργο Α. Δανό (Five minutes with George A. Danos)". Phileleftheros (in Greek). 30 Dec 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "Cyprus adheres to COSPAR". Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).
  19. ↑ "Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) has become a member of the international Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)". Cyprus News Agency. 3 Feb 2017.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "New IAF Members - CSEO" (PDF). International Astronautical Federation News. 4/2016 (December 2016): Page 13. 2016.
  21. ↑ "Copernicus Academy Network: a cornerstone to build skills for sustainability, growth and jobs". European Commission - Copernicus. Second Paragraph has link that lists founding members.
  22. ↑ "List of founding members of Copernicus Academy Network" (PDF). European Commission - Copernicus.
  23. ↑ "Mission X Cyprus". NASA's Mission X Website.
  24. ↑ "CSEO Frontpage". CSEO Website. Footer shows all official memberships with logos.
  25. 1 2 "Γιώργος Δανός: Η Κύπρος μπαίνει δυναμικά στο παιχνίδι του Διαστήματος". Phileleftheros. 17 Sep 2017. Retrieved 18 Oct 2017.
  26. ↑ "Διεθνής διάκριση της κυπριακής MarsSense (International award for Cypriot MarsSense)". Sigma Live (in Greek). 20 June 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  27. ↑ "Distinguished Service Award 2017". International Astronautical Federation.
  28. ↑ "Newly Elected 2017". International Academy of Astronautics.
  29. ↑ "CSEO's Official Mission". CSEO Website.
  30. ↑ "CSEO launches "Space Startups" Programme". Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation - News. 25 Oct 2017. Retrieved 29 Nov 2017.
  31. ↑ "Πρόγραμμα καινοτομίας για διαστημικές startups". Sigma Live. 25 Oct 2017. Retrieved 29 Nov 2017.
  32. ↑ "The English School students chat with Astronaut of the European Space Agency arranged by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO)". The English School, Nicosia, Cyprus. 23 Sep 2016.
  33. ↑ "Cyprus schools connect with ESA astronaut for first time, during event by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO)". The Association of the Balkan News Agencies - Southeast Europe (ABNA). 23 Sep 2016.
  34. 1 2 "CSEO Space Club". CSEO Website.
  35. ↑ "An astronaut of the European Space Agency will address Cypriot schools for the first time during an event organised by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO)". Sigma Live. 22 Sep 2016.
  36. 1 2 "Πρεμιέρα ντοκιμαντέρ – "The incredible story of ArachnobeeA"" (in Greek). Cyprus Telecommunication Authority. Nov 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  37. ↑ "Space Apps Challenge, Limassol 2016".
  38. ↑ "Space Apps Challenge, Limassol 2017".
  39. ↑ "The sky is not the limit says space chief". Cyprus Mail. 29 April 2017.
  40. ↑ "Documentary film about the Cypriot world first zeroG drone screened". Parikiaki. 28 November 2016.
  41. ↑ "New NASA Space Challenge hackathon this weekend". Cyprus Mail. 26 April 2017.
  42. ↑ "Η Κύπρος οδεύει ξανά για πρωτιά στην NASA – Ψηφίστε τώρα!". Euronews. 17 May 2017.
  43. ↑ "Η Κύπρος οδεύει προς μια ακόμη επιτυχία στη ΝΑΣΑ και ζητεί τη στήριξη του κόσμου". Ο Φιλελεύθερος. 17 May 2017.
  44. ↑ "Πλησιάζει την πρωτιά η Κύπρος στη NASA". Η Καθημερινή. 17 May 2017.
  45. ↑ "Cypriot team wins Nasa challenge - Cyprus Mail". Cyprus Mail. 2017-07-03. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
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