Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation

The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) is a non-governmental, nonprofit organisation, based in Cyprus.[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 50,000 followers on social media.[17]

Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation
Κυπριακός Οργανισμός Εξερεύνησης Διαστήματος
AbbreviationCSEO
Formation2012 (2012)
TypeNon-governmental
Legal statusNon-profit
PurposePromote Space Exploration - R&D, Education and Industry
Location
  • Cyprus
Region
Space Exploration
Volunteers
500+
Websitehttps://www.spaceexploration.org.cy

CSEO is the official representative of Cyprus to:

CSEO is member of:

CSEO's Board and Council are comprised with distinguished individuals that are highly decorated for their contribution to space exploration.[29]

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][30]

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).[31]

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).[29][32]

CSEO's Head of Education and Outreach has been elected corresponding member to the International Academy of Astronautics, for outstanding contribution to space exploration (Oct 2019).[33]

Mission

CSEO's main mission is to promote Cyprus as one of the leading international space-faring nations.[22]

CSEO states[34] 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.

Pillars and activities

CSEO operates with the following four basic pillars: “Education and Outreach”, “R&D”, “Industry”, and “International Relations and Collaboration”.[22][13]

CSEO main activities concentrate on:[22]

  • 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.

Mars Upper Atmosphere Network

In October 2018, the 10th Mars Upper Atmosphere Network (MUAN) workshop was organised by CSEO in Cyprus.

During this workshop it was decided that MUAN is permanently based in Nicosia, Cyprus.[35][36]

MUAN Workshop Decision:

At the concluding high-level session of the tenth MUAN Jubilee workshop in Nicosia, on October 19, 2018, the representatives of the participating countries and agencies (e.g. USA - NASA, RUSSIA - IKI, India, UK, France, Italy, Germany etc) unanimously decided that Nicosia, Cyprus would become the permanent base for the MUAN and be hosted by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO), thus consolidating scientific efforts, mission data, gatherings, as well as coordinating simultaneous observations of upper atmosphere-and-plasma-instruments on Mars space missions.[37]

Outreach and Education

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][38][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.[39][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.[40] 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][41][6][40]

Space and Astronomy outreach

Space Week

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

First Cypriot Space Documentary

CSEO co-produced the First Cypriot Space Documentary with Tetraktys-Films, promoting space research on the island.[42] It was premiered at the CYTA Headquarters in November 2016 and then on National TV channel CyBC 1 the following month.[42]

Celebrating the 50th Apollo 11 Moon Landing Anniversary

Astronaut Dr. Anna Lee Fisher was invited to Cyprus in order to celebrate the 50th Apollo 11 Anniversary in cooperation with the US Embassy in Cyprus. The main celebration event was held at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre on 5 December 2019 and attended by over a thousand guests. The event was opened by the US Ambassador and the President of CSEO, whilst the main speaker was Astronaut Fisher. The event was also video greeted by NASA's Ambassador to Europe, Tim Tawney, and concluded with an operatic performance of Verdi's La Traviata - Brindisi by the Limassol Operatic Stage Choir.[43][44]

Naming a star and its exoplanet

As part of the 100 years' celebrations of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), CSEO as National Member of the IAU, organized a campaign in Cyprus to select names for a star and its exoplanet. Over 300 names were proposed by the public. These went to a public vote in November 2019 for a week. A few thousands voted and the names that were selected and approved by the IAU in December 2019, were Alasia (Αλάσια) and Onasilos (Ονάσιλος).[45][46]

Promoting space innovation

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.[47][48]

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.

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.[49][50][51]

In 2013, the Cypriot team MarsSense placed 2nd globally for the People's Choice Award at the International Space Apps Challenge.[52]

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.[53]

In 2017, the level of the contestants once again being very high, the CSEO promotes the Cypriot winning teams through major media campaigns.[54][55][56] Subsequently, one of the local winning teams, team NestFold goes on to become global winner for the People's Choice Award.[57]

In 2018, NASA's Chief Scientist Dr James Green, who was invited to Cyprus by CSEO for the Mars Upper Atmosphere Network Space Summit[58], mentored the Cypriot teams at the competition in Nicosia. A team of two 14 year old pupils won the 1st prize on their concept for the colonization of the Moon.[59]

References
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