OasISS mission to launch tomorrow

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne launches to the International Space Station tomorrow (Wednesday) to start his six-month OasISS mission. The launch of the Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft from Baikonur will take place tomorrow at 1334 BST and you can watch it live here.

ESA announces six new astronauts,... and one is British!

From the ESA press release...

ESA today presented the six individuals who will become Europe's new astronauts. The new recruits will join the European Astronaut Corps and start their training to prepare for future missions to the International Space Station, and beyond.

The new astronauts are:

1. Samantha Cristoforetti, Italian

2. Alexander Gerst, German

3. Andreas Mogensen, Danish

4. Luca Parmitano, Italian

5. Timothy Peake, British

6. Thomas Pesquet, French

They were selected following a Europe-wide recruitment process that started last year. Following thorough psychological, medical and professional screening that started with 8413 valid applications, they are the first new recruits to join the European Astronaut Corps since 1992 under this second-ever astronaut selection carried out by ESA. The choice of six was made taking into account flight opportunities planned not only under ESA programmes and activities but also those planned in the frame of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and NASA. This (deleted all) was done in agreement with the Italian authorities and in accordance with the ESA Council decision in 2002 to create a single corps of astronauts in Europe. 

New European Astronauts to be announced on 20 May

The European Space Agency (ESA) will be announcing its new astronauts at ESA HEadquarters in Paris on Wednesday 20 May at press confererence starting at 1315 CEST (1215 BST).

The selection process started in 2008 with 8413 valid applications and following a very demanding selection process, ESA is now ready to introduce the latest members of the European Astronaut Corps who will conduct future missions to the International Space Station, and one day to the Moon and beyond.

Since, currently, the UK does not participate in human spaceflight or contribute financially to ESA's programmes in this area, it is virtually certain that none of the new astronauts will be British. However, given that the UK is currently reappraising its position on human spaceflight, some space commentators believe that a British reserve astronaut may be announced in June.

Rocket Club @ Big Ears

Today saw the first major outing of Rocket Club - to the East Anglian Rocket Society (EARS) annual week-end launch event, Big Ears. Twenty-five rocketeers made the trek to near Cambridge in search of fun, launch opportunities and, ideally, UKRA High Power Rocketry Certification. Although, the weather was fine and sunny, the wind was quite strong for most of the day which, unfortunately, limited the types of rockets that could be launched. Nevertheless, seven Rocket Club members obtained their Level 1 Certification and everyone had a good time. Over the next few weeks we will be working to find more launch opportunities so that the remaining members can launch their rockets and seek certification as well.

Ed Roberston - Satellite

For all the space couples out there (you know who you are!), here's a special song by Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies.

Orphans of Apollo - UK Premiere 22 May

super/collider is holding the UK premiere of Orphans of Apollo in London on Friday 22 May. The title of the film refers to those people who grew up during the glory days of the Apollo era and expected to see space exploration continue at the same rate, but who were sadly disappointed.

One particular group of ambitious Americans led by Walt Anderson decided that if they wanted a bold future they would have to make it happen themselves. Back in the 1990s, that's what they tried to do, setting up MirCorp, 'renting' the Mir space station from Russia while endeavouring to commercialise it and get approval the export an electrodynamic space tether for the USA to reboost the station....

There is a minimum donation of £5, with all proceeds going towards the International Space University scholarship fund. It is essential to RSVP by email to the to the film's director Michael Potter, who will be doing a Q&A with after the screening.

Time: 7 pm for a 7:30 pm start
Venue: Private screening room at The Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews (off Dean Street), London W1D 3DH
Map: click here

Q&A with ESA astronaut Frank De Winne on YouTube

This is your opportunity to get your questions about space answered European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Frank De Winne. All you have to do is record your question using a webcam, video camera or mobile phone, and post it on ESA’s YouTube channel. Each week, De Winne will post his responses to selected questions on the site from either his training post in Moscow or directly from space.

De Winne is currently in training ahead of his six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He will travel to the ISS together with Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk where he will be its first European commander. Launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for 27 May.

Record and upload your questions to ESA’s YouTube channel as a 'Video Response' to De Winne's video message.