Meet astronauts and learn about the latest space applications, missions and solutions when the Summer Space Festival lands in Luxembourg from 5-6 May.
Now in its third edition, the festival was created by students in the north of France who wanted to promote space and STEM careers to the general public and to younger generations. The first edition of the Summer Space Festival was held in Lille, France, and the second in Brussels, Belgium.
“The idea was to bring in companies from the different regions where we were and help them to meet young talents,” co-event manager Charlotte Nassey told Silicon Luxembourg, adding: “Also, we wanted to focus on diversity.”
Two days’ of events
The Luxembourg edition will be hosted at Neimënster with the first day catering to students and young professionals. They can take part in VR experiences, science workshops that examine things like how impact craters are created on the moon and meet companies and organisations active in the field of space.
“We want to inspire the younger generations in Luxembourg, to look at STEM fields or industries, even if you don’t want to study STEM, maybe one day these young people will work in the industry,” Nassey explained.
Young professionals will be able to choose from four workshops enabling them to learn more about key topics and meet professionals from the sector. The day ends with a networking cocktail and lecture on ethics in space.
On the Saturday, the festival goes beyond the themes of engineering and science to roll out events for all ages and a programme of talks on subjects like the legal and ethical implications of space exploration and building a space society.
Visitors can catch the exhibition of astrophotography, try on a space suit and enjoy a host of creative and hands-on activities. “There will be a whole range of things so that we can interest as many different profiles as possible in space and science fields,” said Nassey.
Inflatable planetarium
Food trucks and booths from space employers and research bodies will also be on-site. Luxembourg’s Natural History Museum, an event partner, will also install an inflatable planetarium in the abbey grounds for festival goers to gaze at the stars and planets.
The Summer Space Festival is organised in collaboration with the Luxembourg Space Agency, which this year marks its fifth anniversary. To mark the occasion, the agency is coordinating open days at space companies in Luxembourg as well as the astronaut for a day programme, offering a zero gravity parabolic flight to teenagers.
See the full festival programme
