2023 marks five years since the economy ministry launched the Luxembourg Space Agency, a national body to promote the commercial space sector as a long-term economic diversification.
The Agency, which was created by the Luxembourg economy ministry, accelerates the development of a sector which first took hold in Luxembourg in the 1980s with the creation of public private satellite operator SES.
To celebrate the milestone, the Agency has developed a number of activities aimed at reaching out to younger generations and general public.
Thanks to partnerships with 20 ecosystem players, over the course of the year, it will coordinate open doors events.
“We communicate through the press and social media but our feeling is also that the public don’t necessarily know what goes on behind the scenes,” Luxembourg Space Agency CEO Marc Serres explained, adding: “This is an opportunity to create this link and to show what our companies and labs are doing.”
From lunar exploration to satellite manufacturing and telecommunications, the host companies span a range of space-related activities, which will be explained through guided tours, workshops and demonstrations.
Participants must register to take part but participation is free of charge. Registration can be done via a link on the space agency website.
The next open-door events:
March
3-4.03.23: Kleos Space
9-10.03.23: Yuri
17-18.03.23: Hitec
April
28.04.23: AdwaïsEO / EBRC
May
5-6.05.23: Gradel
26.05.23: AdwaïsEO / EBRC
Astronaut Day
Also to mark the anniversary, in 2023 the Luxembourg Space Agency will launch an exciting special event aimed at youngsters curious about the astronaut career path. Full details of the programme have yet to be officially confirmed but a source explained that the goal was to communicate about space towards a younger audience and inspire them to become space ambassadors in their own schools and personal networks.
Other unmissable space events for 2023
Aerospace Tech Week Europe: 29-30 March
Munich convention covering connectivity, MRO IT, flight ops IT, testing, Space and sustainability.
Space Resources Week: 19-21 April
Three-day hybrid conference in Luxembourg connecting thought leaders from space agencies, research institutes, start-ups, and industry (both terrestrial and space).
International Paris Air Show: 19-25 June
Hosted at Le Bourget, Paris (France), this is the largest Aeronautic & Space event in the world with more than 2,450 exhibitors from 49 countries and 140,000 visitors from 185 countries in the last edition (2019).
International Astronautical Congress: 2-6 October
Baku, in Azerbaijan, hosts this gathering, examining the global challenges and opportunities in space.
NewSpace Europe: 29 October
Startups, agencies, investors and executives gather in Luxembourg for conference sessions, pitching and networking.
Spacetech Europe: 14-16 November
Europe’s biggest B2B event for the space sector.
This article was first published in the Silicon Luxembourg magazine. Get your copy.
