The Project “Czech Journey to Space” introduced activities to support the education of the youngest 10/10/2024|Press releasesThe long-term project "Czech Journey to Space" presented this June involves, among other things, the education of pupils and students. It shall stimulate their interest in studies and the career, especially in technical and natural sciences, through educational, awareness-raising and popularisation activities. In addition to the economic benefits of supporting Czech science and industry, the project aims to highlight the need for technical and natural sciences and thus inspire the youngest generation to study these fields. "Our science and industry are already experiencing a shortage of educated professionals who are crucial for economic development and the Restart of the Czech Republic. This is why young people need to be encouraged to take an interest in technical fields. Just as flights to space have inspired the technological leaders of the last decades, the Czech space project can stimulate interest in science and state-of-the-art technology among the youngest Czech generation. Our astronaut Aleš Svoboda can also be a great inspiration and a positive role model," says the prime minister Petr Fiala. The project activities to support education and young scientists were presented in the Brno Observatory and Planetarium by the prime minister Petr Fiala, minister of transport Martin Kupka, minister of education, youth and sports Mikuláš Bek, minister of science, research and innovations Marek Ženíšek and other guests. The minister of transport Martin Kupka launched the selection of young space ambassadors at this occasion. If they pass several rounds, they will complete their training by participating in the Zero-G event where twenty students will get the chance to experience zero-gravity on board a specially modified Airbus 310 aircraft. During the flight which takes about one hour, the pilots will repeatedly guide the machine along a parabolic orbit, so that – for 20 seconds – there will be a state of zero gravity during each parabola inside the aircraft, like aboard a space station. It is the most faithful simulation of space flight that can be achieved on Earth. "It will undoubtedly be an experience of a lifetime. Examples from abroad show that such unusual encounters with modern technology lead to a lifelong fascination with space and science. Students who get the chance to experience weightlessness will become popularizers of space activities among their peers by sharing their experience. I have no doubt that this will motivate many of them to study science and engineering, which are increasingly urgent needs of young students in the Czech Republic," said minister Kupka. Inspired by the astronaut selection process, the Ministry of Transport is organising a six-round selection process for these flights. The first round was launched today, and students between 13 and 18 years old can apply on the website vzhurudovesmiru.cz. The flight itself is scheduled for the end of March 2025. The zero gravity simulation flights are mainly used for research in microgravity and are operated by Novespace, a subsidiary of the French Space Agency (CNES). The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide everything for the Czech Republic. An example of such an activity is the LASAR team made up of secondary school students, which won the prestigious global Conrad Challenge in two out of three categories this year. The students presented their project of restarting non-communicating satellites in Earth orbit to a panel of NASA experts and dominated the entire science competition. They won the jury prize and the public prize. This is the first similar success of the Czech Republic. On the first day of school, other activities were also presented, which will be open not only to schools and teachers but especially to pupils and students. The European Space Education Resource Office for the Czech Republic, ESERO Czech Republic, has prepared over a hundred events during the year with its partners. The chance for students to program real microcomputers that are on the International Space Station (ISS) with the astronauts is really unique. Students will engage in active two-way communication with satellites in orbit or build their own ships. They will also experience simulated space mission conditions in 24 and 100-hour isolations and compete for Space Hero titles. For the Czech science and economy the "Czech Journey to Space" project will bring the opportunity to conduct a number of experiments and observations in the field of medicine, technology and new materials that cannot be realised on Earth. This will open up more opportunities for the national space industry to compete in the global market.