posted 07-05-2004 12:43 PM            

The Night of the Astronauts

The German Space Day on the weekend of September 18 /19 2004 will take place in Germany nationwide. For the prelude of this event, we celebrate on the 17 th September 2004 at the Koeln Arena "The Night of the Astronauts ". For this purpose we would like to invite you to participate in this great event.
"For the very first time Astronauts and Cosmonauts from 10 different countries are introducing themselves to a huge audience in Cologne, homebase of the European Astronauts, to give some of their impressions and experiences, which are basically not meant to bring to public." Declared Prof. Dr. Ernst Messerschmid, Head of the European Astronaut Centre.

Our Commander for the night will be the Astronaut and Space Expert Dr. Ulf Merbold, who flew in 1983 as the first non American Astronaut with the US Space Shuttle, and activated the first "Space lab in Europe developed during the mission "Space lab 1 ". He will be accompanied by the representer Evi Seibert.
They will concertedly introduce the crew of the night, and will talk about their highlights during their former missions and thereby they will to attempt an outlook into the future, in other words in direction of the upcoming Moon- and Mars missons. Among others there will be attend the crew of "Space lab 1".

The biggest Highlight will be the set-up of a Live Uplink, to the international Space station ISS. Selected persons will have the chance to speak live to the Astronauts of the ISS.

Live to see at the Koeln Arena there will be also impressively pictures out from space, presented in a 3D Video Show, displayed on a 200 square meter Video screen, projected by a great Laser and Light show. Take the opportunity to see new pictures and videos of the Mars Express, as well as the pictures made by the European Astronauts during their last missions.
We appreciate your interest and we are more than happy to invite you to our press conference the 8th of July 2004 at 11:00. at the European Astronaut Centre, Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne.

Please, let us know right in time, if you will be able to join us.

For further information's please contact:
Jean Coisne E. Mail: Jean.Coisne@esa.int