Belgian Space Week

2022-10-14

On 24 March 2022, it has been 30 years since the first Belgian went into space. That day, astro­naut Dirk Frimout exchanged Earth for space in the American shut­tle Atlantis, a day he would never forget. Ever since (and still today), he spent a great deal of his life talking about this experience and sharing his enthusiasm for space with pupils, students and the large audience.

The year 2022 also marks the 20th anniver­sary of Frank De Winne​’s first space flight. Meanwhile, our second Belgian astronaut has been leading the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) for 10 years now.

These anniver­saries will certainly not pass unno­ticed. From 17 to 21 October 2022 plenty of activities, lectures, public events are taking place in the framework of the Belgian Space Week.

Events in the presence of astronauts

Several astronauts, of which part of the crews of our two Belgian astro­nauts will come to Belgium to take part in the events. It may be clear: space trav­el will be in the spot­light next week, with the main objective being to raise aware­ness and inter­est, and to high­light the impor­tant Belgian con­tri­bu­tions to space indus­try and research.

Its diverse pro­gram not only aims at uni­ver­si­ty stu­dents, chil­dren and young peo­ple, but also at the gen­er­al audience.

The Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy is an official co-organising partner of the Belgian Space Week, and it is taking part in two events:

  • The Academic Session at the Royal Military School (restricted access, on invitation only). A number of speakers and an expert panel will share their views about the future of Space Exploration. Our BIRA-IASB colleague Ann Carine Vandaele will take part in the round panel discussing lunar and martian exploration.

  • Discover what space research brings to society at an exceptional evening at the Planetarium of Brussels  that puts space research in the spot­light, in the presence of

    • 5 astronauts (Dirk Frimout, Frank De Winne, Vladimir Pletser, Anna Lee Fisher, Robert Thirsk)

    • 4 researchers from the Federal Space Pole

      • Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy: Christine Bingen

      • Royal Observatory of Belgium: Pascale Defraigne, David Berghmans

      • Royal Meteorological Institute: Stijn Nevens

The Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy is an official co-organising partner of the Belgian Space Week, and it is taking part in two events.
Discover what space research brings to society at an exceptional evening at the Planetarium of Brussels that puts space research in the spot­light, in the presence of 5 astronauts and 4 researchers from the Federal Space Pole.
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