The initiative of the Portuguese space agency “Astronaut for a day” moves to the island of Santa Maria, in the Azores, where 30 young people will experience the sense of zero gravity aboard a parabolic flight.
The initiative of That gives young people the opportunity to be astronauts for one day will be held, from this year, in the Azores, announced the agency, which promises an even more spatial experience.
The highlight of is the DECLARING FLIGHT FLIGHT directly from Santa Maria Island, scheduled for September 21st. This is the first time that the zero severity simulation has taken place in the archipelago, reinforcing the program’s connection to the Portuguese spatial context.
Willingness to decentralize and “illuminate” the space island
According to Marta Gonçalves, manager of education and science programs of the Portuguese space agency, the move to Santa Maria results from the “very strong relationship with the Azores archipelago, but also the desire to decentralize”.
“We know that Santa Maria is a space island,” added Marta Gonçalves in statements to Lusa, explaining that, therefore, the experience that the 30 selected young people will have this year will be different and “even more linked to space”.
Three days of space activities before the flight
Before the flight, young people will participate in three days of activities on the island, with visits to infrastructures such as the Santa Maria Teleport and the Atlantic Network Station of Geodynamic and Spatial Stations (Raege).
“It is especially important for these young people, who are already interested in space, can realize that in Portugal there are this type of infrastructures, which are used and play a relevant role up to international level,” said Marta Gonçalves.
The parabolic flight will be made aboard an airbus from the company Novespacewhich allows to simulate the sensations experienced by astronauts in a microgravity environment.
Strict selection process, in the style of ESA
This year’s edition received about 700 youth applications between 14 and 18. After a first phase of online testing, which evaluated skills such as memory, spatial perception and speed of response, 250 candidates passed to the next phase.
Of these, 100 were selected for physical fitness tests and later 50 advanced to the interview phase. Then the 30 finalists who, before boarding on the flight, are only ahead of the medical tests.
Since 2022, there are already 91 young people who “challenged gravity”
Created in 2022, the program “Astronaut for a day” has so far been held at Beja Air Base. With the move to Santa Maria, the Portuguese Space Agency reinforces its commitment to decentralization and the promotion of science and space with the new generations.
