Article Posted on : - Jun 06, 2010

Mars Express results, ILA 2010. ESA/DLR/BDLI photo

NEW DELHI (BNS): Visitors at the Berlin Air and Space Show can learn more about the European space programmes and German national space activities when the world's largest aerospace trade show opens next week.

‘Space for Earth’ a special pavilion has been designed by ESA, German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the BDLI, to showcase the importance of space systems and applications, Esa said.

There will be an impressive Ariane 5 engine and a presentation of Europe’s spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana, where Vega and the Russian-built Soyuz are shortly to be launched for the first time, offering, along with Ariane 5, a wide range of launch services.

Stunning images of the International space Station (ISS) will be displayed, including Europe’s contributions - the Columbus laboratory, Automated Transfer Vehicle,ATV, Cupola and Node 3 - and European astronauts.

Visitors will have an overview of the scientific experiments carried out in weightlessness, from material sciences to human physiology, from fluid science to plant biology, and from the origins of life to observation of our planet.

They will be introduced to ESA’s Herschel mission and its latest images. These are revealing hidden clouds of cold gas and helping astronomers study how stars are born, evolve and die in the galaxies.

Future challenging projects include the ESA-NASA ExoMars programme to explore the red planet and look for signs of life, BepiColombo to study Mercury, the closest planet to our Sun, and Gaia to map our galaxy in unprecedented detail.

The show organised every two years by the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) will take place at Berlin-Schönefeld Airport from 8-13 June.