The space adventure comes to a conference at CERN

From 5 to 7 November, CERN will host the 4th International Conference on Particle and Fundamental Physics in Space (SpacePart12). Special talks open to the general public will be given by two of the biggest names in space exploration: Edward Stone, project scientist for the Voyager probes, and William Gerstenmaier, former Manager of the International Space Station (ISS) programme.

 



 

Launched at Isola d’Elba (Italy) in 2002, then continued in Washington D.C. (USA) in 2003 and Beijing (China) in 2006, the SpacePart conferences are an opportunity for researchers and space policy makers from across the world to exchange opinions on the developments of space-related science and technology programmes. This year, SpacePart coincides with the centenary of the discovery of cosmic rays and will be held at CERN.

On 5 November, Edward Stone, professor at the California Institute of Technology and project scientist for the Voyager probes since 1972, will give a talk on the extraordinary story of these two probes, launched 35 years ago. Currently some 18 and 15 billion kilometres from the Earth respectively, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 continue to return data to Earth. These probes have travelled deeper into space than any other object launched by humankind. Professor Stone's talk will be preceded by an introduction by Samuel Ting, principal investigator for the AMS particle physics experiment installed on board the International Space Station.

On 6 November, William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations for NASA and former Manager of the International Space Station (ISS) programme, will discuss the scientific work being conducted on the ISS. He will discuss the present status and the future of this outstanding research, which opens a new window for the exploration of the solar system and the Universe.


*The talks will take place at 8 p.m. in the Main Auditorium. They will be given in English, with simultaneous French translation.

Entrance free, limited accommodation.

Telephone reservation is mandatory: +41(0)22 767 76 76 or +41 (0)22 767 84 84

Follow the live webcast of the talks at http://webcast.cern.ch/ or at its screening in the Council Chamber.


 

by CERN Bulletin