N° 38–2022: Invitation to the media: ESA at Farnborough International Airshow

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher will be at FIA on 18 and 19 July, together with British ESA astronaut Tim Peake. Further ESA Directors are participating at FIA such as Elodie Viau, Director for Telecommunications and Integrated Applications and Head of ESA/ECSAT (Harwell) and David Parker, Director for Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration. An ISS live video call to ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is planned for Friday, 22 July.

Innovative space business opportunities, sustainability and climate change, digitalisation, space safety and science are major themes at this year's FIA. Space agencies, aerospace companies, ministries and science teams will present their innovations and the latest developments for deployment on Earth and in space.

ESA’s strategy “Agenda 2025” strongly aligns with the recently launched UK National Space Strategy, including new markets such as space safety, more effective collaboration with the private sector, a strong business case for Earth observation or telecommunication applications, and a recognition of the emerging, critical importance of autonomy in space applications.

FIA will take place from 18 to 22 July at Farnborough, south-west of London: https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/

Milestones of ESA activities relevant for journalists (all times in local BST)

Monday – 18 July

Headline panel of the Aerospace Global Forum (11:30 BST) and FIA Space Zone Opening (14.00 BST), including contributions from ESA DG Josef Aschbacher, high-ranking UK officials, British ESA Astronaut Tim Peake and industry CEOs.

Tuesday – 19 July

Focus on space industry engagement, UK national and European space industry policies (digital + green economy) and, 10-11.00 BST, signature ceremony for a major industrial contract for future Mars sample return mission with ESA / Leonardo / ASI (Italian Space Agency).

Further focus on recruitment and careers in the aerospace sector and increasing diversity.

14.00 BST – Session with ESA DG Josef Aschbacher and Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, on “ESA and UK on the journey to the ESA Ministerial Council in November 2022”.

Following this session, ESA DG Josef Aschbacher will comment on the findings of McKinsey’s and the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) new report on role of space in driving sustainability, security and development on Earth.

Wednesday - 20 July

“Space Day” at FIA with demonstrations on the ESA stand (part of the UK Space Pavilion) with ESA Climate Office team and experts from ESA Telecommunication and Integrated Applications Directorate from ESA/ECSAT, Harwell.

Cancelled, for more information please click here: Official Press briefing at 16.00 BST by ESA, UK Space Agency and NASA on the future of Mars exploration at Royal Institution (London centre), with: David Parker, ESA Director for Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration, Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. Further panellists and details tbc.

Thursday - 21 July

Focus on space and workforce, recruitment of future engineers and scientists. Announcement of winners of ‘One Million Interactions Awards’, recognising those in industry who engage with young people about careers and STEM. UK Space Agency lead.

German ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, recently returned from space, will join various sessions. Details tbc

Friday – 22 July

Space education and STEM promotion day, “pioneers of tomorrow”, with several sessions.

13.00BST, UK Space Agency, together with German ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, will announce winners of the Nanosat design competition.

14.30 BST – ISS live video call to Italian ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, currently on board the International Space Station (ISS) for her “Minerva” mission.

Media registration and contacts

Media representatives are requested to register for FIA via the following link by 15 July the latest:

https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/media-centre/media-accreditation/

Administration / Media logistics contact:  media@farnborough.com

Media contact for UK Space Agency:

Gareth Bethell, Senior Communications Officer, UK Space Agency

Email: gareth.bethell@ukspaceagency.gov.uk / Tel. +44 7925 891 949

Overall FIA Programme: https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/

Media contact for ESA interviews and ESA FIA contributions:

Bernhard von Weyhe, Senior Media Relations Officer

European Space Agency, ESA Headquarters

Email: media@esa.int / Tel. +33-1-53697504

Social Media

Follow the ESA on:

Twitter: @esa
Facebook: @EuropeanSpaceAgency
Instagram: @europeanspaceagency
YouTube: ESA
LinkedIn: The European Space Agency – ESA
Pinterest: The European Space Agency – ESA

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with six Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int