Vision
The European space University for earth and humanity.
Through the ages, Space has inspired wonder, questions, cultural and artistic works and technology innovation. It has the potential to concern all students and researchers covering a broad range of subjects and applications.
The night sky and dreams of travel into space have inspired myths and legends and artists long before the space age. Stars were the main means of finding direction and navigating before the compass and GPS. Space enthuses many of us.
It has the potential to concern all students and researchers as this field covers a broad range of subjects and applications, ranging from the design of space habitat concepts for the moon or mars to psychosocial and health challenges of living in Space, law governing space-related activities, astronomical art, space engineering…
As expressed by Paul Weissenberg, Deputy Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry:
Space for societal challenges
EU space policy aims to tackle some of the most pressing challenges today, such as fighting climate change or managing natural resources. Space technology, data and services have proven to be indispensable in the life of Europeans and for sustainable development.
For example, EU space data is transforming our daily lives with services such as: increasing efficiency in agriculture and fisheries, helping regions and people access knowledge and information, improving crisis response, protecting the environment and helping to tackle climate change, increasing security, improving citizens’ health, optimising transport.
Space sustainability
Working on sustainable space is essential to guarantee the ability of all human beings to continue to use outer space over the long term. There is a need to make the space sector more sustainable and to work on how technology and the environment can thrive together.
UNIVERSEH is also conscious that the proliferation of space debris remains the most serious risk of the sustainability of space activities and will contribute to the European effort to address this issue. Moreover, access to space in a sustainable way is a key challenge to be addressed for the future missions.
Space exploration
During ESA’s Council at ministerial level (Space19+ organised in 2019), the Member states committed to space exploration through their involvement in the International Space Station until 2030 and in “Space Gateway,” the first space station to orbit the Moon.
European astronauts will fly to the Moon for the first time. Member States have confirmed their support to the ground-breaking Mars Sample Return mission, in cooperation with NASA. Consequently, space exploration is a major priority and UNIVERSEH will contribute to the EU’s effort in this strategic domain.
Space resources and settlement
How humans can live and work beyond Earth is a subject that raises interest, questions and some apprehension. Over the past years, the concept of permanent, autonomous human habitation of locations outside Earth (Moon, Mars, in orbit) has been the subject of literary, scientific or artistic work.
Training and research in space exploration can contribute to different domains such as protection of Earth’s environment, medicine, agriculture and space economy. Likewise, enhancing visionary ideas and research can lead to breakthroughs and contribute to innovative aerospace concepts.