European research sponsorship scheme launched on board ISS
The European and Italian space agencies teamed up to launch the first ever sponsorship initiative for European research on board the International Space Station (ISS) on 8 March. The European space agency (ESA) and Italian space agency (ASI) programme will allow European businesses to provide financial support for scientific and technological research by astronauts on board the ISS. They could contribute to projects on human physiology and the prevention of diseases such as osteoporosis, studies on the reduction of environmental damage caused by industrial processes and work on the creation of new materials and proteins. Maurizio Belingheri, ISS commercialisation manager for the European space agency (ESA), said the scheme would help to raise the profile of space research and the ISS among the general public and bring about 'a better understanding of what we do up there in space.' He said that the ISS is a 'fantastic laboratory' with facilities to cover a wide range of scientific disciplines and the competitive advantage of a zero gravity environment and specially-selected astronauts on board. He explained that the sponsorship of ESA research in space would help the agency to use their ISS resources and laboratories 'more and better.' Mr Belingheri emphasised that the scheme would be 'sponsorship for a good cause.' He said that companies involved in the scheme would not be endorsed or advertised but may be given the opportunity to use ESA facilities for PR events or invite ESA astronauts to give talks on European space research at company events. The two agencies said they are on the look-out for businesses which have 'a mission or ideal consistent with improving the quality of life on Earth and are committed to sustaining research in space.' They say the project is an opportunity for Italian and European corporations to 'discover space as a promotional medium, enabling them to project a new image with consumers as committed supporters of improving the quality of life on Earth.' The first sponsorship opportunity will be the 'Taxi Flight' to the ISS in April this year, in which Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori will take part. The ISS, the largest and most complex international scientific project in history, is four times as large as the Russian Mir station. The USA has responsibility for operating major systems and elements aboard the station. Canada, Japan, Russia and the European space agency are all partners in the project.
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