Nepal Review: Global Space Exploration Conference 2017!

 Submitted by

 Er. Anmol Mittal, Nepal

The Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2017) I attended discussed recent results, current challenges, and innovative solutions on to advancing human space exploration. The conference brought together leaders and decision-makers within the science and human exploration community- engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, agency representatives, policy makers. The conference was organized by International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Beijing International Congress Center, Beijing, China from 6-9th June, 2017.

As a young aerospace engineer, who wants to explore and learn about space technologies, I jumped at the opportunity of travelling all the way to China to attend this conference. A small change in direction at the start ends you up on a totally different path in the end. To give my unfolding career a direction, influenced by upcoming challenges and opportunities, was the main motive for attending GLEX 2017. Over 1000 attendees made the journey to Beijing from 51 countries. Heads of space agencies, Cosmosnauts, Taikonauts and Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, came together to discuss the challenges of space exploration from all different perspectives. I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting some distinguished people from the space industry, to name a few: 

• Gilbert Kirkham, Director, Science division, NASA
• Rob Chambers, human space flight, commercial civil space, from Lockheed Martin
• Brent Sherwood, program manager, Solar system mission formulation from JPL.
• Didier Morancais, Key account manager, Science/ Exploration & CNES from Airbus 
• Dr. Peng Xia, researcher, AIST
• Zihua Zhu, Asia-Pacific Regional coordinator, SGAC

I was able to discuss, with them, about my interests in the field of aerospace and the potential it holds in upcoming future. Meeting such people opened up new dimensions in my mind regarding numerous opportunities in the space industry. The conference was organized in a professional manner and addressed major issues concerning the space industry. There were 329 abstracts from 22 different countries, all of which were categorized into following categories:

• Scientific Objective and Infrastructure of Space Exploration
• Space Laboratory, Space Station and Space Exploration
• Lunar Exploration
• Exploration of Near Earth Asteroids
• Mars Exploration
• Exploration of Other Destination
• Entering into Space and New Energy and Propulsion Technology
• Key Technology of Space Exploration
• Challenges of Life Support - Medical Support for Manned Space Exploration
• Values and New Models for Space Exploration
• Law Issues and Public Awareness Related to Space Exploration
• International Cooperation for Space Exploration
• Small Satellites

The presentations were delivered in a professional manner and with utmost proficiency. Although I couldn’t attend all the oral presentations, due to clash of their timings, but having the chance of attending even some of them was exhilarating.

Day 1: Will space exploration lead us to a global space agency?

The Global space exploration conference officially opened with a welcome address by Li Yuanchao, Vice-President of People’s republic of China, who read a note from Xi Jinping, President of People’s republic of China stating that: “China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the international community for a better future for human kind”.

This Chinese call to cooperation has been the main focus of the Heads of Agency Plenary where the idea of global space agency has been analyzed. Roberto Battiston, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Pascale Ehrenfreund, Chair of the Executive Board of German Aerospace Center (DLR) joined the discussion with their views on the various aspects of unified and separate space agencies.

Photo 1: ESA DG Jan Woerner presents the Moon Village concept; Credits: SpaceWatch Middle East

Day 2: Mars- Moon: How do we get there?

The significance of global cooperation and international partnerships for efficient space exploration was further explored on the second day by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). Importance of individual and collective space exploration was indeed discussed in a detailed manner. 

Another question which rose was: should we explore Mars or Moon? Different space agencies held different views but I found the view point of Russian delegates convincing, which stated: “interrogation should be centered on the direction rather than the destination”.

Last but not the least, the luminary Buzz Aldrin showed us the plan, he has been devising for last 30 years, to travel to Mars, which is also in its final stage of completion. Personally, this was part which left me on the edge of my seat during the entire time period of the presentation. 

Photo 2: Dr Buzz Aldrin presents the Mars cycler concept; Credits: SpaceWatch Middle East

Day 3: Space exploration- A common goal

The last day of GLEX marked the end of intense three day exposure to international scientific community. I believe all of us, who are devoting our lives to space exploration, are searching answers to the fundamental questions in the Universe: Who are we? Are we alone? Where do we come from? 

It was an excellent opportunity to gather, interact and exchange findings of such influencing people and views during conference sessions, coffee breaks and conference dinner. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Ugur Guven for giving me the opportunity to attend GLEX 2017 via their conference funding which covered the part of expenses.

Note: This report is influenced by the media report of GLEX 2017 by SPACEWATCH middle east.