Innovation Floor

The Innovation Floor is located all day on the foyer of the Aula. It includes booths and stands from companies in the space sector, which whom you can network throughout the day, during the breaks, and during the networking drink. Take a look at all the companies/teams that will be present on the page below:

Workshops

During the morning, two workshops will be offered to students: from DEMCON and TNO. To read more about the content of the workshops and to book tickets, click the button below. A ticket to a workshop also includes (free) lunch.

Lunch

Students that purchased a ticket for one of the workshops will be offered free lunch.

Main Programme pt.1

Opening of the Symposium

Jim Ruysenaars, President of 79th Board of the VSV ‘Leonardo da Vinci’

Introduction of the Symposium

Rob Postma, President Netherlands at Airbus & Managing Director – Airbus Netherlands

Human Life in Space

Maybritt Kuypers, Flight Surgeon at European Space Agency & Royal Netherlands Air Force

What does being in space do with a person? Dr. Maybritt Kuypers, flight surgeon at ESA, will explain the physical effects that a journey to space can have on a person. What do we do to ensure that a person returns in good health? How are astronauts trained and how do they prepare for their stay in such an extreme environment?

Human Work in Space

André Kuipers, Astronaut

Dutch astronaut André Kuipers will talk about the work done by astronauts in space. What discoveries have we made by working in this unique environment, what challenges have we overcome, and what is the lasting impact that a trip to space has on a the human spirit?

You’re Too Cute To Be An Astronaut

Theatrical Play Honouring the Life of Astronaut Judy Resnik

Judy Lijdsman

You’re too cute to be an astronaut is a play by Judy Lijdsman about astronaut Judy Resnik, who was on board on the catastrophic space shuttle Challenger. Judy will give a small demo of her play to close off the first part of the main program.

Break

Main Programme pt.2

Space Vehicle – SUSIE

Joost van Tooren, Human Space Flight Programme Manager at ArianeGroup

Joost van Tooren will talk about ArianeGroup’s SUSIE program, a next generation space vehicle. How is a spacecraft in the 21st century designed and built compared to previous generations? How do we take people to space, and how do we return them safely?

Space Habitats – Starlab

Marc Peter Heß

The next speaker, Marc Heß, will focus on space habitats, specifically Starlab, the next space station designed and built by Airbus. Where a capsule or any vehicle has to focus more on a safe journey, a habitat will need to provide a long stay, and a safe one at that. How does a habitat support astronauts in their work and how does it protect them from the long term dangers of being in a space environment?

Role of Human Spaceflight – Panel Discussion

André Kuipers, Astronaut

Philippe Schoonejans, Project Manager (Human & Robotic Exploration) at European Space Agency

Sabine Winters, Philosopher of Space & Science

And more!

Is space exploration something that has the sole purpose of bettering life on earth, or is it a goal onto itself? What is the added benefit of sending humans compared to robots? During this panel we will discuss motivations for going to space, justifications for spending this much resources on human spaceflight, and the effect that astronauts and their works have had on society thus far.

Closing

Stoewer & Wittenberg Award Ceremonies

Conclusion of the Symposium

Rob Postma, President Netherlands at Airbus & Managing Director – Airbus Netherlands

Closing of the Symposium

Timo Burggraaf, Commissioner of Symposium of the 38th Space Department

Networking Drink

Visit the stands at the Innovation Floor, talk with students, and network with speakers and visitors of the Symposium, while enjoying some drinks and snacks.