In a new podcast series of ESA Explores, experts discuss 20 years of science on the International Space Station and look to a bright future, as ESA celebrates 20 years since the first ESA astronaut boarded the orbital outpost.
On 19 April, 2001, ESA astronaut Umberto Guidoni was launched to the International Space Station. Since then, the Station has orbited Earth approximately 115 000 times, 19 ESA astronauts of nine different European nationalities have flown to the Station, and over 400 experiments have been performed in microgravity.
These experiments have investigated brain plasticity, circadian rhythms, blood vessels and immune systems. They help us better understand fluid mechanics, weather systems, and some of the world’s tiniest but toughest creatures. These experiments give us great insights; insights essential for future space exploration and the benefit of humans on Earth.
The newly-released series of ESA’s ESA Explores podcast highlights 20 years of this European science in space. Across several episodes, host Annelies Van Dam speaks to the people at ESA and in ESA’s scientific community who help make science happen in our orbital outpost.
Andreas Schoen, Kirsten MacDonell and Nicole Buckley all work in ESA’s Research and Payloads Group – the team that makes sure that the experiments going up to the International Space Station are safe, will work in microgravity, and will help advance scientific knowledge.
Episodes
In our first conversation, we discuss the history of science on the International Space Station. How did science on the International Space Station get started?
In part two, we talk about present-day science in space. What does it take to get your experiment to orbit?
In the final part of our conversation, we focus on the future. Do we need the International Space Station in order to get to Mars?
You can find all of these episodes and more by searching for ‘ESA Explores’ on any major podcast platform. Or click the following links to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud and Podbean.