Crew 1 launch: the beginning of a new era for global space collaboration

Space-X and NASA launch a new era of space flight international partnerships 

Crew-1 team of astronauts (Photo credit: NASA)

A milestone in the attempts to maintain the International Space Station fully equipped. After the shutdown of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, the United States were unable to send its own astronauts into space. However, thanks to Space-X´s successful Demo-2 testing mission, that possibility has been restored.

Mike Hopkins (commander), Victor Gloove (pilot), Shannon Walker (mission specialist) and Soichi Noguchi representing JAXA/Japan (mission specialist). Together, the four astronauts form the team of Crew Dragon, an autonomous capsule with touchscreen controls. “It`s the future within our reach”, said NASA´s former space professional and current president of the Science Days USA Mike Lester. After a journey of 27 hours and 33 minutes, the astronauts arrived yesterday (17) at the Space Station to be part of an oficial ISS expedition, alongside three crew members of the expedition 64.

The crew-1 achievement was already envisioned by the founders of KSCIA International Space Academy (KSCIA) long before it happened. KSCIA was a pioneer organization by offering hands on and Project Based Learning (PBL) space education classes for high school students. “There was no doubt in our hearts that American astronauts would return to space soon”, said KSCIA´s project manager Carla Michaelis. The spaceship, popularly known as Resilience, was responsible for carrying out the first manned operational flight of the Crew Dragon capsule.

Space Education and the New Global Space Economy

Innovative PBL education is the key to provide the space industry a pipeline of talented professionals. By envisioning the growth of this sector, in 2016 KSCIA was one of the first organizations to sponsor Science Days, an international traveling space fair inspiring thousands of kids around the world to pursue STEM/Space education and careers. In 2019, Science Days, reached more than 65,000 students and educators.

According to Morgan Stanley, an American multinational investment bank and financial services company, the near term, space as an investment theme is also likely to impact a number of industries beyond Aerospace & Defense, such as IT Hardware and Telecom sectors. Morgan Stanley estimates that the global space industry could generate revenue of more than $1 trillion or more in 2040, up from $350 billion, currently.

By working together, we intend to continue to inspire excitement and enthusiasm within the world’s youth about STEAM and how accomplishments in these fields have – and will continue to – revolutionize the way we live. (SDCUSA)
​
To learn more about Science Days, please visit ScienceDays.org

- Luma Keily
International Correspondent