Partners

Leading Partner
The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) is one of the world’s leading institutions conducting Mars analog missions, thus paving the way for the future human exploration of the Red Planet. Experts from a broad variety of disciplines as well as the spaceflight sector constitute the core of the OeWF’s continued endeavours that on a regular basis include national and international institutions from science and industry to work at the cutting edge of scientific research. In doing so the Austrian Space Forum is using its excellent contacts to opinion leaders, politics and media to further and internationally propagate Austrian top-level research. The Austrian Space Forum also contributes significantly to inspiring and educating young people in the sectors of science, technology and engineering. The OeWF offers internships to students and pupils, its experts supervise scientific papers on a regular basis.

COSPAR, the Committee on Space Research, was created in 1958 under the aegis of the International Council of Scientific Unions, now the International Science Council (ISC), to promote scientific research in space, and to provide a forum, open to all scientists, for the discussion of problems affecting space research. COSPAR strives to further the use of space science for the benefit of humanity and for its adoption by developing countries and new space-faring nations, in particular through a series of Capacity Building Workshops which teach practical skills enabling researchers to participate in international space research programs. COSPAR advises, as required, the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations on space research matters and on the assessment of scientific issues in which space can play a role, for example the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), in which COSPAR is a Participating Organization. The COSPAR Panel on Education aims to generate greater awareness of the importance of space science and how it is already impacting society. The Panel establishes links and strategic partnerships, for example with UNESCO. The four Officers in charge of this Panel, and the very large body of volunteers (both teachers and scientists) working to support its activities and events have extensive experience of developing international educational projects, including EU-funded programmes, in particular ERASMUS+.

Ellinogermaniki Agogi (EA) is one of the most innovative schools in Europe. It has 2500 students (ages 5 to 18 years old) and 250 teachers in different disciplines. EA has a very strong vision-generated interest and rich research and development activity in the fields of Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE), Project Based Learning (PBL), and STEM education in combination with digital, online based learning environments and tools that use virtual reality, augmented reality and story-based education. EA is continuously modernizing STEM education by promoting and creating user-driven learning environments for students and offering numerous opportunities for teachers’ professional development to be prepared and thrive in the landscape of unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the 21st century.

NUCLIO is a non-profit association and an NGO for development created in 2001 that focuses on the promotion of innovation in education for a better future. The work done by the team (composed of scientists, teachers, and researchers devoted to science education, psychology of education and science outreach) in the field of innovation in education includes the promotion of student-centered approaches, STEAM learning, maker skills and digital transition, democracy and participatory activities, inclusion and diversity, design thinking, scientific research in the classroom, open schooling, innovative student assessment and more. An official training centre recognised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education, NUCLIO is also the coordinator of the Galileo Teacher Training Program, one of the largest astronomy education efforts in the world, endorsed by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO. The program has already reached over 70,000 teachers from more than 120 nations. NUCLIO also supports the COSPAR Panel on Education.

OLA – Observatório do Lago Alqueva (Lake Alqueva Observatory) – owned by BioSky, Lda. – provides access to a professional astronomical observatory and educational programs related to astronomy. OLA is located in a special region in Portugal known for its dark skies and dry and extreme weather conditions during most of the school year. It hosts the perfect conditions for the creation of the analog site necessary for the EXPLORE project.

Space is More is a research-driven organization specializing in space architecture and space systems engineering. The team brings together experts from architecture, mechanical engineering, biological and chemical engineering, and design to develop integrated concepts and technologies for future human space exploration. The organization focuses on supporting and inspiring young professionals and researchers by creating structured opportunities for collaboration, applied research, and knowledge exchange. Through partnerships with international institutions, Space is More actively engages students and early-career researchers in complex studies and project work related to crewed missions to the Moon, Mars, and other long-duration exploration scenarios. To enable professional research and technology development, Space is More co-developed and operates the LunAres Research Station—an analog habitat that provides a controlled experimental environment for testing architectural and engineering solutions, as well as for studying the physiological and psychological effects of isolation and confinement on human crews.

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has a long tradition in high-level research and education. Our position in world rankings (e.g. 37 in 2024 QS World Universities Ranking) reflects our dedication to research and teaching excellence, making our portfolio appeal to aspiring minds and academics worldwide. TUM’s broad spectrum of subjects is unmatched across Europe, spanning engineering, the natural and life sciences, medicine, economics and social sciences. The university leverages this enormous potential by intensively and intelligently linking the different disciplines. In doing so, it successfully develops new fields of research extending from bioengineering to artificial intelligence. Simultaneously, it addresses the social, ethical and economic issues raised by technological change. At the moment TUM has 52,580 students, 666 full professors, 7883 academic staff and 23,422 international students. The professorship of “Human Spaceflight Technology” HSP was newly created in June 2023, within the Aerospace and Geodesy department. Its main focus, both in research and teaching, is to develop technologies to enable future exploration missions. The main research is on the Life Support Systems area, which makes sure that the right conditions are met in a station/base for the astronauts to survive (e.g. providing breathable atmosphere, water and food).