Österreichisches Weltraum Forum (ÖWF)

📣 Veranstaltungstipp: Was braucht der menschliche Körper für den Mars? High-Tech-Medizin jenseits der Erdatmosphäre. Die Raumfahrt ist oft der Innovationstreiber für Technologien, die später auch auf der Erde Leben retten – von der Telemedizin bis hin zu neuen Monitoring-Systemen. Unser Direktor Dr. Gernot Groemer spricht am 10. Juni um 19:00 Uhr über das Thema „Medizin im Weltall“. Im Rahmen der Veranstaltungsreihe der Medizinischen Universität Innsbruck gibt Dr. Grömer Einblicke in: 🔹 Die physiologischen Veränderungen des Körpers im All. 🔹 Die medizinische Versorgung bei Langzeitmissionen. 🔹 Was wir aus der Weltraumforschung für die Patientenversorgung auf der Erde lernen können. Seien Sie dabei, wenn Wissenschaft auf Abenteuer trifft! 📍 Save the Date: 10.06. 🔗 Alle Infos & Anmeldung hier: https://ow.ly/Qv9G50Z5V9Z 📸: OeWF #Medizin #Raumfahrt #Science #Innsbruck #MedUni #Forschung #SpaceExploration

#ScienceSunday What if the best way to drive on Mars… is to swim? 🌊 On Earth, we think of rovers as wheels on solid ground; but on Mars, the surface can behave more like fluid sand than stable terrain. That’s where Mars Rover “Swimming Wheels” come in: a concept of wave-like locomotion designed to move through loose regolith by effectively flowing through it instead of fighting it. 🤖 Instead of traditional rolling, these systems use rhythmic, wave-inspired motion to improve mobility in soft, unpredictable terrain - a major challenge for planetary exploration. 🪐 This idea also connects directly to rover research in the mission context of our AMADEE analog missions, where rover concepts are tested under Mars-like conditions on Earth. Because before we send machines to Mars, we need to rethink what “driving” even means on another planet. 🚀 Find out more: https://ow.ly/nHo350Z34pY 📷: Marco Schmidt / Universität Würzburg #ScienceSunday #MarsRover #SpaceExploration #Robotics #AnalogMission #AMADEE #MarsResearch #FutureMobility

The Class of 2026 starts training on 5 June. Their names will follow later. After a competitive selection process running from December 2025 through May 2026, the new OeWF analog astronauts report for their first training block on 5–7 June. Basic training runs across approximately five extended weekends between June and August, combined with distance learning. The curriculum covers planetology, geology, astrobiology, media training, stress management, emergency care, fitness — and above all, operating OeWF's Aouda spacesuit simulator. Successful completion opens the path to potential mission assignments as early as April 2027 — when AMADEE-27 heads to Portugal. What would you find hardest to train for? #analogastronauts #simulateMars #classof2026 #AMADEE27

The application window for our Analog Mission Basic Training (AMBT) closes soon. This course is for you if you: 🔴 Want to work with an international team simulating a Mars mission on Earth 🔴 Want to get trained as a Mission Support Center professional 🔴 Want to guide analog astronauts and field crew members through a simulated 10 min time delay 🔴 Love procedures and protocols and want to dive deep into space operations AMBT is the entry point into OeWF's operational structure and opens the door to the Flight Control Room — including the one in this photo. The course covers planetary science, operational communication protocols between field crew and Mission Support, and hands-on work with the Aouda spacesuit simulators. Application deadline: 05June 2026, 12:00 CEST ⏲️ Link: https://lnkd.in/d8igA-3U 📷: OeWF/vog.photo #simulateMars #AMBT #MissionSupportCenter

Mark 12 August. A total solar eclipse is coming to Europe — and ESA wants you to watch. On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross Spain, Iceland and Greenland, while many other parts of Europe will experience a partial eclipse. European Space Agency - ESA is organising a series of live and public activities to make this rare astronomical event accessible to audiences across Europe and beyond. The programme includes: • an international live broadcast from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre in Spain • public observation activities in León • educational resources for schools and outreach professionals • scientific insights into ESA missions studying the Sun and its interaction with Earth, including Solar Orbiter, Smile and Proba-3 This will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain since 1905 and a unique opportunity for millions of people to experience space science together. More information: https://ow.ly/e1ri50Z3vHl #SolarEclipse #Eclipse2026

Humans and Robots. Together for Mars. OeWF's next Mars analog mission is heading to Portugal. 🇵🇹 The Alentejo region, and specifically the area around Monsaraz, offers a terrestrial laboratory. Its geological diversity and challenging terrain provide the perfect "Mars-like" backdrop to stress-test our hardware, our workflows, and our people. But what exactly are we looking for? The science of AMADEE-27 is built on four pillars: 🌍 Geosciences: Our teams will conduct geological mapping and sampling, testing how future astronauts can efficiently identify high-priority scientific targets in an alien environment. 🤖 Robotics: The mission will feature advanced rovers and autonomous systems designed to assist Analog Astronauts, exploring how humans and machines can share a workspace where safety and efficiency are paramount. 🔬 Life Sciences: AMADEE-27 will test contamination protocols and the detection of biosignatures, ensuring that when we do reach Mars, we know exactly what to look for. 🧠 Human Factors: We will study the psychological and physiological aspects of isolation, team dynamics, and the ergonomics of the space suit. AMADEE-27 is an international cooperation, bringing together scientists, engineers, and experts from across the globe. By failing fast and learning hard here on Earth, we ensure that when we finally plant a flag on Martian soil, we do so with the confidence of years of rigorous preparation. 💪 🤩 Join us on this journey! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d_Nw-yKY #MarsAnalog #AMADEE27 #SpaceExploration #PortugalSpace #Robotics #Geoscience #HumanFactors #LiefeSciences #Analogs

#ScienceSunday Before analog astronauts set foot on a simulated Mars surface, scientists have to answer a more fundamental question: what are we actually trying to learn❓ The last two days, we held the Science Definition Workshop for AMADEE-27, our Mars analog mission planned for April 2027 in Monsaraz, Portugal. 40 people from the experiment teams gathered to align their research proposals with the mission architecture — a 10-minute one-way communication delay with Earth, an 8-meter habitat with airlock, and field operations structured around realistic EVA protocols. The experiment portfolio spans a wide range of disciplines: human thermal regulation in spacesuits, metabolic and hormonal stress responses, neurophysiological monitoring, biomechanics and motion capture, cognitive performance, and team dynamics under isolation. Each team presented their instrumentation approach and worked through the practical constraints every experiment has to fit within. This is what mission science looks like before anyone puts on a suit — concrete hypotheses, specific sensors, and shared constraints. #AMADEE27 #simulateMars #spacescience

The #AMADEE27 Science Definition Workshop is currently taking place! 🚀 Exploring the Red Planet is not only about rockets and hardware - it’s about science, human factors, and the rigorous preparation needed to operate in extreme environments. During the workshop, experimenters and teams from the Austrian Space Forum come together to shape the mission foundation: 🔸 Science Objectives: Refining key research questions in Martian geology, astrobiology, and human performance 🔸 Field Operations: Designing how analog astronauts will work with advanced equipment and robotic systems in a simulated Mars environment With this, the core of AMADEE-27 is defined - turning ideas into a structured and executable mission concept for the next phase of preparation. 🧑🚀

Raumfahrt beginnt nicht auf dem Mars. Sie beginnt in der Schule. 🔴🏫 Im Rahmen des Junior Analog Astronaut Programms arbeiten wir gemeinsam mit dem Land Tirol mit Schulen aus der Region zusammen. Schüler:innen begleiten den Auswahlprozess und das Basistraining der neuen Klasse analoger Astronaut:innen. Das Ziel: Junge Menschen nicht nur für Raumfahrt begeistern, sondern ihnen zeigen, wie Wissenschaft und Technik in der Praxis aussehen. Was steckt hinter dem Training? Wie werden Entscheidungen getroffen? Welche Kompetenzen braucht man wirklich? Schüler:innen des BRG in der Au haben uns erzählt, was sie von der B-Selektion der Analog-Astronaut:innen mitgenommen haben. Uns haben Sie mächtig beeindruckt - mit ihrem Englisch, ihrem echten Interesse an Weltraum und Forschung und ihrer professionellen Mitarbeit an der 'Inspire me' Station. #JAA #analogastronauts #Tirol #MINT

🚀 Space exploration starts in the classroom — and this summer, the classroom is in Monsaraz. The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) is proud to support the SPHERE Summer School 2026 together with the State of Tyrol and European partners. From 12–17 July 2026, educators from across Europe will gather in Monsaraz, Portugal, for a 5-day immersive training programme focused on: • Analog astronaut selection activities for schools • Hands-on STEAM education • Space exploration and planetary science • Digital teaching tools and simulations • International collaboration and interdisciplinary learning Participants will engage in workshops, simulations, and collaborative sessions designed to strengthen digital competencies and inspire the next generation of explorers. The programme also highlights the importance of protecting Earth by learning from space exploration and analog missions. 🎥 This video features student perspectives on the analog astronaut selection process brought into schools by OeWF and the State of Tyrol. 📍 Monsaraz, Portugal 📅 12–17 July 2026 Learn more: https://ow.ly/kY9C50Z1vbn #SpaceEducation #STEMEducation #AnalogAstronauts #DigitalEducation #SPHEREProject