posted 06-08-2011 11:58 AM               

Help ESA to name Europe's next mission to Space Station

Now that Paolo Nespoli has returned from the International Space Station, we are looking forward to Europe's next mission. André Kuipers will be launched to the orbital outpost in November — but his mission still has no name. Help us to find a good one!

This will be André's second mission to the Space Station: he made an 11-day visit in 2004 as part of a crew rotation flight. But this time he will be staying for about six months, as a flight engineer on Expeditions 30 and 31. He will see the complex in its full glory — in 2004 it had just three main modules.

He will perform an extensive programme of scientific experiments and take part in several educational activities, in addition to an engineer's operational duties.

DELTA last time, but now?

On his first trip, André's mission patch was inspired by the style of famous artist Piet Mondrian.

The DELTA name stood for 'Dutch Expedition for Life Science, Technology and Atmospheric Research', and also referred to the Dutch Delta Works that protect the low-lying land from the ravages of the North Sea during storms.

Something more broadly European is now required, preferably linked to the environment, climate and biodiversity.

André is an ambassador of the World Wildlife Fund and an emphasis of his mission will be on taking care of Earth and its inhabitants, and how space can help.

He is also a medical doctor, and this might inspire ideas for a name and logo leaning towards health and biology.

Europe is looking towards the Moon, Mars and other bodies in the Solar System, and the International Space Station - with the Columbus laboratory and Cupola observation module both 'made in Europe' - is a unique place to look down to Earth, leap into deeper space and study the Universe.

There are countless possibilities for naming André's mission. You choose!

What to do

Send your proposal to kuipersmissionname@esa.int by 18:00 CEST (16:00 GMT) on 30 June 2011.

Before sending, please read the instructions carefully.

The competition is open to all citizens and residents of ESA's Member States (see linked instructions). The winning name will become the official European name of André's mission and the winner will receive a framed mission logo signed by European astronauts.

posted 09-05-2011 12:39 PM               

André makes a PromISSe

All the pieces are coming together for the next long mission by a European astronaut. Now it has a name and logo. ESA today revealed the name of André Kuipers' mission: PromISSe.

Above: The PromISSe mission name and logo were unveiled today at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, by Thomas Reiter, ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations.

ESA called on citizens of its member states last June to propose a name for André's mission and received more than 200 proposals in just a month. Surprisingly, they also came from Slovenia, Australia, India, Mexico and Argentina.

The judges weighed the eligible entries from a wide range of people, from a 13-year-old Italian to an 82-year-old Dutchman.

The vast majority came from the Netherlands — André's home country — and the winner is one of those.

It was not a declared intent to embed the abbreviation of the International Space Station in the logo, but both the design and the chosen name have it.

PromISSe represents 'Programme for Research in Orbit Maximising the Inspiration from the Space Station for Europe', explained the winner, Wim Holwerda, a 61-year-old Dutchman.

Wim believes that the name "symbolises the promise space exploration poses to the future of our planet and humankind, as well as the role Europe can play in it."

Three powerful messages are integrated in PromISSe: the crucial role of scientific research, a greater use of the Space Station and the inspirational value of ESA space programmes.

An inspirational mission patch

The logo for the mission features the Space Station orbiting Earth, accompanied by three icons and six stars.

The PromISSe name crowns a circular design belted with orange cords, while the International Space Station acronym is highlighted in the same colour to bring out the Dutch participation in the mission.

The core of the logo is a globe free of national borders. A silhouette of the ISS is shown circling Earth, about to fly over Europe.

The icons on the left represent the mission's three crucial elements: science, technology and education.

The globe stands for a knowledge-based society focused on our planet. The electronic circuit denotes technology. The conical laboratory flask illustrates scientific research.

The six stars represent the six crewmembers, the six months that André will stay in space and, as the stars are similar to those on the EU flag, the European character.

André will work on the Station as a member of Expedition 30. His launch is expected in early December, but the specific date will be selected after the Soyuz launch vehicle is returned to service following the Progress loss in August.