Learn about the challenges of human space flight and the KIT involvement in space research. On Nov. 10, 2011 between 9:45 and 10:15 the astronauts of space shuttle Endeavour’s final flight (STS-134) will present themselves. The press and general public are cordially invited.
On Nov. 10, 2011 astronauts of Endeavour’s last space shuttle flight STS-134 will “land” at KIT during a post-mission tour. After the presentation and a movie screening you can question the astronauts about the challenges of space research and experiences in space.
Endeavour’s last mission was special for KIT: on board was the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer AMS-02 (see KIT Press Release 068). Scientists from Karlsruhe and Aachen are in charge of the German contribution to the 7000 kg heavy magnetic spectrometer, built in cooperation with 16 countries. “AMS-02 is for invisible radiation what the Hubble space telescope is for visible light”, says Prof. Wim de Boer, AMS-02 Principle Investigator at KIT. “We hope to unravel the nature of the elusive dark matter, presumably a relict of the big bang”.
Meet the astronauts between 9:45 and 11:15 in Audimax, Straße am Forum 1, Campus Süd, KIT.
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.