Introduction

We are pleased to announce a Scientific Meeting in which the results obtained during the six bilateral National - ESA supported Soyuz Missions to the ISS, the Andromède, Marco Polo, Odissea, Cervantes, DELTA and Eneide missions will be presented.

The European Soyuz Missions made use of the flights to the station for replacing the crew and other maintenance operations necessary for ISS. Every flight, a different European astronaut participated in the mission. Using these flights Europe has successfully exploited the still reduced possibilities for research on board the ISS through experiments designed and led by European scientists. In this manner a significant experimental programme has been performed, during a period where other flights to the ISS have been scarce.

The core of the meeting will be scheduled around the European scientists responsible of the experiments. A number of European astronauts that have participated in these Missions will attend the meeting. The meeting is open to anyone interested from around the world.

The programme will consist of scientific presentations related to these missions and in addition future Soyuz flight opportunities for European scientists will be explored. Finally also the long-term experiment possibilities and the likely European collaborations for gravity related research with Russia, Japan, China, and the United States will be addressed via potential participation of representatives for these Agencies

The papers of this meeting that are directly related to one of the six Soyuz missions can be submitted as full manuscript for publication in a special issue of Microgravity Science and Technology (MST). MST is an indexed journal covering both life and physical sciences as well as technology papers. Detailed instructions will be communicated by e-mail with the authors. Click here for an example paper.

There is a limited possibility for travel grants for young scientists and students. Read more about this on the registration page.

Meeting sponsors: European Space Agency, European Low Gravity Research Association, Spanish Delegation at the ESA, Dutch Delegation at the ESA, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Ayuntamiento de Toledo, University of Castilla-La Mancha, University of Madrid “Autónoma”, University of Madrid “Politécnica” , Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.