1 HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT AND EXPLORATION: INSPIRING THE EUROPEAN CITIZENS Dr. Alain Dupas Collège de Polytechnique, Paris CAMERA DEI DEPUTATI COMITATO PER LA VALUTAZIONE DELLE SCELTE SCIENTIFICHE E TECNOLOGICHE Esplorazione dello spazio: il ruolo dellEuropa Roma, 24 luglio 2007 Sala del Mappamondo Palazzo Montecitorio

2 The Political Significance of Human Spaceflight & Exploration is Obvious Could & should Europe take into consideration the political value of human spaceflight and exploration activities in making the strategic choices for her future activities in this domain?

3 What «Political Value» for Human Spaceflight & Exploration in Europe? Many European space programmes are characterized as responding to the Needs of the European citizens, with a focus on practical space applications However, even if they are not practical, Human Spaceflight & Exploration activities can also respond to a major overarching needs of the European citizens: inspiration This is true for the scientific quest to understand the fundamental questions about the Universe and life, but also for indirect aspect like the consolidation and advancement of the European Project

4 Why Are Human Spaceflight & Exploration Politically So Important for Europe? They express an ambition They attract media and citizens attention They raises scientific and technical challenges They are visible and associated with Europe in the international arena They favour partnerships They connect with Europe history and culture

5 Human Spaceflight & Exploration In Europe: Thirty Years of Success

6 Support Of The Lisbon Agenda The Lisbon agenda is one of the most important goal of the European project Space exploration could be a significant contributor to the drive to Lisbon agenda goal: make Europe the No 1 Knowledge Economy It provides exciting and challenging innovation goals It demonstrates to European youngsters the interest and beauty of science and technology

7 Space Exploration & Education Space Exploration provides fascinating examples for S&T curriculum Major TV programmes and multimedia products make use of «space attraction» to reinforce interest of European youngsters for S&T Universities and engineering schools can directly be involved in experiments in space, on the Moon and Mars

8 Thank you for attention