Cosmonaut Dorin Prunariu and ESA Mission Manager Ian Carnelli Bring Asteroids to Bucharest’s Youth

Asteroid Foundation in collaboration with Primary School „Pick Me Academy”, the National College „Mihai Viteazul” Bucuresti and Liceul Teoretic National and are bringing the only Romanian cosmonaut Dumitru Dorin Prunariu and ESA Mission Manager Ian Carnelli to meet, with Bucharest children with the goal of educating today’s youth about the risks and opportunities of asteroids. During the two education sessions in two days held in Bucharest high schools, Cosmonaut Dumitru Dorin Prunariu and Ian Carnelli will explain to the children and young students the role of the asteroids in the formation of our universe, how we can use their resources, how asteroids can pave the way for future exploration. Students will find out directly from the expert leading the European Space Agency (ESA) mission called HERA about how we discover and track asteroids and finally how we can protect our planet from asteroid impacts. It sounds like sience fiction, but it is the reality. Finally, Romanian technology has an important role to play in guiding the ESA HERA mission.

The students will have a chance to take pictures with the speakers and ask them questions about space, astronomy, and, of course, Asteroids. The Q&A session will be moderated by the famous science journalist, Alexandru Mironov.

This Program is co-funded by the European Union and was made possible thanks to Asteroid Foundation and Luxembourg Space Agency.

Asteroid Day is dynamic awareness and educational program to inspire the world about asteroids. It is observed annually on 30 June and is the United Nations-sanctioned day of public awareness of the risks of asteroid impacts to mark the anniversary of the 1908 Tunguska impact. Asteroid Foundation’s mission is to educate the public about the risks and opportunities of asteroids year-round by hosting events, and providing educational resources and regular communications to our global audience on multiple digital platforms.

Experts Participating in the Event

Cosmonaut Dorin Prunariu
Dr. Prunariu is an expert within the Airspace Consulting Association of the Romanian Space Agency and is the first and only Romanian cosmonaut. He serves as President and founding member of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) and ASE Europe and Vice President of the European Institute for Risk, Security and Communication Management (EURISC). He also is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, and in 2012, he was appointed to the Group of Governmental Experts on outer space transparency and confidence-building measures, established by the UN General Assembly Resolution 65/68.

He has co-authored several books on space technology and spaceflight and numerous scientific papers. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Romanian Space Agency and the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

For his work connected with Near Earth Objects and for the promotion of the Asteroid Day as an international day recognized by the UN General Assembly, in 2017 an asteroid was named with his name, the asteroid “10707 Prunariu”.

Ian Carnelli
Ian Carnelli is responsible for the Hera mission at the European Space Agency (ESA). The main objective is to validate the kinetic impactor asteroid deflection technique, in coordination with NASA’s DART mission. Over the last 15 years, he has been involved and led the definition of several space mission projects at ESA. In particular, he has made particular contributions to the area of planetary defence with the definition of the Asteroid Impact Deflection and Assessment of international collaboration.

About Asteroid Foundation
Asteroid Foundation’s mission is to promote worldwide awareness of the opportunities and challenges surrounding asteroids and the emerging space economy. The Foundation undertakes a year-round program of activities to support scientists, engineers and students around the world, and provides free educational tools, newsletters, original articles and resources.

About Pick Me Academy
Accredited British International School

Pick Me Academy is a Primary School in Bucharest founded in 2014. Pick Me Academy offers an international educational opportunity that prepares students for life, work and civic roles in a globally interconnected world. At Pick Me Academy international programs strive to prepare for the global economy of tomorrow by empowering them to become solid thinkers and good citizens with a global perspective. They are immersed in an academically vigorous program that enables them to work in diverse groups, communicate in more than one language and appreciate the diversity of world cultures.

About National College „Mihai Viteazul”, Bucharest

Founded in 1867, National College „Mihai Viteazul” Bucuresti is one of the most prestigious colleges in Romania. Each year, the pupils are present at the international level either in school Olympiads or sports events. National College’s „Mihai Viteazul” mission is to develop each student to their full potential by emphasizing the development of the values promoted by the educational philosophy of the school and the key competencies that allow it social inclusion and lifelong learning.

About National Teoretical High School, Bucharest
Member of the New York Academy of Sciences & member of the Global STEM Alliance Partner

LTN is an accredited private school functioning in Bucharest since 2012 and hosting 350 students of all ages, from kindergarten to high school. We value academic excellence, active participation in community life and developing a critical view of the world and empathy in relationships. Based on these goals, we have developed a unique educational model that brings together both formal and nonformal education to create the best possible environment in which students can develop not only the cognitive and social skills they will need for a successful life but also their passions. We believe that each student is unique and important, and, at the same time, we all need to share the same values as a learning community: responsibility for our own actions, cooperation for achieving our goals, integrity in every action we take, professionalism and acceptance of diversity.