The European Space Agency (ESA) and United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are jointly participating in World
Space Week 2002 by organising a two-day event focussing on the
International Space Station (ISS) at ESA’s European Space Research and
Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, on 6/7 October.

On 7 October the award ceremony for the winners of the essay contest
organized by UNESCO for high-school students on the theme “Space and Daily
Life” will take place. The contest received 300 responses from around the
world. A high-level expert committee, including representatives from the
International Space University and Canadian Space Agency, selected the
winners on 10 September. With about the same numbers of girls and boys
taking part, six girls and one boy had their essays selected.

Carike Bosman from South Africa wrote the most inspiring essay. In her
work, the 17-year-old describes humankind’s enthusiasm for space:
“Fascination, wonder and even obsession with space and in particular human
space travel, have existed throughout many generations.”

The special ESA prize for ‘Best European Essay’ goes to Alastair Evans of
the United Kingdom. In his work, Alastair stresses the benefits that space
exploration brings to our daily lives: “In the history of space
exploration and in the foreseeable future, work has been peaceful and
international, promoting good relationships between countries.”

Carike and Alastair will both travel to ESTEC for the special award
ceremony on 7 October. To make their day at ESTEC even more memorable, the
prize winners will be escorted by European astronaut Umberto Guidoni, the
first European astronaut on board the International Space Station. Umberto
will take the special guests on a Virtual Reality Tour through the ISS and
share his personal experiences of space.

ESA experts from the ISS programme will escort the guests on a special
tour of the ISS User Information Centre where models of the European
contribution to the space station are displayed.

Media interested in attending this award ceremony and the special tour
with Umberto Guidoni should contact Michel van Baal at ESA/ESTEC
Communication Office, tel. + 31 71 565 3006, Michel.van.Baal@esa.int

Last chance to register for special public tours on Sunday 6 October
The World Space Week celebrations at the User Information Centre in
Noordwijk on Sunday 6 October will include special tours focussing on the
International Space Station. The general public (from 12 years up) can
register for these tours via: http://www.esa.int/worldspaceweek

For further information, please contact:

Barber Uijl
MSM/HS
Tel: +31(0)71.565.4626
E-mail : Barber.Uijl@esa.int

ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690