Official kick-off CAMões project
The first mission of the CAMões project will take place between November 22 and 28, in the Gruta do Natal, Terceira Island (Azores). For seven days, a team of seven people from different countries will be isolated inside the cave, to replicate the Moon environment. The official kick-off presentation of the CAMões project will take place on November 8 at INESC TEC Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory (2:30 p.m.).
Why were the Azores selected to welcome this analog mission?
Because the Gruta do Natal provides an ideal setting for research missions, with high levels of reliability due to its highly interesting geological features. It is easily accessible, stable, and supported by local organizations.
The main goal?
Is to turn the Azores into a testbed for astronauts from all over the world who wish to simulate environments like the Moon’s surface. The team hopes that, by 2024, the Gruta do Natal will become the new place for analog missions and international collaborative endeavours. For this to happen, after this inaugural mission, other stakeholders will be able to create teams and apply to other missions (all information about these initiatives will become available after the mission). For more information, please click here.
The official kick-off presentation of the CAMões project will take place on November 8. Register here.
Agenda:
- 2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.: João Claro (CEO of INESC TEC) | The mission’s importance to INESC TEC strategy.
- 2:40 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.: Álamo Meneses (Mayor of Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Terceira Island) | The mission’s importance to the Azores.
- 2:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Paulo Barcelos (Associação Os Montanheiros) | Gruta do Natal and the international potential for astronaut training in lunar missions.
- 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Ana Pires (Mission Commander, INESC TEC researcher) | CAMões project + possible Q&A.
- 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.: Pedro Marques-Quinteiro (Universidade Lusófona) | The importance of health and well-being in the context of an analog mission.
- 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Ana Noronha (Ciência Viva, ESERO) | Raising awareness, educating, and attracting young people to STEAM fields.
- 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.: Sabrina Thompson (GIRL IN SPACE CLUB) and Yvette Gonzalez (University of Plymouth and Native Sky) | Women and space: presentation of the flight and speleology suit designed for the women of this mission.
- 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Filipa Fernandes (OozeNanotech) | Portuguese Smart Textiles technology for extreme environments
