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European Space Agency

Press Release

Talking space technology - its role in daily life

12 June 2003
 
Have you ever wondered what space missions to other planets leads to
on our own Earth? Trade visitors get their chance to find out this
Thursday 19 June 2003 at the talk-show 'Transfer of Technology: an
everyday reality' at the Le Bourget air show, in the ESA Pavilion at
11:45. 
 
ESA will present several of the more amazing technology spin-offs
from European space programmes - spin-offs which in one or another
way benefit industry and improve daily life. 
 

Anti-UV suit helps ill children
 
A new anti-UV suit is under development which can give children
suffering from Xeroderma Pigmentosum a better life. Nearly a thousand
children across Europe suffer from this rare genetic defect, which
results in severe sensitivity to all sources of ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, especially sunlight. It materialises into skin aging,
lesions and diseases, including cancer. European technologies
developed for space programmes are now used to produce a new
protection garment with UV protective headgear.

Together with representatives from the industries involved, Professor
Henri Bensahel, President of International Federation of Paediatric
Orthopaedic Society, will explain the medical and technical aspects
of the new protective suit and answer questions from the audience.
 

How to windsurf across the Pacific - safely
 
Raphaela Le Gouvello, extreme sports adventurer, will introduce an
innovative 'anti-capsize' safety system for her new windsurfer. The
system is a type of airbag developed based on space technology which
will help her get safer through her third voyage, to cross the
Pacific Ocean starting from Ecuador or Peru in September 2003. First
stage is to reach Tahiti, Polynesia, after 80 days windsurfing more
than 4200 Nautical Miles (6700 Km). Raphaela Le Gouvello crossed on a
windsurfer the Atlantic Ocean in 2000, and the Mediterranean in 2002.
She will discuss the benefits gained from using ESA high-tech. 


Make better cars with space-tech
 
This year's Dakar Rally and Le Mans 24-hours race has already
demonstrated how technology research and development for space
missions can be spun-off successfully into endurance racing. As well
in everyday transportation space technology can play an important
role in further improving safety and comfort in future automobiles. 

Henri Pescarolo, teamleader for Pescarolo Sport, will present his
experience using space technology for his car in the Dakar rally car
last January in North Africa, and in his two Le Mans prototypes.
 
 
High-flying tech for everyone
 
Out of more than 160 successful transfers of innovative space
technology to non-space fields in Europe, the talk-show will not only
stop with the three mentioned above.

    * Pierre Brisson, head of ESA Technology Transfer and Promotion
      Office, will introduce the talk-show by presenting a whole
      umbrella of success stories. 
    * Alain Zanco from Ski Rossignol, responsible for research and
      advanced studies, can answer questions on how Rossignol in 2003
      became World Champions with space technology. 
    * Franco Malerba, Italian Astronaut from Space Shuttle mission on
      Atlantis STS-46, will provide his view from 'up there in space'
      on advantages of technology transfer. 

Over the past 35 years, the European space industry has gained
considerable experience in building, launching, controlling and
communicating with satellites. From this long experience of how to
overcome the hazards and problems created by such a hostile
environment, many valuable new technologies, products and procedures
have been developed. Today this expertise is improving our daily
lives by providing many innovative solutions for products and
services on Earth.

Thursday 19 June 2003 at the ESA Pavilion you will have a chance to
gain insight to these successes and to the ESA's Technology Transfer
Programme, which maybe can provide a 'space' solution to your
industrial problem here on Earth. 

The ESA Pavilion is located at its usual place in outdoor exhibition
area 61 between the life-size models of Ariane 1 and Ariane 5
launchers, just beside the Air and Space Museum.

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