International Space Centre in Cyprus building bridges, CSEO President says

Global space stakeholders have chosen Cyprus as the base for the first international space innovation centre, which will build bridges of cooperation in humanity’s effort to return to the moon.

The first of its kind International Space Innovation Centre which is poised to become a hub for groundbreaking research, technological development and most importantly international collaboration in space science, is located in Nicosia.

In statements to CNA, President of the Cyprus Space Exploration Organization (CSEO) George Danos said it is a great honour that Cyprus was chosen by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the world’s foremost space research organisation, as the first international space innovation centre which will build bridges of cooperation for the return of mankind to the moon.

A dream is coming true after so many years and so many efforts, he said, adding that it is a unique feeling “seeing your country being chosen as the center of international space collaboration."

The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) inaugurated in late June the Cyprus Space Research and Innovation Centre (C-SpaRC), under the auspices of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). It was inaugurated by COSPAR Associate Director Aaron Janofsky, who announced that COSPAR placed C-SpaRC under its auspices, as a COSPAR Centre of Excellence, and designated it as “COSPAR’s International Space Innovation Centre”.

Danos spoke to CNA about the great significance of this project, saying that it is an international centre, the first of its kind worldwide under the auspices of COSPAR, he talked about the collaboration with NASA, the strategic infrastructure, but above all the collaboration with other nations and the effort to bring Cypriot scientists back to their homeland. He said that microsatellites will be built in Cyprus and will also serve as ‘downstream’, meaning the knowledge from space research will be applied on Earth, thus bringing many benefits for society.

Referring to the reason why the international players chose Cyprus for this project, Danos said that in order for humanity to be able to return to the moon, a global cooperation is required. Cyprus, he said, with the headquarters in Nicosia since 2018 of the Mars Upper Atmosphere Network that was announced in the presence of then Chief Scientist of NASA, Dr. James Green, has proven that it has the ability to build bridges of global cooperation as it is a country friendly to all nations.

"Through Cyprus, all countries can cooperate on space," he said.

C-SpaRC, a multi-million-euro project co-funded by the European Union, the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), and contributions from NASA, is poised to revolutionise our understanding of space and its impact on humanity. The centre will focus on critical research areas such as space weather, human spaceflight, and the development of advanced space technologies, playing a vital role in supporting NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there.

The C-SpaRC project is based on three distinct elements. The first element is Infrastructure, the creation of a state-of-the-art space research infrastructure, accessible to both the domestic and regional space ecosystem, fostering research, development, and innovation in space technologies.

The second element is Research, conducting cutting-edge research in collaboration with foreign and domestic partners, focusing on space weather, its impact on human health, and the development of advanced space technologies.

The third element is Innovation, the promotion of innovation within the domestic space ecosystem and the broader high-tech and startup communities, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and technological advancement.

Cooperation with NASA

It is noted that a Protocol of Cooperation was signed between CSEO and the NASA funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH). This collaboration will focus on researching the health challenges of human deep space exploration, ensuring the safety and well-being of astronauts on future NASA missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA Marshall Center is a partner and thus will also send researchers to Cyprus.

"We have signed in Cyprus an agreement with NASA TRISH which allows us to have NASA scientists collaborating here with Cypriot scientists and other scientists from other countries to do unique projects, so a global infrastructure here in Cyprus," Danos stressed.

He told CNA that the challenges that scientists are asked to solve in order to protect astronauts in space, are also applicable on Earth, in people's daily lives.

"Some people ask why space when on Earth there are so many problems. It is because the solutions that come from space bring everything we need here on Earth," he explained.

Danos gave as an example the biological experiments that will be carried out with the microsatellites that will be built in Cyprus. They have the ability, he added, to see how each individual biology works and produce tailored medicines for people on Earth. In addition, he said, microsatellites will monitor Earth from space and be able to protect the environment by detecting fires as soon as they break out. Also, from space, other problems in the environment will be identified, such as problems in the sea, pollution on the beaches, the illegal destruction of forests etc.

He also spoke about the effort to bring Cypriot scientists working abroad back to their homeland as there are now opportunities for them to work on projects with NASA.

The C-SpaRC, is aligned with the Cyprus Space Strategy (2022-2027)

It is noted that COSPAR has announced that the next COSPAR Space Symposium will be hosted in Cyprus by CSEO in November 2025 with the international space community gathering in Cyprus.

(Source: CNA)