Space Missions

The CAMoes mission was supported by the Government of the Azores. After the official reception, Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Flavio Tiago, Director of Science and Technology at the Government of the Azores about the mission and the importance of space for the region.

On the last evening of his stay on Terceira island in the Azores, Torsten Kriening had the privilege to interview Dr Alamo Meneses the Mayor of Angra do Heroísmo and host of the CAMoes mission. He is also an University Professor. He was the Director of the Sciences Department of the University of the Azores, and was the founder and leader of the Association of Environmental Defense "Gê-Questa". He is the author of several studies and publications in the areas of environmental impact assessment and management of water resources in insular and coastal regions. He was also a member of the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores,

Giving the team some time to relax after the CAMoes mission, Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Helder Chaminé, a/the multidisciplinary geoscience expert and Professor of Engineering Geosciences. His expertise spans GIS mapping techniques for structural geology, applied geology, geotechnics and geohazards, engineering geosciences and hydrogeomechanics, mining and subterranean geology, hard-rock hydrogeology, water resources and thermal waters management. He has interests in geomining heritage, geoethics, history of cartography, military geosciences, higher education dissemination and geo-professional core values. He supported CAMões applied geosciences mapping, geotechnics and geohazards topics.

On day number one after the team left the cave, they gave lectures in the local schools. Before the dinner to celebrate the success of the CAMoes mission, Torsten Kriening spoke with Manuel Vaz, Creator and Co-Founder of GLEX Summit and Founder of Expanding - and instrumental for the success of the CAMoes mission.

Polaris, a German aerospace start-up, successfully ignited their AS-1 engine on the 22nd of November. This Hot Fire Test was the first time the engine had been ignited. The test took place on an airfield at a former airport in northern Germany. The main material of the engine is Inconel and this engine is a heavy ground test version, with lighter versions of the engine for in-flight testing. 

Tata Advanced Systems Limited, India’s private sector player for aerospace and defense solutions, and Satellogic Inc. have announced their collaboration to establish and develop local space technology capabilities in India. This collaboration is a first step in TASL’s satellite strategy and a significant milestone for Satellogic as it enters the fast-growing Indian defense and commercial market.

The day after the team left the cave, they gave lectures in the local schools. During the session in a full seated alma mater in the school with over 200 kids and teachers, Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Pedro Marques-Quinteiro. Pedro is an Organisational Psychologist with over 10 years of experience working with people in high reliability organisations and extreme work environments. In March 2018 and February 2020, he led two scientific expeditions to King George (Antarctica) to study teamwork in isolated, confined, and extreme environments. He supports CAMões human performance and behaviour research.

Spire Global, Inc. has announced the launch of its High-Resolution Weather Forecast model, a differentiated regional high-resolution weather forecasting service to meet the critical demands of the energy and commodity markets. The solution provides precise and customizable weather forecasts extending up to six days, with the capability to be run at resolutions as fine as 1 kilometre, covering any point on the globe, including the most remote regions and the open oceans.

In an interview directly after the end of the mission, Dr Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio, member of CAMoes Crew Zero, gave Torsten Kriening an interview near her home in the cave. Aidyl is a research scientist experienced in space research analogs focusing on astrobiology. She earned her Doctorate in Molecular Genetics at California Institute of Technology and went on to complete postdoctoral work on myotonic dystrophy at the Institute of Genetic Medicine at the University of California, where she gained valuable experience in translational research. She will support CAMões molecular genetics, soil health, and microbiologic research.

Shortly before the analogue astronauts left the cave, our Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Pedro Caetano CAMoes Mission Medical Doctor. Pedro is co-founder of a medical company, PLANET EXPLORERS, that since 2017 has offered medical support for extreme environments (expeditions, travels, scientific, leisure, etc). He has experience in different environments from the North Pole, to Patagonia, to high mountains. He supports Mission Control and CAMões human performance and space medical research.