SOFIA, Bulgaria – The Space Research and Technology Institute with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) is hosting the nineteenth international scientific conference Space, Ecology and Safety (SES) in Sofia between Oct. 23 and 26, BAS said on Monday.
The forum is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Shipka scientific programme and the space flight of Alexander Alexandrov, the organizers from the BAS reported.
In 2004, after observing the large-scale penetration of aerospace technologies into everyday life, the leadership of the Institute for Space Research and Technology at the BAS decided to organize annual international scientific conferences, titled "Space, Ecology, Safety", said the organizers of the forum.
The goals of the event are to establish new and deepen existing international connections with scientists in the field of space science and technology; to promote space technology transfer and innovation; to contribute to the solution of important problems in the fields of economy, agriculture, ecology, security and defence; to create new scientific knowledge, as well as attract young people to space science and practice, added the organizers.
The BAS recalls that 18 SES conferences have been held so far with the participation of leading national and foreign scientists, with professors from civilian and military universities, doctoral students, students, teachers, specialists from companies, etc.
Bulgarian and foreign scientists from more than ten countries have been members of the scientific programme committees. Specialists from over 30 countries, including Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, Great Britain and others, participated as lecturers, authors and co-authors, BAS said.
The papers presented at the conference will be published in a collection (Proceedings SES) included in the reference list of the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID).
The total number of reports published so far is over 1,000, and the total volume of these collections is about 5,300 pages, according to the website of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Alexander Alexandrov was the second Bulgarian cosmonaut.
On June 7, 1988, he took off from Baikonur and spent nine days and 20 hours in space, seven of which were aboard the Mir orbital station.
Alexandrov performed over 55 successful scientific experiments during his flight.
Its launch makes Bulgaria the sixth country in the world to have sent two people into space.
The Shipka scientific programme represents a true pinnacle of Bulgarian space research.
For the first time 32 years ago, Bulgarian-made microprocessors and microcomputers made by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences were used on the Mir space station. (BTA)
