“To infinity and beyond!”: Successful rocket launch from Camp Ger
In this 60th edition of the annual meeting between the National Center for Space Studies (CNES), the 1st Hussard Parachute System (RHP) and the Planetary Science Society, the Ger camp is once again taken over by young space project enthusiasts. On the program: rockets, coexistence and… the future of space conquest. From July 6 to 13, anyone curious or interested in the world of space is invited to attend this event.
“Rockets ready for launch, watch for final countdown…”, “3,2,1… unit, fire!”
In the plains of the Jeer camp, loudspeakers announce the moment the rockets are launched. The RHP military camp and the National Center for Space Studies are celebrating 60 years of C-Space, an annual campaign to launch student projects in the field of space.
For twelve months, pupils and students were able to think about and carry out a space project while integrating scientific experiments on board. This multidisciplinary adventure, led by the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) and volunteers from Planète Sciences, allowed them to work as a team, confronting them with all the dimensions of a high-tech project. “The only limit is the creativity of young people!” says Damien De Seze, head of the CNES Cspace campaign.
After a year of work, the participants, aged 12 to 25, finally had the satisfaction of seeing their projects reach the stars. Their small and medium-sized experimental rockets soared up to three kilometers into the sky, their Coca-Cola-sized space probe could simulate retrieving information from unknown terrain, and their stratospheric balloon reached the 30-kilometer mark vertically.
“We create links with young people who are passionate about space and we put ourselves at their service so that they can realize their dreams. “Some have real potential to develop, and we find them year after year and they continue to advance,” explains Damien De Sizzi. It is a campaign that seeks primarily to attract young people towards scientific careers, by making them practice science and technology. A mission encouraged by the State… and it is bearing fruit: this type of space club is in fact a real calling card “young people get internships, or even jobs in aerospace companies”. As such, a rather friendly dating event is also organized during the afternoon.
“I feel very proud when I see that some of our young people have finally chosen a scientific career: in fact, we are planting seeds and some of them are growing to flourish in the field of space!” concludes the campaign manager.
To participate in this adventure, the CNES and C'Space websites and social networks communicate regularly about the registration procedures.