SGAC Lithuania

National Point of Contact

Lithauania

Laurynas Mačiulis

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There is a popular joke saying that Lithuanians learned how to fly before they learned walking. It is not only true that we love to fly but also that we want to explore the far reaches of the universe as well. The beginning of the space age in Lithuania is marked by the foundation of Molėtai Astronomical Observatory in 1969 which for many years served as a main tool for astrophysical research using multicolor stellar photometry. Many Lithuanian scientists and engineers were also involved in the space programme of the Soviet Union, especially the Energia-Buran space shuttle project. But the Fall of the Soviet Union and the subsequent closure of the project not only symbolised the unfulfilled dream of the first space flight for Lithuanian astronaut but also the deep economic crisis and stagnation of space industry for almost 20 years. A totally new page has been opened in Lithuanian space history in the year 2010 when the cooperation agreement between the Government of Lithuania and the European Space Agency was signed. A new and promising future is awaiting the next generation of Lithuanian space leaders. There is much to be done, so join us now!

Young Space Activities Overview in Lithuania

At the moment, young professionals and university students are encouraged to get involved in space activities by participating in various competitions, workshops (national and worldwide), seminars and lectures mainly organised by the Lithuanian Space Association and Space Science and Technology Institute. A few of those can be found below:

Main events/projects in 2012:

• European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC): With the European Satellite Navigation Competition, the initiator intends to gather ideas / solutions for commercial applications of satellite navigation and promote individual ideas by offering prizes.
• Nanno-satellite Constellation Mission Idea Contest: The Mission Idea Contest was established to provide aerospace engineers, college students, consultants, and anybody interested in space with opportunities to present their creative ideas and gain attention internationally. The primary goal of this contest is to open a door to a new facet of space exploration and exploitation.
• This year, four students from Lithuania took part in the International Summer Space School - Future Space Technologies and Experiments in Space, organised in Samara, Russia. The overall objective of the school is to involve young people in the development and implementation of experiments in space, with a view of obtaining new fundamental knowledge and applied technologies based on utilisation of microsatellites. See more: http://volgaspace.ru/school_cms/
• The ninth Neon Observing school (school at the telescope) organised by Molėtai Astronomical Observatory. The purpose of the summer school is to provide the opportunity for young researchers to gain practical experience in observational techniques, data reduction and analysis and the use of virtual observatory tools.

Country-specific Events in 2012

• International conference “Space Economy in the Multipolar World” is the biggest space-related event in the Baltic states
• Yuri's Night LITHUANIA 2012, organized by Planetarium of Vilnius University
• Researcher’s Night 2012. This exciting nationwide event takes place on 23^rd of September when everyone enjoys doing some science just for fun. Various public events in major cities are held were students and professional scientists come out to the streets demonstrating breathtaking scientific experiments or just tell how science influences everyone’s life. Specifically at the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory, people can come that night to gaze the wonderful starry sky with observatory’s large telescopes.

Interesting Web Links for the Young Generation in Lithuania

Groups/institutions

Lithuanian Space Association: http://www.space-lt.eu/?lid=4

Space Science and Technology Institute: http://www.space-lt.eu/kmti/indexeng.php

Lithuanian Etno-Cosmology Museum: www.cosmos.lt

Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy: http://www.tfai.vu.lt

Lithuanian Union of Astronomers: http://www.astro.lt/las/cms/index.php

Lithuanian Society of Young Researchers: http://www.ljms.lt/en/about-us

Studies

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University: http://www.vgtu.lt/en

Vilnius University: http://www.vu.lt/en

Kaunas University of Technology: http://en.ktu.lt/

Klaipėda University: http://www.ku.lt/eng/