The Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, participates in the Graduation Ceremony of Astronauts for a Day, this Friday, day 16 of September, by 13:00, at Air Base no. 11, in the city of Beja.
At Zero-G Portugal initiative РAstronaut for a Day, promoted by the Portuguese Space Agency РPortugal Space in collaboration with Ci̻ncia Viva and the Portuguese Air Force aims to take elementary and secondary school students on a parabolic flight, in which you can experience the sensation of zero gravity, similar to what astronauts feel in space.
The 30 young finalists selected from the 500 applications submitted to the Astronaut for a Day contest, of which with the participation of 15 boys and from 15 girls of different ages, underwent a process where various skills were tested, replicating a Space Agency's astronaut selection process.
The finalists of the contest will be ambassadors of this initiative to their school community during the academic year of 2022/2023, contributing to cultivate and stimulate interest in Space, promoting teaching in STEAM areas (English acronym for science, technology, engineering, arts and math).
This initiative is in line with the Government's program, and within the scope of the Portugal Space strategy 2030, which calls for the need to stimulate technical skills, training and attracting qualified human resources, promoting activities with collaborative networks between higher education institutions, schools, companies and civil society.
