Elvira Fortunato, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, participates in the Graduation Ceremony of Astronauts for a Day, this Friday, September 16, at 13:00 pm, at Air Base n.º 11, in the city of Beja.
The Zero-G Portugal – Astronaut for a Day initiative, promoted by the Portuguese Space Agency – Portugal Space in collaboration with Ciência Viva and the Portuguese Air Force, aims to take elementary and secondary school students on a parabolic flight, in which they can experience zero gravity sensation, similar to what astronauts feel in space.
The 30 young finalists selected from the 500 applications submitted to the Astronaut for a Day contest, with the participation of 15 boys and 15 girls of different ages, underwent a process where various skills were tested, replicating the process of selection of astronauts from a Space Agency.
The finalists of the competition will be ambassadors of this initiative to their school community during the 2022/2023 school year, helping to cultivate and stimulate interest in Space, promoting teaching in the areas of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts its math).
This initiative is in line with the Government's programme, and within the scope of the Portugal Espaço 2030 strategy, 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, businesses and civil society.
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