Russian astronauts who are currently on a mission in the International Space Station (ISS) sent last night a message of peace and prosperity to the people of Cyprus.
The film of the three astronauts extending their wishes to Cyprus was one of the surprises during the opening ceremony of the Cyprus Space Week which takes place in Nicosia until the 26th of April. The film can be watched under the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DRd9GKJgl4 with english subtitles.
The astronauts, who are on orbit 346 km from Earth welcomed the fact that the Cyprus Space Week includes many activities for young people, pupils and students.
They expressed hope that one day one of those Cypriot young people will make it to a space station, either as astronauts or as scientists, thus contributing to space exploration.
The Russian astronauts said that they often watch the island of Cyprus from the ISS.
“Cyprus is a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea. Actually, the whole region of the Mediterranean is lovely since it is the cradle of European civilization”, they said.
They sent to the people of Cyprus a message of peace and stability.
“We send to the people of Cyprus our greetings from space and we wish you peace, prosperity and stability. May you all be happy”, was their message.
George Danos, President of the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) – which organises together with the Municipality of Nicosia the Space Week – said that the Organisation since its establishment has always had a dream, not only to reach space but also to bring to Cyprus all the benefits and technologies space can offer.
The Organisation, he added, wants to build collaborations, create research and development projects with various partners worldwide, innovate, create employment opportunities, utilize local talent and contribute to the strengthening of Cyprus` economy.
“We still believe in the capabilities of our people and it is towards these goals and visions that we are working hard for and the results are self evident”, he pointed out.
Russian cosmonaut Alexandr Volkov was the other surprise of the evening. He attended the opening ceremony as a special guest of the Russian Cultural Centre and the Cyprus-Russian Friendship Association, the CSEO and the Municipality of Nicosia.
Volkov, whose son Sergei Volkov is also an astronaut, said that when he was in space he used to see the island of Cyprus from above but he never imagined he would one day visit it. “Cyprus looks so beautiful from space”, he said.
Volkov made a world record of the longest stay in space. He flew into space three times, to Salyut 7 in 1985 (64 days in space) and then twice to the Mir space station in 1988/1989 (151 days) and again in 1991-1992 (175 days).
The opening ceremony was also attended by Ambassadors of Russia and Germany, the Cypriot Minister of Transport, Communication and Works, the Mayor of Nicosia, the President and members of the Cyprus-Russian Friendship Association etc.
The CSEO Space Week 2015 will be held in Nicosia 20th – 26th of April 2015, with the aim to promote space exploration with various events and activities including a space exhibition, space outreach to schools, space lectures, space cinema nights, portable planetarium and fun space experiments.
The Space Week is organized in cooperation with the Municipality of Nicosia and the support of the Russian Cultural Centre, ROSCOSMOS, the Confucius Institute, the Cypro-Russian Friendship Association, the China Society of Astronautics, the University of Cyprus and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.
