International Astronomical Union’s General Assembly Inspires Next Generation of Astronomers

Astronaut Sian Proctor Urges Next Generation to Take a Key Role in the Future of Space Exploration

Astronaut Sian Proctor recently spoke at the general assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Cape Town, South Africa, emphasizing the importance of inspiring the next generation of astronomers.

About Sian Proctor

Sian Proctor is a geoscientist and astronaut who, in 2021, became part of the first all-amateur crew to circle the world without a professional astronaut. She is also the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft and the first African American commercial astronaut.

SpaceX and the First All-Amateur Crew

The billionaire who funded the trip and his three guests wanted to show that ordinary people could blast into orbit by themselves. SpaceX founder Elon Musk took them on as the company’s first rocket-riding tourists.

The passengers savored views of Earth through a big bubble-shaped window added to the top of the capsule, surpassing the International Space Station by 100 miles (160 kilometers).

IAU General Assembly

The IAU general assembly is the largest gathering of international astronomers and space enthusiasts, held for the first time on the African continent. More than 2,000 delegates from 82 countries attended the meeting.

The event featured a ten-minute live radio link-up with the International Space Station, giving South African schoolchildren the chance to ask a crew member questions. A team from NASA also attended the meeting.

SKAO Observatory

Among the exhibits, visitors could learn about the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), which aims to build the two largest radio telescope arrays in the world, located in Australia and South Africa. With SKAO, astronomers hope to look back into the history of the Universe as far as the “Cosmic Dawn”, when the very first stars and galaxies formed.

“The SKAO will be South Africa’s biggest radio astronomy project to date,” explains radio spectrum scientist Harry Qiu. “It will be in collaboration with over ten countries all over the world, and it’s bringing new jobs to the Karoo and developing more technologies for South Africa and other membership countries as well.”

Conclusion

The International Astronomical Union’s general assembly was a significant event that brought together astronomers and space enthusiasts from around the world. The conference provided a platform for delegates to share and discuss research in almost every field related to space.

FAQs

Q: What was the main objective of the IAU general assembly?

A: The main objective was to inspire and engage the next generation of astronomers and space enthusiasts, as well as to discuss research and share knowledge in the field of astronomy.

Q: What is the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)?

A: The SKAO is an international project that aims to build the two largest radio telescope arrays in the world, located in Australia and South Africa. It will help astronomers look back into the history of the Universe and learn more about the “Cosmic Dawn”, when the first stars and galaxies formed.

Q: What did Sian Proctor, the astronaut, say about the next generation of astronomers?

A: Sian Proctor emphasized that the next generation is ready to take a key role in the future of humanity in space, technology in space, and all of that. She believes that events like the IAU general assembly inspire and engage the next generation to take a leading role in space exploration.