{"id":10193,"date":"2013-10-04T09:00:45","date_gmt":"2013-10-04T07:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oewf.org\/en\/?p=10193"},"modified":"2015-10-25T20:58:21","modified_gmt":"2015-10-25T18:58:21","slug":"earth-master-sample-press-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oewf.org\/en\/2013\/10\/earth-master-sample-press-release\/","title":{"rendered":"Earth Master Sample Press Release"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Space Week 2013 Press Release<\/strong><\/p>\n

4 October 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Send in a rock and bring two worlds together – World Space Week and Swarovski partner to create Earth Master Sample crystals<\/strong><\/p>\n

For centuries, the collection of samples of rock, soil and ice has played a crucial part in understanding how our own planet has evolved.\u00a0 Collecting and analysing samples in-situ is a key task for robotic planetary missions like the Curiosity Mars Rover \u2013 and bringing rock samples from surface of Mars back to Earth is the long term goal of space agencies around the world. Now, to celebrate the theme of World Space Week 2013 \u2013 Exploring Mars, Discovering Earth \u2013 people all over the world are being invited to submit a fist-sized rock from their local area to form part of an \u2018Earth Master Sample\u2019.<\/p>\n

A fragment from each of the resulting collection of rocks will be ground to a powder, mixed together with a Mars meteorite, and melted down by leading crystal producer, Swarovski, who will craft a unique set of 100 crystals to commemorate the event.\u00a0 The crystals, which will be unveiled by Swarovski at the Yuri\u2019s Night celebrations on 12 April 2014, will be presented to representatives of space agencies, policy makers and thought leaders around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe theme for World Space Week this year highlights the growing importance of planetary analog research and the wealth of knowledge that can be derived from sample analysis,\u201d says Remco Timmermans, Executive Director of World Space Week.\u00c2\u00c2\u00a0 \u201cBy participating in the Earth Master Sample campaign, people can show their support for analog exploration and their aspiration to see Mars exploration continue through sample return missions and, eventually, human expeditions.\u00a0 I would like to believe that the geologists and scientists that will explore Mars are alive today.\u00a0 By demonstrating the support for this campaign, we can show decision makers that Mars exploration is something that humanity \u2013 across all borders and cultural divides \u2013 really wants to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Gernot Gr\u00f6mer, President of the Austrian Space Forum says, \u201cFor most of the participants it will be the only time in their life that they will take a geological sample.\u00a0 By collecting a rock for Earth Master Sample, people will join a long tradition of explorers trying to understand their environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rocks will be submitted for the Earth Master Sample by the 12 partners in the \u00a0\u2018Exploring Mars, Discovering Earth\u2019 Mars analog campaign, including the Centro de Astrobiologia in Madrid, Spain, the UK\u2019s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, the French deep-sea diving specialists, Comex, the University of North Dakota\u2019s Human Spaceflight Laboratory, the University of Michigan\u2019s Mars Rover team, the Technical University of Bia\u0142ystok\u2019s Hyperion rover team and Google Lunar XPRIZE teams Puli Space and Part Time Scientists.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can learn so much about the Red Planet from studying Mars-like place on Earth \u2013 we may even find out if life could evolve on Mars through studying ecosystems in extreme terrestrial environments,\u201d says Dr Felipe Gomez, Mars analog researcher at the Centro de Astrobiologia in Spain. \u201cLikewise, we might also learn clues to our own planet\u2019s future by studying the history of water on Mars and what happened to transform Mars into the cold, dusty planet we see today. Through analog research, we can understand our place in the solar system.\u201d<\/p>\n

STEPS FOR COLLECTING ROCKS FOR THE EARTH MASTER SAMPLE<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 – Take a picture of the sample site and a scale (e.g. classmate, family member etc.) from at least 10m distance<\/p>\n

2 – Take a close-up picture with a scale (e.g. hammer, pen, etc)<\/p>\n

3 – Note your geographical location (e.g. 31\u00b022.363 N 4\u00b04.357 W)<\/p>\n

4 – Take a fist-sized rock sample. (No soil samples, no sand please).<\/p>\n

5 – put the sample into a clean plastic bag. IMPORTANT: Label the samplingbag with: date (DD\/MM\/YY) + Time (HH:MM) + geographical coordinates. (e.g. 17AUG13 17:22, 47.234 N \/ 11.234 E)<\/p>\n

6 – Send an email to edu@worldspaceweek.org<\/a> listing the geographical location, the two pictures and the details of a contact person.<\/p>\n

7 – Mail the rock-sample to: Austrian Space Forum \/ Earth Master Sample
\nProject,
\nSillufer 3a,
\n6020 Innsbruck, AUSTRIA<\/p>\n

Deadline: 15. November 2013 (for arrival of rocks at the Austrian Space Forum)<\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Images can be found at: www.oewf.org\/en\/press\/photos\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CONTACTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remco Timmermans, Exec. Director
\nWorld Space Week Association
\n957 NASA Parkway, Suite 350
\nHouston TX 77058, USA
\nwww.worldspaceweek.org<\/p>\n

Vera Klotz
\nSwarovski International PR
\nWWW.SWAROVSKI.COM\/PROFESSIONAL<\/p>\n

Gernot Gr\u00f6mer, President
\nAustrian Space Forum \/ Mission Control Center
\nSillufer 3a, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
\nwww.oewf.org<\/p>\n

MEDIA CONTACTS<\/p>\n

Anita Heward, Press Officer
\nWSW 2013 ‘Exploring Mars, Discovering Earth’<\/p>\n

ABOUT SWAROVSKI<\/strong><\/p>\n

SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS is the premium brand for the finest crystal elements manufactured by Swarovski. The designer\u2019s choice since the founding of the company in 1895, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS provide global brands and designers from the fashion, jewelry, accessories, interior design and lighting industries with the latest on-trend innovations.<\/p>\n

Available in myriad colors, effects, shapes and sizes, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS offer designers a fabulous palette of inspiration. Born out of a passion for detail and high-precision cutting, they impart refined glamour to everything they embellish.<\/p>\n

These precious ingredients can be recognized by their \u2018MADE WITH SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS\u2019 label, which serves as a certificate of authenticity, identifying products made with genuine SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.<\/p>\n

Swarovski, a family-owned company for more than 100 years, with values rooted in integrity, respect and excellence, is noted as much for its ethics in business as for its contemporary artistry and innovative flair.<\/p>\n

WWW.SWAROVSKI.COM\/PROFESSIONAL<\/a><\/p>\n

ABOUT WORLD SPACE WEEK<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 4-10 annually as World Space Week. Its purpose is \u201cto celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition\u201d. \u00a0Today, this event is celebrated in about 60 nations each year by schools, space organizations and others. The aim is to inspire children, educate the public and government leaders about space, and to demonstrate public support for space activities.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS OF \u2018EXPLORING MARS, DISCOVERING EARTH\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

World Space Week Association is an international non-profit organization which supports the global coordination of UN-declared World Space Week, held October 4-10 annually. World Space Week 2012 reached record proportions with over 700 events in nearly 70 nations.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.worldspaceweek.org\/<\/p>\n

The Space Generation Advisory Council is a global non-governmental organisation and network which aims to represent university students and young space professionals to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia.<\/p>\n

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