The Association of
Space Explorers (ASE), an international organization of
53 astronauts and cosmonauts from 16 countries, is
holding this week its third annual planetary congress,
hosted by Mexican astronaut Rodolfo Neri-Vela in Mexico
City. 31 members are in attendance.
This week at the
congress, a wide range of issues have been discussed,
primarily concerning the development of international
cooperation and the role that ASE can play in this cause.
Reports were also delivered on the past year's ASE
activities.These include :
-A lecture tour
by Soviet Cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov to six U.S.
cities last April.
-A lecture tour
by former American astronaut Edgar Mitchell to four
Soviet cities last September.
-The ASE's
first book, to be published in the fall of 1988 by
Addison-Wesley, USA and Mir, USSR, a pictorial with
quotes from astronauts and cosmonauts called
"The Home Planet," which is moving toward
international publication. In book fairs in Moscow
and Frankfurt, the draft versions of the book have
been the center of wide interest among the
international publishing community.
Decisions were made
to continue the ASE's lecture tour program in the US, the
USSR, Eastern and Western Europe and potentially Japan.
The ASE also planned to complete publication of the
"The Home Planet" and to continue on a book of
astronaut/cosmonaut essay. Finally the group decided to
develop a library of space-related information and
resources for use by its members and qualified
researchers.
In the area of
space cooperation, the ASE voted to :
-Encourage the
exchange of experienced crews between the national
space programs and the development of mutually
compatible operation and training procedures.
-Advocate the
conducting of joint international experiments and
operation with existing capabilities on upcoming
flights.
-Support study
of the feasibility of establishing permanent
international rescue capability for all flight
operations.
-Promote the
conducting of joint projects required for the
establishment of the feasibility of a manned Mars
mission.
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