In 1964, while most of the African countries were struggling for their independence, a Zambian science teacher named Edward Mukuka Nkoloso was planning to beat the United States and the Soviet Union in their race to the Moon. Training his “afronauts” in 44-gallon oil drums which would be rolled down a hill to emulate weightlessness, Nkoloso was certain that, provided the necessary cash, he would succeed.

Almost half a century later, Mr. Mukuka Nkoloso jr speaks to Virgiliu Pop in exclusivity about his experiences as a young Zambian space cadet and about his father’s dream. Stay tuned.

The University of Zambia hosted me for a lecture on space technology and its applications for Africa (with Romania as a possible model to follow), on space education, and on the Zambian Space Programme of the 1960’s (more about this, later). In attendace were staff and students from the UNZA Physics department. Thanks to Nchimunya Mwiinga, Hansingo Kabumbwe and Steven Mudenda for organising this.

The main reason of participating at the CAP2010 conference in Cape Town, besides attending the “Astronomy101 school”, was to deliver a paper entitled “World Space Week and Yuri’s Night as means of communicating astronomy with the Romanian public”:

“This paper will present two yearly opportunities – Yuri’s Night April 12th) and the World Space Week (October 4-12th) and the ways they are used by the Romanian astronomical community as means of communicatng astronomy with the omanian public, especially with the youth”

Photos courtesy of Jim Volp and psychohistorian.org

World Space Week and Yuri’s Night as Means of Communicating Astronomy with the Romanian Public

Christina Scott (“Science Matters” (SAfm), associate editor, science: Mail & Guardian; ZA) invited some participants at the Astronomy101 school to be her guests on her radio show. I was happy to share with the South African public news about the Romanian Space Agency and its soon-too-be-launched CubeSat, Goliat, and about other space matters in Romania.

As a practical means of communicating astronomy with the public, we headed to the Isilimela High School in the Langa Township. Jim Volp and I, together with the other Astronomy101 students, interacted with the township kids, answered some of their questions about the Universe, and helped them launch water rockets.