Space Connects Us: Luxembourg Sends Global Support Message from Astronauts in Coronavirus Crisis

Space Connects Us: Luxembourg Sends Global Support Message from Astronauts in Coronavirus Crisis
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Key Grand Duchy’s space and broadcasting industry and institutions support broadcast and streaming of #SpaceConnectsUs, a virtual meeting with astronauts, scientists and celebrities

Luxembourg, 26 March 2020 – Major players of Luxembourg’s space, communications and broadcasting industry, including SES, have joined forces to support people around the world in the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and help them cope with self-isolation and quarantine.

Asteroid Day, the official United Nations’ day of global awareness and education about asteroids, and the European Space Agency (ESA) are setting up #SpaceConnectsUs, a virtual town hall meeting with astronauts, scientists and celebrities to talk about life in confinement and isolation, sending a message of hope, trust in science and mutual encouragement for everyone currently faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.

#SpaceConnectsUs offers remote sessions with astronauts and guests from all over the world who speak to children, young adults and their families and friends about their experience and techniques in confined places, their trust in science and the sources of their inspiration. The program is non-commercial and 100% for free and digital.

It will be available in five languages (English, French, German, Italian and Dutch) on www.asteroidday.org, www.spaceconnects.us and www.esa.int today, Thursday, 26 March, 16.00 – 21.00 Central European Time.

Broadcasters and direct-to-home satellite users can pick it up from the ASTRA 1M satellite with the technical details:
Service Name: SpaceConnectsUs
Service ID: 4410
Transponder: 1.028
Satellite: ASTRA 1M Wide Beam
Orbital Post:19.2 East
Downlink Frequency: 11626.500 MHz
Polarization: Vertical
Modulation: DVB-S QPSK
FEC: 5/6
SR:22.000MBaud

Asteroid Day is set up by the Luxembourg-based global Asteroid Foundation, with the strong support of the Grand Duchy and its Luxembourg Space Agency. Broadcasting Center Europe and ENEX, both part of the RTL Group, will support the production of the streaming before handing it to SES which will broadcast it live in High Definition (HD) via an ASTRA satellite across Europe. The development of the digital content of the program is supported by FilmsUnited and the international communication campaign by waveL communications.

For further information please contact:

Suzanne Ong
External Communications
Tel. +352 710 725 500
[email protected]