In the research facility “envihab” (DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne) where typically countermeasures against the effects of extreme environmental conditions on humans are tested and developed, the 8th ROBEX community workshop was held on 19 and 20 April 2016. In the futuristic-stylish atmosphere of „envihab“ – which seems like a “Habitat” landed on the Moon – around 65 employees of the Helmholtz Alliance ROBEX came together. They updated and discussed the work in the several workpackages and design teams as well as training and education. Two additional lectures on „simulation as a tool in the development process“ with regard to the deep sea Glider and the Moon Rover were held. At the end of the workshop the representatives of the ROBEX Advisory Board, Benoit Pirenne (Ocean Networks Canada) and Mark Wieczorek (Sorbonne, Paris) reflected their very positive impressions about the coalescence of the two worlds „deep sea“ and „space“, as well as their satisfaction expressed with the substantive progress.
Highlights at this workshop were also the guest lectures of
Professor Wimmer-Schweingruber (University of Kiel) about space radiation and the derived perspective for astronautical spaceflight,
Prof. Dachwald (FH Aachen) with his presentation of the project „Enceladus Explorer“ and the „Ice-Mole “
Marius Wirtz (DFKI Bremen) about the project“ Europe Explorer „.
The exchange with the guests led to further networking with other similar acitivies in Germany, but will also influence the future of the Helmholtz Alliance ROBEX.