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Space Projects of Association “Tsiolkovsky”

         Here you can find information about our near future space projects. Bulgaria is a small country and it doesn’t have the possibility to finance a YOUTH space projects. Space is the next frontier and in our organization we are determined to pursue it. We intend to make contacts wish different institutes and organizations and to develop a strong local space youth policy. We are now only in the beginning but we want to evolve fast and to see some real results. For now we are supporting our own projects and do not have a sponsor. But we hope we can find different programs and we can apply for at least a partial funding. We are very interested in showing our young friends that space exploration is a real opportunity for them. For now we consider most important the developing of courses dedicated to the topics of space exploration history and basic astronomy and astrophysics. We then intend to buy a telescope and to make real-time observations. Association “Tsiolkovsky” has developed many multilateral events and projects involving young people. We have worked hard to this day on different problems - environmental, political, economical and cultural. We truly believe in the right of every young human being in the world to have the possibility to study the things he likes most. We support the non-formal education. Most important parts of the education of young minds for us are the developing of youth ideas and practices that make them reality. We consider it extremely important to give the youth people from our region the possibility to travel and to establish contacts with other cultures. We envision the day when every young person will have at least some knowledge about the space exploration and about the near future vision of space science. In the next decades the human kind will once again try to conquer the stars and that is way the space agencies and companies will constantly need fresh minds. In order to have more technically oriented students we first have to win their attention to the space programs.  We are fascinated by the idea of space exploration and we want to help more young people to appreciate the vastness of space. As all astronauts in space comment: Earth looks much smaller and vulnerable from space.

         We think that space exploration is showing us many things about ourselves here on Earth.
    
         Europe is more or less united truly for the first time in its history and we try to support this peaceful process by helping young minds with different backgrounds to work and cooperate together, to share ideas and comments.
         Our association was named after Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. Russian-born scientist and mathematician Tsiolkovsky is often referred to as the father of astronautics and human spaceflight. His visionary ideas for the future of humanity in space were far ahead of his time.
It is Tsiolkovsky who first determined that the escape velocity from the Earth into orbit was 8 km/second and that this could be achieved by using a multi-stage rocket fueled by liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. During his lifetime he published over 500 works on space travel and related subjects, including science fiction novels.
         Some of his greatest thoughts are:
                  Earth is the cradle of humanity but one cannot live in the cradle forever
                                                      taken from a letter written by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1911


         … and…

                  Men are weak now, and yet they transform the Earth’s surface. In millions of years their might will increase to the extent that they will change the surface of the Earth, its oceans, the atmosphere and themselves. They will control the climate and the solar system just as they control the Earth. They will travel beyond the limits of our planetary system; they will reach other Suns and use their fresh energy instead of the energy of their dying luminary.
                                                      Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

         I truly hope that this short presentation will help us find more friends and cooperatives in this endeavor.

Raycho Raychev – Person in charge of the Space Vision Projects and Member of the Board of the Association.