Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1100407
04.04.19 7 INNOVATION jects and the implementation of a space educational pro- gramme'," Schembri said. e Space Taskforce's work will complement Malta's over- all goal of pursuing smart spe- cialisation in its economy and to become a leader in technol- ogy innovation and finally it will review ways and means of working with the private sector to attract space commercialisa- tion, exploitation, and innova- tion developments initiatives to Malta. Schembri said that space pro- vides capabilities to solve chal- lenges such as the monitoring of climate change, agriculture, the maritime sector, epidemics and disaster resilience. Malta holds several advantag- es in this respect, including its location, its access to the EU market, its human capital and its government's progressive stance with regard to technol- ogy that could give it a unique position in the commercialisa- tion of outer space. "Space can be a strong con- tributor to Malta's economic growth," Schembri said. "I look forward to working hand in hand with all stakeholders in- cluding European institutions, agencies, and international organisations, to seek cooper- ation with other countries and study the requisite policy and programming synergies and funding." e Space Malta Taskforce will be chaired by Omar Cuta- jar, with Dr. Ing Kenneth Chir- cop, Matt Prusak, Prof Aaron Casha, Dr. Ing Richard Blun- dell, Prof Kristian Zarb Adami, Dr. Jean Marie Mifsud, Charles Pace, Roberto Cassar, and Rob- erta Albanese Dalli as mem- bers. During the launch of Malta's vision for a National Space Strategy, attended the CanSat Educational Event as part of the Space Education Programme aimed at helping students to fa- miliarise with STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Over 20 students between 14 to 18 years old and attending Verdala International School Pembroke, Gozo Secondary School, Santa Monica B'Kara and MCAST Institute of Ap- plied Sciences participated in the first edition of the CanSat Malta Competition 2019. Teams were set up and made up of students and a teacher as their team leader who compet- ed against one another. During the CanSat Event, each CanSat was launched at an altitude of 500 metres by a model rocket. At apogee and rocket sepa- ration, the CanSat slowly de- scended under parachutes as they transmitted data to their respective teams. CanSat was a simulation of a satellite that fits in a soft drink can. It includ- ed miniature sensors that are based on the same concept of the sensors used in a real sat- ellite. Executive Chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that MCST is be- ing supported by ESA to em- bark on a Space Education Pro- gramme for Maltese schools. is was intended to bridge the gap between space appli- cations and society. It aims to drive the relevance of space-re- lated data into Maltese class- rooms, in better approaching challenges here on Earth. Pullicino Orlando said that the Space Education Pro- gramme would continue to provide the educational com- ponent for young students to learn and be inspired." More information on Malta's Vision for a National Space Strategy can be accessed at www.maltaspace.com Malta's vision for a space strategy Space provides capabilities to solve challenges such as the monitoring of climate change, agriculture, the maritime sector, epidemics and disaster resilience Teams of students launched scale satellites on a model rocket, which reached apogee at 500 metres Parliamentary secretary Silvio Schembri