Austria's Ascent into Space: A short historical account

摘要

The historical development of space-related activities in Austria can be traced back to the Middle Ages. At the end of the nineteenth century the focus changed from astronomical to geophysical subjects. In the second quarter of the twentieth century, several Austrians helped to develop ideas about how to reach space and settle there, but only a few of these early pioneers played a significant role when these ideas were eventually turned into reality. In the 1950s and 1960s, Austria's involvement was limited mainly to diplomatic activities in international organisations like the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and only limited scientific activities in space research. Only at the beginning of the 1970s, Austria was searching for a new role both in the international space efforts and its national space-research activities. In addition, an independent Space Research Institute was set up at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and a space-coordination office was also established by founding the Austrian Space Agency. Common efforts led to Austria's associated membership of ESA in 1981, and to its full membership in 1987. The scientific activities in space-related fields climaxed at the beginning of the 1990s with Austria's participation in a manned Austrian-Soviet/Russian cosmonaut flight to space station MIR. Since then, moderate support for a national space-research programme has enabled Austria's active participation in European and international space undertakings.