The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) is a non-governmental, nonprofit, science organisation, based in Cyprus, with a global scope of service and activities. Its main functions are research and development, space advocacy, and international cooperation in the field of space exploration, astronautics and astronomy. Education and outreach are also an important part of its mission as International Astronomy Education Center (see below).
The organisation promotes and facilitates internationally scientific collaboration in space exploration, and fosters domestically collaboration with other space-faring nations in science, space and planetary missions. It was founded in 2012 and has over 1800 registered researchers, members and volunteers and over 400,000 followers on social media.
CSEO is the international host of:
The International Astronomy Education Center, OAE Cyprus, of the IAU (see below), The Mars Upper Atmosphere Network (MUAN), as international host (see below), The Space Innovation Laboratory, under the auspices of the International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), The Moon Village Association (MVA) Management Support Office, as part of the institutional partnership between CSEO and MVA.
CSEO is the official representative of Cyprus to:
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), as Cyprus’ “National Institute” to COSPAR, The International Astronomical Union (IAU), as Cyprus’ “National Member” to the IAU, The Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA), as representative of the Republic of Cyprus, The Moon Village Association, as institutional member and regional coordinator for Middle East, Africa and Greece, The Mars Society, having established the national chapter – Mars Society Cyprus, ActInSpace and DefInSpace as Country Lead, Mission X, as Country Lead.
CSEO is member / partner of: The International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Copernicus Academy Network of EU Commission, as a founding member, (See copernicus.eu) The Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI), The Italian Mars Society.
CSEO's board and council are comprised with distinguished individuals that are highly decorated for their contribution to space exploration.
Notable achievements and awards Since 2013 multiple teams of CSEO have won internationally at NASA and other international competitions (for more details see Promoting Space Innovation and NASA Space Apps Challenge in Cyprus). Notably:
ArachnoBeeA was selected by NASA judges as the global winner of the 2015 NASA International Space Apps Challenge for the “Best Mission Concept” (May 2015). Brute Force was selected by NASA judges as a global winner of the 2022 NASA International Space Apps Challenge for “Local Impact” (Dec 2022). MarsSense has been recognized for its research paper and was nominated in the best four in the world for an international award, at SpaceOps 2014 (at JPL, NASA in May 2014). NestFold was voted and chosen by the people at the 2017 NASA International Space Apps Challenge for "Global Peoples' Choice" (Jul 2017). Hiris Guider was selected by the jury panel (representing the European Commission, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and other related industries) as 1st Winner at the 5th CASSINI Hackathon (Apr 2023). Galactic Angels was selected by the judges of the Commandement de l'Espace as winners of the second prize at the DefInSpace 2022 competition (Jul 2022).
The Chief of International Relations of CSEO has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award 2017 of the International Astronautical Federation, for extraordinary dedication and commitment, in service of the Federation (March 2017).
The President and vice-president of CSEO have been elected corresponding members to the International Academy of Astronautics, for outstanding contribution to space exploration (July 2017).
The Head of Education and Outreach of CSEO has been elected corresponding member to the International Academy of Astronautics, for outstanding contribution to space exploration (Oct 2019).
The President of CSEO has been appointed as vice-chair of the COSPAR Panel on Innovative Solutions (PoIS) (Oct 2020).
The President of CSEO has been selected by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to be honored with the title of “Honorary Member” of the IAU, for his significant contribution to the progress of astronomical research in his country (Aug 2021).
The President and the Head of Innovation of CSEO have been recognized by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, of the Hellenic Republic, as Ambassadors of Hellenic Culture for the contribution to space exploration and innovation (May 2023).
The Chief Innovation Officer of CSEO, who has been organising since 2013 the NASA Space Apps Challenge (Cyprus), ActInSpace (Cyprus), DefInSpace (Cyprus) and the International Moon Village Association Hackathon (globally), that mentored and facilitated multiple global wins at NASA and EU, has been awarded by NASA at a ceremony at NASA HQ for "outstanding leadership in empowering the next generation to address challenges we face on Earth and in space" (June 2024).
Mission and goals CSEO states its mission and vision as:Our mission and vision is to galvanise human potential into high-tech innovation and cooperation. The universe and space exploration has always fascinated the human spirit and unites humanity under the same sky. Hence we - the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) - with our vision and goals as our compass have been highly active in forging international collaborations and igniting innovation and technological growth, with impressive and captivating results that are of public benefit.When joining the IAF, CSEO stated that its first mission was to promote Cyprus as one of the leading space-faring nations, and stated the following goals in relation to Cyprus: Place Cyprus on the space industry map, Conduct space related R & D, Promote innovation through the development and support of a local internal market for space, Increase local technological competitiveness, Leverage on local intellectual human capital, Provide education and training for the future generation of space scientists and engineers, from an early age, in & out of schools, Enhance and promote academic and industrial collaboration, through joint project participation.
Pillars and activities CSEO operates with the following four basic pillars: “Education and Outreach”, “R&D”, “Industry”, and “International Relations and Collaboration”.
CSEO main activities concentrate on: Promoting scientific research and development in space exploration, astronautics and astrophysics, Actively developing the local space industry, Bridging academic and industrial collaboration, Galvanizing the potential of the local and global talents into applied high-tech innovation, Contributing to turning high-tech industry into a vibrant sector with high employment opportunities, Bringing widespread collaboration with other space-faring nations in science, technology and space missions, Actively encouraging and promoting internationally and domestically, the future generation of scientists, via education and outreach, with continuous in-and-out-of-school programs and media outreach.
International Space Cooperation
Mars Upper Atmosphere Network
In October 2018, the 10th Mars Upper Atmosphere Network (MUAN) workshop was organised by CSEO in Cyprus.
During this workshop it was decided that MUAN is permanently based in Nicosia, Cyprus.
MUAN Workshop Decision:At the concluding high-level session of the tenth MUAN Jubilee workshop in Nicosia, on October 19, 2018, the representatives of the participating countries and agencies (e.g. USA - NASA, RUSSIA - IKI, India, UK, France, Italy, Germany etc) unanimously decided that Nicosia, Cyprus would become the permanent base for the MUAN and be hosted by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO), thus consolidating scientific efforts, mission data, gatherings, as well as coordinating simultaneous observations of upper atmosphere-and-plasma-instruments on Mars space missions.
First Online Global Moon Village Workshop and Symposium CSEO in cooperation with the Moon Village Association, organized and hosted in Cyprus the First Online Global Moon Village Workshop and Symposium. This was keynoted by senior officials of some of the worlds leading space agencies, such as the director of the UNOOSA, the Associated Administrator of NASA, the director general of the European Space Agency, JAXA, ISRO and many others. The purpose of the symposium was to bring together the lunar stakeholders and lunar community from all over the world to discuss on-going and planned Moon programs, to facilitate international collaboration on lunar exploration, as well as to agree on Best Practices for Sustainable Lunar Activities.
Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) CSEO has been supportive of international collaboration for the return of humanity to the moon and the creation of bases and colonies. In this effort CSEO in cooperation with the Moon Village Association have presented at UNOOSA, during the February 2020 meetings in Vienna, the goals of the Best Practices for Sustainable Lunar Activities and invited nations to join this effort. During the First Online Global Moon Village Workshop and Symposium, hosted by CSEO in Nicosia - Cyprus in November 2020, it was announced that it was agreed by international stakeholders to form the Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) that would invite all nations and lunar stakeholders (industry, academia and other), to participate in this international platform to address critical issues with the goal of de-risking future lunar missions and increasing global cooperation for lunar exploration and settlement. GEGSLA had its kick-off meeting on 25 February 2021. The Republic of Cyprus is represented in GEGSLA by CSEO and its President Mr George A Danos. Furthermore, the GEGSLA Implementation Support Officer is employed by CSEO as part of the ongoing cooperation agreement between CSEO and MVA.
United Nations: International Moon Day (IMD) The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have approved the proclamation for the International Moon Day (IMD), celebrated every year on July 20 (when the first human set foot on the surface of the Moon in 1969), starting in 2022. The Moon Village Association and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in cooperation with CSEO, officially announced the decision of the UNGA and the proclamation of the IMD at a press conference held at CSEO's offices in Cyprus, on 14 December 2021. CSEO's president stated: “Cyprus is the launchpad of the events to celebrate the International Moon Day following the successful [MVA] workshop [that CSEO hosted] earlier this month”.
In March 2022, during the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Spring Meetings, CSEO was also announced as the first “Founding Member” of the International Moon Day.
COSPAR - Space Innovation Lab: Artificial Intelligence and Space Weather prediction In 2020, the president of CSEO, has been appointed as vice-chair of the COSPAR Panel on Innovative Solutions (PoIS). Through this role he managed the creation of the Space Innovation Lab of COSPAR in cooperation with CSEO, bridging the science of space weather with the engineering tools of artificial intelligence, analyzing space weather data and potentially predicting dangerous storms heading towards our planet and raising a warning alarm if needed.
During the 44th COSPAR General Assembly in July 2022, as Main Scientific Organizer (MSO) of the PoIS.2 panel session, he led the effort of bridging global industry and scientific community, towards the above goals.
CSEO Discovery Alpha
In 2021, CSEO established its first space research center and was given the name CSEO Discovery Alpha.