On the evening of 13 June 2024, ESPI co-hosted the second annual summer reception of the Vienna Space Diplomat (VSD) initiative alongside the Permanent Mission of Switzerland.
The second installment of the VSD summer reception convened over 40 senior diplomatic representatives from 20 countries. Following opening remarks by the Swiss Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Vienna, H.E. Raphael Nägeli, the event commenced with a fireside chat featuring Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA, and Carmen Possnig, a member of the ESA astronaut reserve.
ESPI Director Ludwig Moeller discussed the completion of the VSD’s first cycle, which saw significant growth in involvement of Vienna’s diplomatic community, with over 400 participants attending the seven VSD events since its inauguration in July 2023.
He highlighted new VSD formats, such as the first VSD Forum on Space Weather and announced the second forum on space sustainability taking place at the end of September 2024. Additionally, Director Moeller introduced the launch of the Interregional Dialogues with Latin America and the Caribbean, planning future sessions with Brazil, which aim to expand global space policy dialogues. The reception underscored the importance of human space exploration and fostered international cooperation in space diplomacy.
A selection of photos from various VSD events throughout the past year can be found below.
