The space mission is named iriss

The name of the mission is a combination of Iris and ISS. Iris was a Greek goddess, the messenger of the Olympian gods and the personification of the rainbow. As messenger she represents the connection between humanity and cosmos and heaven and earth. The name also links the rainbow – which is a symbol for peace – with Andreas Mogensen’s scientific mission to the International Space Station.

Bridge builder

The announcement of the name took place at Science in Forum in Copenhagen which is a three-day fair in connection with the final in a national “Young Researchers” competition. At the fair Andreas Mogensen told about his mission and the training leading towards the mission – a training he has already been involved in for many months.

- It was fantastic to be able to present the name at Science in Forum where so many children and young people who are enthusiastic about natural science are gathered. Research and natural science have historically bridged the gap between the East and the West and promoted peace and understanding. The name iriss symbolises this aspect in a fine way, says Andreas Mogensen.

Aerospace engineer won

Filippo Magni is a twenty year old student at Politecnico di Milano where he is studying to become an aerospace engineer. He has always been interested in space and as a child he was fascinated by the beautiful pictures from interplanetary space travels and the ESA/NASA Hubble Space Telescope.

- The rainbow is a peace symbol and I like to think about ISS as a special and excellent example of peace and international cooperation, says Filippo.

- The messenger Iris is a good image of the astronauts whose job it is to transfer the knowledge they obtain in space to us down on the earth. .

The winning suggestion was chosen among 700 suggestions in a European competition organised by the European Space Agency ESA in the beginning of March. As winner Filippo receives a framed mission’s logo.signed by Andreas.