The mysteries of space - the theme of Space Rendezvous in Kista

In the afternoon, visitors will journey through the Solar System and beyond, exploring pristine comets and extreme planetary environments. It all starts with the Comet Interceptor, an ambitious space mission to investigate a virgin comet, a celestial body that has never visited the solar system's interior before. 

"Visitors will learn why these comets are so important for understanding our cosmic origins and also learn about the technical challenges of navigating through the comet's dusty and unpredictable environment," says Carl-Mikael Zetterling, a professor at KTH, who is helping to organise the day. 

Research in focus

Lorenz Roth, a planetary astronomer at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, will talk about how the James Webb Space Telescope is revealing new details about Jupiter and its moons through its powerful instruments, and Tomas Karlsson, Professor of Space Plasma Physics, will talk about research with the Swedish electric field instrument on board the BepiCombo mission and how Mercury is affected by the sun's intense radiation. 

"With temperatures of 460 degrees Celsius, Venus is a nightmare for all technology, so I will also talk about my research on electronics that can survive in the extreme environment," says Carl-Mikael Zetterling.

In the afternoon, there will also be a mini exhibition, and the student union's choir, Osqstämman, will perform. It will end with a pub. 

"It's a packed day with a very interesting programme, and it's also the last time it's being held in Kista, so we hope that as many people as possible will want to come and participate, mingle and network," says Marco Giertz from Visit Kista, who is helping to organise the day. 

Read more about Space Rendezvous and see the full programme. 

Text: Emelie Smedslund