Event was organised by Space Trust in official partnership with ROSCOSMOS as part of the “2015 Russian Year in Monaco” in collaboration with SUPARCO

Monaco, 29th November 2015:  HSH Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, inaugurated an interactive exhibition and conference titled “Space: New Frontier for Peace – A Tribute to Russian Spaceflight Programme – From Yuri Gagarin to the International Space Station and Beyond.”     

The event saw more than 150 international guests gather at the grand Hotel Hermitage in Monaco to celebrate Russia's pioneering milestones in the history of spaceflight, which include sending to space, the first satellite, the first three humans, the first five lunar probes, the first three interplanetary Venus probes and the first three interplanetary Mars probes, the first two Space Stations and its current and solo access to the International Space Station (ISS) via the Soyuz. The innovative exhibition featured interactive apps, films, works of art and a giant Earth Ball that together formed an immersive experience in the space environment.

HSH Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, toured the exhibition and presented ROSCOMOS with the “Space Peace Prize” –a gold medal, on behalf of Space Trust that was received by Mr. Sergey Saveliev, Deputy Director General of the Space State Corporation ROSCOMOS.  The Prize honoured Russia's pioneering role as a space faring nation and its glorious collection of “20 Firsts in Space.”

Organiser Namira Salim, Managing Director of Space Trust, said: “I am truly honoured that HSH Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, inaugurated this important event today.  I have no doubt that the pioneering and Noble contributions of the Russian Spaceflight Programme are worthy of a fitting nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.  Our event theme, “Space New Frontier for Peace” helps promote the agenda of the “Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space” –a forum led by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), to achieve the post-2015 UN development objectives via peaceful uses of space science and technology.”  

Cosmonauts at the International Space Station (ISS) broadcast the following exclusive message from Space for the event: “We are happy to join all of you, Roscosmos and the organizers, the Space Trust, to greet Russia’s legacy as a pioneering space nation and to celebrate its role in space exploration. The breathtaking view of the Earth that we see from the orbit is proof of how important it is to use the Space to unite humanity beyond national borders for the development of Space science and technology. The International Space Station is a unique partnership of many nations where we all work together to advance both the human condition and the human spirit.  In Space, we serve together for the greater good of humanity. We are happy to join you here today in making ‘Space: The New Frontier for Peace.’”

Mr. Igor Komarov Director General of the Space State Cooperation ROSCOMOS, said “Today's exhibition and conference provides an interactive and visually engaging experience about the glorious history of the Russian Spaceflight Programme. As a space faring nation, Russia has historically played a lead role towards peace and international cooperation in Space. Moreover, being a key partner of the ISS, the Russian spaceflight programme contributes to the peaceful uses of space science and technology, for the betterment of the humanity."

The event was also graced by Major General Qaiser Anees Khurram, Chairman SUPARCO, the National Space Agency of Pakistan, who highlighted Pakistan’s space programme and spoke about the peaceful uses of space science and technology.  The “International Peace Bureau” which participated as a “Partner for Peace” for the event, was represented by IPB’s Secretary General, Mr. Colin Archer.  

The exhibition featured a dedicated section about Alexie Leonov, the first human to conduct a spacewalk in collaboration with the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Paris and the Kaliningrad Regional Museum of History and Art in Russia.

The event was organised by Space Trust, a new initiative founded by Namira Salim.  It was held with the support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to France & the Principality of Monaco, with the high-level partnership of Roscosmos, the Russian Federal Space Agency and in collaboration with ‘2015 Russian Year in Monaco and SUPARCO, the National Space Agency of Pakistan.

The exhibition also welcomed school children and the public on Monday 30th November for guided tours of the exhibition.