The popular European Space Expo makes a stop at Craiova’s Mihai Viteazul Square from April 19 – 27, where it attracts an astounding 50,000 visitors – including Romanian cosmonaut Dorin-Dumitru Prunariu.
The European Space Expo arrived in Craiova, Romania with a splash. Not only did its interactive touch screen exhibits 
and unique visual design attract over 50,000 visitors, it also drew in such national celebrities as Romania cosmonaut Dorin-Dumitru Prunariu. Mr. Prunariu gave presentations to two groups of nearly 200 local school children, discussing his many years of experience as a cosmonaut and how space affects everyone’s lives today.
In addition to Mr. Prunariu, speakers and guests throughout the week have included Craiova Mayor Lia Olguta Vasilescu, President of the Romanian Delegation to the Committee of the Regions Ion Prioteasa, and Member of the European Parliament Marian-Jean Marinescu – along with many others from the academic, public and private sectors.
During his address at the exhibition’s opening, Mr. Marinescu noted the positive impact European GNSS systems have at both the regional and European levels. “I have seen firsthand how such European satellite systems as EGNOS, Galileo and Copernicus bring benefits to many sectors, including agriculture, transportation and finance,” he said. “More so, these systems create jobs. In fact, seven percent of Europe’s GDP today is based on satellite technology – a number that is only going to increase in the near future.”
The Tour continues!
The European Space Expo is an initiative of the European Commission aimed at illustrating the services and applications derived from such European space programs as Galileo and EGNOS in a fun, interactive and accessible way. The Expo focuses on showing how space and its applications provide benefits to Europe’s citizen and highlights the critical role played by the European Union in space and space-based technologies.
The exhibition, whose futuristic dome has been traveling around Europe since May 2012 , is open and free to the public. Upcoming stops include Sofia, Bulgaria (16 – 25 May), Prague, Czech Republic (7 – 15 June) and Ljubljana, Slovenia (6 – 14 September). To date, aroundr 400,000 people have visited the Expo.
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