Starting on the 20th of July 2020 the International Space University is hosting the inaugural Interactive Space Program (ISP20). 85 crew members from 28 countries will embark on an expedition to investigate the ways in which Space can be used to prepare for, prevent, mitigate, and monitor pandemics on Earth. Moreover, the ISP20 will exercise the kind of remote working, which the future explorers of space will experience, physically separated, living in different time zones, differentiated by specialisations, and yet united by a passion for space. The expedition begins soon, but this story has already started.
The ISP20’s formation began in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of this situation, the ISU embarked on the formation of a program to address this crisis through Inter-disciplinary, International, and Intercultural collaboration. 84 ISU team members from 12 countries spent 4 months developing the expedition, starting from a mere concept and materialising quickly through careful coordination. This was a new challenge for everyone.