[X] My Assistant

[ustrax]

I don't know if you were aware of this competition
I wrote a little text...damn! How are people capable of defining in 300 words the future of space exploration?!
My original text had about the double, then it was cut and cut and cut...

Man! How I wanted to go to Edinburgh...But again this Ultreya syndrom...
All this expectation and in the end, a tap in the back...

"Dear participant of ESA’s online competition “Help to shape Europe’s future
in space”,

First of all, on behalf of the Head of Strategy and Architecture Office,
Mr. Bernhard Hufenbach, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you
for sharing your opinion about space exploration with us.
We were overwhelmed by the numerous contributions from 25 different
countries from all over Europe, even from Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and
Thailand were some Europeans work or live. Alone 60 out of the total 243
contributions came from Finland! A special Thanks! to the Finish space
enthusiasts!
Most of the entries were of extremely high quality; very thought-through,
creative and inspirational.
Second thing I would like to address: Thanks for your patience to wait for
this answer. I have to apologise for the delayed announcement of the
winner. It is simply that we have a high workload at the moment. And last
but not least we had to wait for the confirmation from the winners that
they accept the win.
However, last Friday a jury of four persons solved the tough task to
select the winners. The jury found it remarkably hard to limit themselves
to five contributions only; but this was part of the difficult task.
The result is the following:

1. Mr Oman (Ireland)
2. Mr Papaioannou (Greece)
3. Mr Ashworth (UK)
4. Mr Steffes (Germany)
5. Ms Reiman (Finland)

Even if you are not listed here, you are a winner by default. Every entry
gives us a feedback from the biggest stakeholder group we have: the
general public. We need these inputs to set-up a space exploration
strategy, which is tailored to the needs of its stakeholder. Therefore you
contributed indeed to the shape of Europe’s future in space.
And in another sense you are a winner: Out of the 243 received
contributions we selected 38, which we consider as that valuable that we
would like to display them in a poster session during our Edinburg
Exploration Workshop on 8 and 9 January. You are one of these 38 selected
entries. I would kindly like to ask you whether we could use your entry as
a quotation or in full length for display. If so, please specify if you
agree to give your name as well or if we have to display it anonymously. I
am looking forward to your reply!
In the beginning of the new year our strategy and architecture team will
have its own website. From then on it will be easier for you to follow up
this important process “Shaping Europe’s Future in space”, which at the
final stage will prepare the recommendations to the ESA Council on
Ministerial Level in 2008 – the highest decision making conference within
ESA.
Thanks again and stay interested in space!
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Best regards,
Jacqueline Myrrhe"


Once more I stay at the door...