The Beginning of HELLО SPACE | Bulgaria Calling
On July 26, 2021, Bulgaria marked a historic moment in education and science. For the first time, Bulgarian students were given the opportunity to ask their own questions directly to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
The first edition of HELLO SPACE | Bulgaria Calling was organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, with the support of NASA and the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria. The event took place at Sofia Tech Park and brought together students, teachers, scientists, and representatives of the technological community.
At the heart of the edition was a live video connection with the International Space Station, during which astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Thomas Pesquet answered 18 questions prepared by children and young people from Bulgaria and Bulgarian communities abroad.
The event became the first in Europe with active student participation in such a format and established Bulgaria as the second EU country to host a direct educational link with the ISS. According to H.E. Herro Mustafa, U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria, it was “a historic event of European scale.”
With its first edition, HELLO SPACE laid the foundation for a long-term mission: to inspire young people to dream boldly, pursue STEAM careers, and build upon Bulgaria’s rich space heritage – looking toward the Moon, Mars, and beyond.