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Our space studio – interplay of historical buildings and modern technology
You will learn interesting facts about astronomy and space travel in the rustic atmosphere of a real historical farm barn in Mosberg-Richweiler. The main attraction is the Apollo 13 space capsule, which was built for the film launch of the Hollywood blockbuster of the same name with Tom Hanks. Children and adults can sit in the cockpit of the Apollo 13 space capsule and experience the journey to the moon in a unique way. In the rooms of the space studio, award-winning large-format sky photographs from the collection of the Saarland astrophotographer Sebastian Voltmer are exhibited. In addition, there will be the opportunity to experience lectures and videos on astronomy and space travel. The exhibition is also suitable for visually and hearing impaired people. Films are translated into sign language and tactile exhibits are provided for visually impaired people:
The stars can be observed very well on the grounds of the space studio. Here on the edge of the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park, there are only a few artificial light sources that could be disturbing at night.
To keep it that way, we hold talks with the decision-makers. This enables us to provide information on the optimum use of (LED) light. But this is a lengthy process.
With your community you can create an awareness that the natural heritage of the starry sky will be preserved to some extent for future generations!
For special events by prior arrangement, a drink can be organized in the cozy vaulted cellar.
Opening of the space studio: September 9th, 2012
Since 2012, the space capsule has been an integral part of the “Space Atelier”, which officially opened on 9 September 2012.
Our team members
There is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes of the space studio. Let us introduce our helping people:
Dr. phil. Sebastian Voltmer …
… is the most important mentor of the space studio and an internationally acclaimed astrophotographer. From 2000 he studied at the University of Kassel, initially as a student of Floris Neusüss in the department of photography and Nicolaus Ott and Bernard Stein in graphic design. He graduated with distinction as a student of Yana Drouz with the film “Wiederkehr des Mars”. 2003 Scholarship in “Fine Art” at Kingston University in London. 2004 Studies at the Film Academy of the “University of Music and Performing Arts”, Vienna.
In his dissertation “Photography as Scientific Argument” he researched in the fields of media theory and astronomy at the ”University of Applied Arts Vienna“.
In 2000, Sebastian Voltmer’s work “Astrophotografie als Methode zur Kometenentdecdeckung” (Astrophotography as a Method for the Discovery of Comets) became the state winner and Federal Prize winner in “Jugend forscht” (Youth Researches) and as such received an invitation to German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in September 2000.
At the age of seventeen, he shot his first film entitled “The Face of the Moon”, which received the “Film Prize for a Special Setting” at the Landshut Open Competition for Filmmakers Under 24 in July 1999. Since then he has been increasingly involved in the composition of film music. His second film “Das Gesicht des Himmels” was recorded by the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation (Space Night). At the end of 2001 he produced the film “Sternschnuppen über China – Leoniden 2001” in Manchuria, which was broadcast on Bavarian television on December 15, 2002. His latest production is the feature film “JOMI’s sphere of action”.
With or without a telescope – Sebastian Voltmer brings all visitors of the space studio closer to the sky.
You can admire his multiple award-winning photos on Instagram and purchase them in this store
Christoph Pütz …
… has been an amateur astronomer for more than 35 years and is active at the Peterberg Observatory (www.sternwarte-peterberg.de). Like Sebastian Voltmer, he discovered his passion for astrophotography at an early age. As a member of the “International DarkSky Association” (www.darksky.org) he combines tourism, astronomy, health, environmental and nature protection on a voluntary basis with many helpers in the Sankt-Wendeler-Land. Visitors to the space studio will meet him more often 😉
In addition, as part of a certification for barrier-free travel, he has also completed training on this sensitive topic:
Christoph: Zertifikat “Reisen für alle” (PDF)
Arabella Strassner …
… created the basis for the cultural further development of the Space Studio during her Master’s degree and specifically put the promotion of accessibility into practice. She grew up bilingual, has German-Italian roots and studied “Language, Culture, Translation” in Germersheim and Paris. During her master studies in the border region Saarbrücken, Metz and Luxembourg, she specialised in “Cross-border communication and cooperation” in the field of media, with a special focus on the integration and accessibility of the sensory disabled (deaf and blind). Her main interests are in the field of culture and international understanding, which she has also dealt with in her master thesis. The theoretical findings were put into practice at the Space Studio. During her studies she gained professional and practical experience at the Saarländischer Filmbüro and the Saarländischer Rundfunk as well as at the production company LichtenSTERN.tv in Saarbrücken.
Manfred Voltmer …
… has been a television journalist since 1972 and has produced more than 5,000 films – from the current 1’30 report to the 60′ feature.
He completed his journalistic traineeship at Saarländischer Rundfunk, where he worked from 1976 to 1981 as 1st editor in the “Aktuelle Landesschau”. His focus is on travel reporting, culture, nature conservation and environmental protection. In addition, there are portraits about people and organisations such as the bush doctor Dr. Hans Schales, who looks after the many AIDS patients in Zimbabwe. TV interviews with Jehudi Menuhin, Peter Ustinov, Olivier Messiaen, Roman Polanski, Federal President Johannes Rau and spoke to the Moonwalkers like Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
Josef Michael Kreutzer (JOMI) …
…is on tour worldwide as a pantomime. He has been deaf since his childhood. He helps us to bring the universe to hearing-impaired people through body language (DGS and mimic) live and in video guides.
JOMI is one of the top artists in his field. He studied with Marcel Marceau at the École de mimodrame in Paris. His education also included classical and modern dance, acrobatics, fencing, juggling and experimental theatre with outstanding teachers such as Pavel Rouba, Maximilian Decroux, Stephan Niedzialkowsky and Matt Mattox. JOMI graduated in 1981 and since then has been working as a solo pantomime and lecturer in pantomime, body language and stage art.
In 1996 he was awarded the Culture Prize for Art and Science of the Saarlouis district. In October 1999, the then Federal President Johannes Rau awarded JOMI the Federal Cross of Merit for his services to mime and intercultural relations in Europe.
His language is understood everywhere. His tours have taken him to all European countries, Russia, North and South Africa, many Latin American countries, the Arab Emirates, Jordan and Japan.
There is also a movie about his life: www.jomi-film.com
Capsule and exhibited items on the road
The exhibits of the space studio are known nationwide. It is therefore not surprising that not only the Apollo capsule, but also many of the large-format photos and our other exhibits are invited to exhibitions in other cities. Depending on the supporting programme, we can also offer lectures and guided tours.
Our Astronomy Outreach Projects
There are many possibilities to make the topics astronomy and space travel accessible to a broad public.
In the following chapters we present some of them:
- Educational opportunities for all
- Filming
- International contacts
- NASA’s APOD
- Awards
- Space weather
- Cover pictures
- Astrophotography of Venus during daytime
- The star catalogue GAIA with about 1.7 billion stars!
Our partners and supporters
There are many supporters in the operation of the space studio, without whose help our institution would not have come this far. We thank all those who have helped us morally, organizationally, by passing on their knowledge and financially and continue to do so:
Kepler-Institut international e.V. | Support for the extension of the barrier-free exhibition of the space studio. | Kep-IN e.V. |
Startnext-Crowdfunding | Raising funds for a mobile space exhibition for all, including blind and deaf people. | SPACE mit allen Sinnen |
Pantomime JOMI | The deaf pantomime JOMI, Josef Michael Kreutzer, helps us to present the universe to hearing-impaired people. | JOMI – lautlos, aber nicht sprachlosPantomime JOMI |
Verein der Amateurastronomen des Saarlandes e.V. (VAS) | Cooperation with the Peterberg Observatory (VAS) to explore space with large telescopes. | Sternwarte Peterberg |
Inklusive Teilhabe e.V. | Financial and media support | Plattform für Kreativität und soziales Engagement |
Vereinigung der Sternfreunde e.V., Fachgruppe DarkSky | Support to maintain a dark night sky. | VdS Fachgruppe DarkSky |
International DarkSky Association | International organization for the certification of star parks. | IDA |
Sankt Wendeler Land Touristik | Cooperation of our space studio with the “Sankt Wendeler Land Touristik” | Sankt Wendeler SternenLand |
Ministerium für Gesundheit, Soziales, Frauen und Familie des Saarlandes | In 2015, the Ministry supported the implementation of the video guides under supervision of Sebastian Voltmer. | Soziales Saarland |
Sternfreunde Siebengebirge | Production of asteroid and comet core models by Daniel Bockshecker | Asteroidenmodelle |
Omegon | Distribution of Universe2Go, an augmented reality program that overlays the (real!) starry sky with information via a smartphone app and special glasses. | Universe2GoJOMI präsentiert das Universe2Go |
nimax GmbH | Support from the company for telescopes and astronomy accessories. | Astroshop |
Smartphone-App “AudioHimmelsführungen” | Support by the developer Lutz Clausnitzer. For his app focuses on the spoken word, it is also suitable for visually impaired people. | AudioHimmelsführungen |
Lebenshilfe Neunkirchen e.V. | Support for people with disabilities | Lebenshilfe Neunkirchen |
Contact to ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer
Very close to the Weltaum-Atelier Nohfelden, in the neighbouring community of Oberthal-Gronig, the current ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer was born.
Matthias Maurer was able to visit our space studio in Nohfelden several times before his launch to the ISS in 2021. Information on previous visits by M. Maurer can be found on our press page!
One of the ESA astronaut’s major concerns, besides the sustainability of human activities, is the inclusion of sick or disadvantaged people. Some of the material science experiments on the ISS also serve basic medical research.
On 23.5 – shortly after Matthias Maurer’s birthday – he was able to carry out his first external mission on the ISS, which lasted almost 7 hours.
Against this background, on 11.12.2021 there was a live connection between the Space Studio Nohfelden, the KinderHerz Foundation, ESA, NASA, the German Museum in Munich, the Federal President’s Office and the ISS at an altitude of approx. 450km. Children were allowed to ask Matthias Maurer questions live.
We protect a dark night.
Both the director of the Space Studio, Dr Sebastian Voltmer, and our team member Christoph Pütz are members of the “International DarkSky Association”. Both support the effort to preserve natural darkness and are at the same time co-helpers in the Sankt Wendel SternenLand project.
Here we also show why light pollution is not good for nature and how people in the small Saarland village of Eiweiler have found an intelligent solution!