OREANDA-NEWS  On 30 October was announced, that DHL delivers package experiment with Russian Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station.

Participants in European 'Youth Research' competition to predict the result of the trial

DHL will make a pioneering step into new territories in October 2008 when it delivers a planned experiment to the International Space Station (ISS) on 12 October 2008 from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Developed together with Germany's 'Youth Research', the largest youth competition in Europe for natural sciences, mathematics and technology, and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the experiment will aim to establish whether model packages of varying weights will travel at the same speed under zero gravity conditions.

On 12 October 2008, DHL will load a Russian Soyuz rocket with the experiment in DHL packaging to the ISS. The test will be conducted on board the space station by the American astronaut Richard Garriott, son of the former Apollo astronaut Owen Garriott.

Garry Kemp, Regional Director of DHL Express in the CIS and South East Europe says: 'DHL has underscored its commitment to be the pioneer in global logistics with its support for this project, which will mark yet another first in the company's exciting history. On the one hand, it emphasises DHL's strength - pushing boundaries in the fast and reliable transportation of packages to the widest range of destinations. On the other, it allows us to realise one of the main aims in our approach to corporate social responsibility - supporting the education of young, talented people. It's also extremely gratifying to see such an important project for DHL taking place in one of our key markets, Kazakhstan, using Russian technology.'

Prior to the launch, on 12 September 2008, twelve promising young scientists are to meet up in the DHL Innovation Center in Bonn to predict the result of the space trial using physical-mathematical calculations. With this initiative, DHL is promoting young talent, in line with the company's stated commitment to education and innovation. DHL will present the students that come closest to predicting the results of the experiment with a bursary for their further education. The Youth Research foundation will also receive support of around 30,000 Euro through the sale of promotional DHL packages in Europe.

'For us, it is especially important to give young people purposeful direction at an early stage and to motivate them to align their professional development with their scientific abilities. Through sponsorship initiatives such as that of DHL, young people are also given the opportunity to make new contacts that they can use later on to support their studies or work,' explains Dr Daniel Giese, Head of Communications at the 'Youth Research' foundation.

Beyond this promotion, DHL intends to further strengthen its commitment to pioneering innovation and supporting the development of young people in the long term.