The aim of the ASH project is to create a virtual control room to simulate space missions and astronomy exploration allowing groups of students to:

• Experience basic physical laws and principles.
• Experience the complexity of exploring space.
• Experience the excitement of discoveries.

The project will provide children and adults with access to Europe's space, space physics and astronomy knowledge base in a manner that they can all benefit from and enjoy. Now the difficulty in developing an understanding of space and astronomy inhibits many persons from appreciating European achievements in this area. Furthermore, this also impedes them to pursue a further interest in the subject. This will lead to consequences for the skills of the European workforce.

The proposed means for achieving a much better appreciation and understanding of astronomy and space is by the development of the concept of a Control Room. The Control Room will exhibit a high quality user interface experience. It will apply digital models, simulations, 3D visualisations, video, photographs of European facilities and current events in the familiar and yet stimulating setting of a simulated space craft control centre and a space mission exploration scenario where groups can explore space, astronomy and space physics.

Users of the Control Room will experience shared access to scientific information about astronomy and space. The concept is based on interconnected multimedia devices and material, allowing groups to explore and learn about astronomy and space. The system will mediate this information while engaging users in realistic simulations and shared virtual environments.

The Control Room project will allow European planetariums and science theatres to offer a unique experience to audiences in the European community, mediating knowledge of science, astronomy and space to the European public. Sources of information will include European space observatories and agencies, thus emphasising and publicising European research in the area.