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Swedish Press N Y A
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May 2018 Vol 89:04 $5.95
Sweden Reaching for the Stars in Space
04 2018
Swedish Space Exploration Astronaut Buzz Aldrin New Nordic Museum
Celebrate VALBORGMÄSSOAFTON/WALPURGIS evening with DINNER at the DANISH Club Everybody Welcome Arranged by SWEDISH SOCIETY OF CALGARY
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Swedish Press is the world’s leading magazine on all good things Swedish. An authority on design, business, culture and travel since 1929, Swedish Press delivers insightful news and commentary in a visually striking format. With a nod to the past, and a peek to the future, Swedish Press is your go-to source for updates and inspiration from Sweden. SWEDISH PRESS (ISSN 0839-2323) is published ten times per year (Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July/Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec/Jan) by Swedish Press Inc, 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite #101, Blaine WA 98230 for $45 per year. Periodical postage paid at Blaine, WA 98230-9998 (No. USPS 005544). US POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Swedish Press, PO Box 420404, San Diego, CA 92142-0404 OFFICE: 9040 Shaughnessy Street, Vancouver, BC V6P 6E5 Canada US MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 420404, San Diego, CA 92142-0404 WEBSITE www.swedishpress.com E-MAIL info@swedishpress.com TEL +1 360 450 5858 TOLL FREE +1 866 882 0088 PUBLISHER Claes Fredriksson Claes@swedishpress.com EDITOR Peter Berlin Peter@swedishpress.com ART DIRECTOR Joan Law Joan@swedishpress.com REPRESENTATIVES Calgary: Carin Pihl +1 403 931 0370 Thunder Bay: Elinor Barr +1 807 344 8355 Toronto: Gunilla Sjölin +1 905 751 5297 Winnipeg: Laurel Anderson-McCallum +1 204 255 5224 Los Angeles: Birgitta Lauren +1 310 201 0079 New York: Timothy Lyons +1 732 685 3747 San Diego: Sue Eidson +1 858 541 0207
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4 Letters to the Editor 5 From the Editor’s Desk Swedish Headlines 6 Headline News: #MeToo Rocks the Swedish Academy 7 Swedes in the News 8 Landskapsnyheterna
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Lifestyle 18 Top Sju 19 Poetry: A Scandinavian-American Poet, Singer and Dancer
Business 9 Business News: A Losing Game on a Grand Scale 10 Company File: OHB Sweden Heritage 11 Buzz Aldrin, a Space Pioneer with Swedish Roots
Fjord Hall of the New Nordic Museum. Photo © Design by Mithun, Image by Mir
20 Museum: The Nordic Museum in Seattle Re-opens with Great Fanfare 21 Culture: Exhibits and Events Hemma Hos 22 Design: Gothenburg Set to Get Urban Cable Car 23 Treats à la Persson
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Swedish Press
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Mission commander Neil Armstrong took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. Image©NASA
Feature 12 Swedish Space Exploration Then and Now Interview 14 Olle Norberg och hur allt började med en rymddräkt Global Swedes 16 Javier Martín-Torres – Chaired Professor in Atmospheric Science, Luleå University of Technology
Swedish Press Connects 24 SCA – Swedish Council of America Road to 2045 25 The Skies are Turning Green In the Loop 27 Canada, US & Beyond 28 Calendar and Events 29 Ads and Info 30 Sista Ordet When Half a Billion Dollars Went Up in Smoke Cover Image: Astronaut Christer Fuglesang, STS-128 mission specialist, in his mission’s third and final spacewalk outside the International Space Station in 2009. Image © NASA/ESA
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Swedish Press | May 2018 3
Trollbacken Swedish Language and Culture Camp
Aug 20-25, 2018 For Children ages 7-13 5 days of fun activities
• Arts & Crafts • Sports • Music, Singing, Dancing • Swedish Foods • Orienteering • Language • Campfires & Storyline • Swimming
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May 31st, 2018
Swedish Press is also online. Catch the latest news, Listen to Sveriges Radio, Shop, Subscribe or Advertise. All this and more at www.SwedishPress.com
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Swedish Press | May 2018 4
Letters to the Editor Dear Peter, What happened to the Swedish Language column? I really enjoy the Swedish Press and have been a subscriber for a few years. I am currently teaching Swedish to a small group of motivated adults with Swedish heritage. I have no teaching background, but enjoy doing it, and it is gratifying to see the progress they are making. I really miss the language column you used to include in the magazine. I have copied them for my “students” and find that they are a helpful teaching tool. Any chance that you might reinstate the column? I hope so! Tack så mycket! Bodil Soderberg Marquette, Michigan Editor’s comment: Dear Bodil, Good to hear from you, and thank you for suggesting that we reinstate the Swedish language column in the future. We are keen to do so and are looking for a solution. Varsågod! Peter Berlin Dear Joan, Ernie Poignant, likely Canada’s oldest working cartoonist at 99 years young, made this creation after viewing the final home game on TV for retiring Canucks stars, Henrik and Daniel Sedin.
Poignant, who has been a Canucks fan since they joined the NHL in 1970, has been quite fond of Sedin twins since they signed with the Canucks in 1999 because of their incredible skill and their generosity. He drew the cartoon at the kitchen table of his thirdfloor independent living apartment on April 7, two days after the Sedins teamed up for a storybook 4-3 win in front of a jubilant Vancouver crowd. The twins, both destined for the NHL hall of fame, have been creating special memories through their involvement with Canuck Place, a Vancouver hospice
for children. Poignant has also assisted Canuck Place, publishing a book of cartoons in 2014 that raised more than $8,300 for the charity. Poignant, who grew up in a Swedish community on the Matsqui Prairie, now lives with his wife, Rose, in Abbotsford, about 70 km east of Vancouver. Gary Poignant Nelson, British Columbia
Enjoy reading Swedish Press? Email us your pictures along with your name and comments to info@swedish press.com and we’ll be happy to publish them.
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from the Editor’s Desk
Reaching for the Stars in Space and on the Stage We need your support!
Swedish Press strives to create a high quality magazine for you, but the costs are considerable and ever-increasing. Please consider making a generous donation to help keep your publication, and Swedish heritage, alive. You’ll find a form on page 29. Tack!
On September 9, 1969, The United States Post Office Department released a single 10-cent Air Mail stamp designed by Paul Calle to mark the Apollo 11 moon landing and Neil Armstrong’s accomplishment as the first man on the moon. Photo: Steve Mann
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n this issue of Swedish Press the main theme is Sweden’s contribution to international space exploration. This is one of Sweden’s most ambitious, enduring and cosmopolitan endeavours, which began in the 1960s with participation in the activities of the European Space Agency. Swedish aerospace companies also play an important role as developers and suppliers of cutting-edge space technology. Some time ago I gave a lecture at a Swedish airplane museum on the commonalities and differences between aircraft and spacecraft. I highlighted the technological and commercial challenges in glowing terms. In my enthusiasm, I concluded my lecture rather frivolously by mentioning that for the price of building and launching a mediumsized scientific satellite, one could build an entire hospital. Full of self-confidence, I asked the audience if they thought space exploration was worth the money – and then held my breath, because if the consensus was “no”, my whole lecture would have been pointless. There was a moment of stony silence. Then someone came up with the following piece of wisdom: “What makes human beings different from animals is that our ambitions go beyond just procreation and survival. We crave knowledge and adventure. Space exploration provides both, whereas hospitals only provide survival.” Thank you! The 50th anniversary of Man’s first landing on the moon is approaching. The Heritage story is devoted to a portrait of moonwalker Buzz Aldrin whose grandfather emigrated from Sweden to America (page 11). The Feature section offers an insight into Swedish space activities ranging from high school education to recent achievements (page 12). The interview with Olle Norberg, Director General of the Swedish National Space Board (Rymdstyrelsen) provides an update of Swedish space activities and policies (page 14). Swedish Space Corporation, the space launch and satellite operator, is featured in Company File, as is the satellite builder OHB Sweden (page 10). In Sista Ordet you will find some personal reflections surrounding the events leading up to the 1982 Ariane space launch failure, when a staggering $500 million of space assets literally fizzled out in just 9 minutes (page 30). Our Headline News focuses on the Swedish Academy and its ongoing internal struggles to rehabilitate itself in reaction to incriminating revelations inspired by the #MeToo movement (page 6). The Lifestyle section offers a foretaste of the May 5th grand opening of Seattle’s Nordic Museum in its stunning new home on Market Street (page 20). The opening will be linked to more than 20 events ranging from experimental rock to classical music, film, theater, literature, technology and business at venues all across Seattle. The fourth instalment in the ecology series Road to 2045 has the heading The Skies are Turning Green (page 25). All the above is to launch you (pun intended) into the May issue. I wish you happy reading in bright Spring sunshine!
Peter Berlin Editor Peter@Swedishpress.com May 2018
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War and Peace à la Suédoise #MeToo Rocks the Swedish Academy By Peter Berlin
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he Swedish Academy (Svenska Akademien) was founded in 1786 by King Gustavus III. Its 18 members are drawn from Sweden’s cultural elite, and membership is for life. Internationally, the Academy is best known for its annual selection of Nobel Prize award winners in literature, but it also provides a variety of grants and is the official guardian of the Swedish language. Because the membership commitment is for life, members cannot formally resign and can only be replaced when someone dies. Nonetheless, some members have been known over the years to distance themselves from the work of the Academy in protest against certain adopted nominations or policies. In November 2017, a Swedish newspaper reported that the #MeToo campaign had prompted 18 women to come forward, claiming that they had been sexually molested by a “Culture Personality”. Gradually it transpired that the “Culture Personality” was
the husband of one of the Academy members, and that over a period of many years he had made inappropriate advances to female members, members’ wives and daughters, as well as Academy staffers. The couple had also succeeded in obtaining Academy grants for a cultural centre that they both ran in Stockholm. While favouritism within the Academy is nothing new, this latest combination of events was too much for three members. On April 6 they “resigned”. When added to two earlier “resignations” for unrelated reasons, the Academy was then left with only 13 active members. Twelve members are required to maintain a quorum, so if two more members were to hand in their notice, the Academy would suffer a functional meltdown. The quorum dilemma may now be imminent. Following a meeting between King Carl XVI Gustaf and the Permanent Secretary of the Academy Sara Danius, the latter was ousted from her position by other members of the Academy. It is also doubtful that the wife of the accused “Culture Personality” will remain active in the Academy.
Photo: Svenska Akademien
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The North Korean Plot Thickens Sweden is one of the few Western countries with an embassy in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The embassy has been in place since 1973 and also provides consular responsibilities as a “protecting power” for the United States, Canada and Australia. When two countries break off diplomatic relations with each other, it is common for “protecting powers” to be appointed. In the case of the United States and North Korea, Sweden is responsible for looking after U.S. diplomatic property and the interests of American citizens in North Korea, including three prisoners who are currently held there. In mid-March, North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, arrived for a planned visit to Stockholm. He met with his Swedish counterpart, Margot Wallström, and also briefly with the Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven. The agendas of their meetings have not been revealed, but there is speculation that they may have discussed how Sweden might facilitate the muchanticipated meeting between Presidents Trump and Kim Jong-un in the Spring. It has been suggested that the meeting might take place in Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea or China. One way or another, the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang may well prove to be an important link in preparing the meeting. “Sweden will be happy to host the meeting,” said Prime Minister Löfven. Ri Yong-ho is a career diplomat, with more than 30 years of service in foreign affairs. He knows Sweden well, having served as a Secretary at the North Korean Embassy in Stockholm in the late 1980s. He has particularly extensive experience in negotiating with the U.S. on the issue of the North Korean nuclear program.
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Swedes in the News
Celebrating Swedish Singers and Sportsmen Departing in Styles
Farewell Lill-babs
Princess Madeleine and husband Christopher O’Neill welcomed their third child and youngest daughter – Adrienne Josephine Alice Bernadotte – on March 9 at Danderyds Hospital in Stockholm. Birgit’s 100th Birthday
Henrik Sedin, right, and brother Daniel. Photo: Scanpix
Swedish hockey sensations Daniel and Henrik Sedin have retired. The talented brothers started their career in Modo and in 2000 moved on to NHL and the Vancouver Canucks. This is Daniel and Henrik’s 18th and last season in Vancouver. Together they have earned nine Olympic Games and World Cup medals. The Sedin Brothers state that their years in Vancouver have been the best of their lives, but that now it is time to focus on family.
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Barbro “Lill-babs” Svensson. Photo: Arkiv/Ingvar Eriksson
weden’s beloved singer Barbro “Lill-babs” Svensson, 80, passed away on April 3 after a short illness. The popular singer was born on March 9, 1938 in Järvsö and has been one of Sweden’s most popular artists since the 1950s. Lill-babs’ career was launched in 1959 when she performed “Är du kär i mig ännu Klas-Göran?” She is also well-known for songs like “En tuff brud i lyxförpackning” and “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.” During her career Lill-babs recorded more than 100 albums. She participated in the Swedish song competition Melodifestivalen in 1960, 1961 and 1973. In 1961 she represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with “April, April.” Lill-Babs also starred in TV shows like “Här är ditt liv” in 1983, “Så mycket bättre” in 2010 and most recently in SVT’s “Bonusfamiljen,” where she was honored for her role as “Gugge.” In 2017 she was inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. Cause of death was a combination of cancer and heart failure.
Zlatan, the Bold Swedish pro soccer sensation Zlatan Ibrahimović, 36, has left British soccer team Manchester United by signing a two-year contract with Los Angeles Galaxy. Never being one to shy away from energetic self-promotion, Zlatan celebrated his arrival with a bit of Hollywood hype. He purchased a full page in the Los Angeles Times that simply read “Dear Los Angeles – You’re Welcome.” The page included his signa-
debut match as LA Galaxy beat crosstown rival Los Angeles Football Club 4-3. Sweden's New Princess
ture and a large photograph of the Malmö-born talent wearing his new number 9 LA Galaxy jersey. Ibrahimović lived up to the hoopla by scoring two goals in his
Sweden’s greatest dramatic soprano, the late Birgit Nilsson, was born May 17, 1918 in Västra Karups in Skåne. Nilsson made her debut as Agathe in “The Marksman” at the Royal Opera in Stockholm in 1946. She was part of the opera’s ensemble up until 1959. Nilsson was especially wellknown for her operatic works of Wagner and Richard Strauss. She performed on the world’s major opera stages, including the Covent Garden in London, La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan in New York. The Royal Opera in Stockholm and the Gothenburg Opera House are honoring the late singer with exclusive 100th birthday concerts. Princess Adrienne was born in Stockholm on March 9, 2018. Photo: Mr Christopher O’Neill
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Swedish Press | May 2018 7
[Landskapsnyheterna] SKÅNE Klass fyra i Lövestad skola i Sjöbo kommun kom tvåa i tävlingen Batterijakten efter att de lyckats samla ihop 3,5 ton batterier. – Det är helt otroligt, säger Jeanette Wiberg, lärare och samordnare på Lövestad skola. Tävlingen engagerade både barn och vuxna i byn, och efter att barnen utnämnts till näst bäst i landet på att samla in batterier, firade man med fest och bakverk på skolgården. – Den stora vinsten är att eleverna har blivit mer miljömedvetna. De pratar mycket om återvinning och att det går bra att köpa begagnade möbler och kläder, säger Jeanette Wiberg. Sammanlagt fick skolklasserna i Batterijakten in 137 ton batterier. VÄSTERGÖTLAND En bilist vägrade att stanna vid en nykterhetskontroll i Högsbo, Göteborg. Föraren ökade i stället farten och fortsatte att köra medan polisen följde efter. Efter en tids jakt körde bilisten av vägen och ner i ett dike. Han försökte sedan att fortsätta köra och polisen valde att köra in i bilen bakifrån. – Bilen körde lite för snabbt och hamnade i diket, och när de skulle ta sig därifrån touchade polisbilen och bilen. Det skulle hindra den från att fortsätta, bilen försökte ta sig från platsen igen, säger Ann-Christine Löfstrand, vakthavande befäl vid polisen region Väst, till GP. Lyckligtvis kom ingen till skada och föraren greps av polisen. – Det var inga personskador, bara plåtskador. Bilisten är misstänkt för vårdslöshet i trafik och drograttfylleri. Polisens insats hyllas av allmänheten på Facebook. – Det är bra att ni fick fatt i honom, och er bil det är bara materiella skador. Glad att ni inte blev skadade. – Riktigt bra beslut att stoppa
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bilen innan han kom in i Kungsbacka där risken är stor att han hade kört på någon och skadat fler bilar! LAPPLAND
ÖSTERGÖTLAND Flera kommuner i Östergötland kommer att erbjuda sina studenter betalda jobb inom deras specialområden. Arbetet äger rum en gång i veckan, och kommunen hoppas att eleverna efter sina studier och arbetserfarenhet ska välja att stanna kvar i Östergötland. – Hela 70 procent av studenterna vid Linköpings universitet kommer från andra städer. Det är viktigt att visa dem att det finns intressanta, bra jobb i regionen, säger Karin Ström Lehander från Linköpings universitet. Sammanlagt ingår fem kommuner i projektet: Linköping, Norrköping, Åtvidaberg, Motala och Mjölby. – Vi är glada över att det blir 50 studenter i år, säger Faiz Jaber på Linköpings kommun. Studenterna börjar jobba i höst och fördelarna med projektet är många, enligt kommunen. – Studenterna får erfarenhet. Och kommunerna får in kompetens som har den allra senaste utbildningen. Studenterna får betald praktik, kan man säga. Men studierna ska alltid gå före. Det är vi väldigt noga med, säger Karin Ström Lehander. VÄRMLAND Liza Johansson i Storfors blev ordentligt förvånad när hon skulle slänga soporna och upptäckte en livs levande hund i soptunnan. – Det var en sån chock, det var svårt att förstå att det var på riktigt. Eftersom det var första april trodde mamma att jag skojade först, säger Liza Johansson. Hunden var instoppad i en plastpåse och endast huvudet stack upp. Lizas mamma lyfte upp hunden. – Vi visste ju inte om den var skadad, aggressiv eller hade ont. Jag dokumenterade det hela och sen åkte vi hem.
NORRBOTTEN
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JÄMTLAND
HÄRJEDALEN
ÅNGERMANLAND
MEDELPAD HÄLSINGLAND
DALARNA GÄSTRIKLAND VÄSTMANLAND VÄRMLAND
NÄRKE
UPPLAND
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DALSLAND ÖSTERGÖTLAND BOHUSLAND VÄSTERGöteborg GÖTLAND SMÅLAND HALLAND SKÅNE
Stockholm
GOTLAND ÖLAND
BLEKINGE
Malmö
Liza och hennes mamma tog sedan med sig hunden hem. LAPPLAND Renskötaren Ingemar Blind i Gällivare fick syn på en björn när han var ute på järvinventering. – Det är jättetidigt, och än är det ju full vinter till fjälls, säger han. Blind, som tillsammans med länsstyrelsens naturbevakare befann sig i en helikopter när de såg björnen vid Gáidumgeahči/Kaitumstugorna i Gällivarefjällen, blev väldigt förvånad. – Det är så tidigt än, men det går ju inte direkt att skrika till den att gå och lägga sig igen. Blind har funderat på sin upptäckt. – Jag har hört av andra också att de sett björnar. Jag vet inte varför de vaknat så tidigt, jag är ingen björnexpert. Men man blir ju orolig inför kalvningsperioden, säger renskötaren Ingemar Blind till Sameradion & SVT Sápmi.
[Business] News Swedish Comings and Goings A Losing Game on a Grand Scale By Peter Berlin
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resident Trump’s initiative to levy a 25 percent duty on steel and aluminium imports would strike Sweden’s economy hard. It is true that Sweden, as a member of the European Union, will benefit in the short term from the temporary waiver which the President has granted the E.U. But this waiver expires on May 1. Should the U.S. proceed with the levy after that date, the E.U. has declared that it may retaliate by imposing a similar duty on selected imports from the U.S., notably motorbikes, whiskey, orange juice and lipsticks. (Orange juice and lipsticks… ouch!). If this were to happen, President Trump has stated that the importation of European cars will be next on his list for levies to restore the trade balance. In that event, the impact on the Swedish economy would be even worse than in the steel scenario. And so forth until a full-scale trade war is a fact. Some statistics: Sweden’s iron and steel exports destined for the United States are worth $540 million annually. The export of cars and trucks to the U.S. is worth four times that amount. Other major Swedish exports to the U.S. are pharmaceuticals and precision instruments. Swedish Trade Minister Ann Linde concedes that the trade balance between the two countries currently works in Sweden’s favour, but that the magnitude of the surplus is somewhat illusory. On the surface, it may be true that curtailing the importation of foreign goods would re-invigorate certain American industries. In reality,
however, many of the imported items are integrated into American products which themselves are then exported, thereby restoring a substantial part of the trade balance. The reason why such American exports are competitive is because the imported components are cheaper than equivalent Americanproduced items – which is precisely why the Americans import them in the first place. Or so goes the reasoning in Swedish trade circles. The E.U. as a whole has far more clout in trade negotiations with the U.S. than Sweden would have going it alone, so Sweden cannot do much more than contribute ideas to the E.U. negotiating strategy. If the impending trade war between the United States and China is anything to go by, the “level playing field” is beginning to look more like an out-of-control seesaw where nobody remains on top for very long. It is surely time for the world’s trading partners to come to their senses before someone gets hurt.
Konecranes Charging Cranes, lifting equipment in the steel industry. Photo © Konecranes
Sweden, the Start-up Nation The Swedish economy is booming, and high-tech firms are looking far and wide to find the talents needed to keep growing. Training more Swedes and asylumseekers will take too long and won’t yield the necessary numbers, so there are many job opportunities for foreign professionals. However, beware of the Swedish bureaucracy. It can be time-consuming to obtain visas, housing and the all-important personnummer without which you cannot sign up for telephone, broadband, bank accounts and many other bare necessities. Three-quarters of Swedish firms looking for foreign talent consider the bureaucratic hurdles against the recruitment of foreigners to be very cumbersome, so much so that the calls for government agencies to streamline the process are intensifying. For once, a popular new tax On April 1 the Swedish government introduced a new tax on air travel which will add hundreds of kronor to airline ticket prices. More than half of the Swedish population supports the new tax which, by discouraging air travel, is intended to reduce the effects of air pollution from jet exhaust. The most frequently advocated alternative is travelling by train. A slight inconvenience for travellers is that a trip from, say, Stockholm to Paris by train typically takes 72 hours, while the same journey by air only takes 2½ hours. This may explain why only 15 percent of Swedes plan to curtail their air travel for vacation purposes, while 74 percent will continue flying as before and the remaining 11 percent are undecided. As the saying goes, it is the thought that counts, not the action.
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Company File
A Player of Consequence in Space Interviewed by Peter Berlin
OHB Sweden – formerly the Satellite Division of Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) – is one of Sweden’s foremost developer of advanced spacecraft technology. Swedish Press interviewed the company’s Chief Technical Officer, Peter Rathsman, to hear his take on Sweden’s role in the spacecraft construction business.
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began my career with SSC in 1983. At that time I was hired to be part of the customer team that procured the large Tele-X geostationary telecommunications satellite from Aérospatiale in France. Tele-X was a joint Nordic political and technological venture intended to establish a hi-tech space industry and encourage cooperation among the Nordic countries. My role was to oversee the development of the satellite structure – i.e. the “hull”, if you will – and also the thermal control of the satellite.
Tele-X proved to be a great success. Aérospatiale (nowadays called Thales) was the prime contractor, and Saab Space (nowadays called Ruag Sweden) was the co-prime, the idea being that Aérospatiale would train Saab Space in how to build equipment for satellites. Later I became involved in the development of our first Swedish national satellite program called Freja, which was built between 1987 and 1992. It was launched in 1992 from a site in the Gobi Desert in China. We then proceeded to build our second domestic satellite called Odin which is still working today after 17 years in orbit. It is a highly advanced spacecraft equipped with a 1-metre telescope which points with extreme precision at interstellar clouds in order to investigate how stars are formed. In between measurements in outer space it also looks at the Earth’s atmosphere in search of trace elements that contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer. Because our Swedish smallsatellite missions were so successful, ESA awarded SSC a contract to build Europe’s first lunar space probe called Smart-1. It employed a new kind of electric propulsion to take the probe from the Earth
to the Moon. One could say that it was Sweden’s and my personal first mini-Apollo project! The probe was launched in 2001 and arrived on the lunar surface in 2004. Afterwards we built a pair of satellites called Prisma which were launched in 2010 to practice formation-flying in space, and also to evaluate various methods of performing so-called rendezvous and docking manoeuvres. 2011 was an important milestone for our Satellite Division at SSC in that we were sold to OHB in Germany, Europe’s third largest producer of satellites. Hence we became known as OHB Sweden. Our activities were now even more focussed than ever on spacecraft development, which suited us very well. Since that take-over we have delivered subsystems to OHB for their medium-sized communications satellites. We are currently working on a project called Electra, for which we are in charge of the pointing and propulsion subsystems. The end customer of Electra is SES, the worlds largest operator of communications satellites located in Luxemburg. I find this evolution of our company most satisfying, since it represents commercial continuity of our earlier hard-earned scientific and technological successes.
A pair of satellites called Prisma was launched in 2010. Photo: OHB Sweden
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Swedish Press | May 2018 10
H E RI TAG E
“Buzz Aldrin, A Space Visionary..." Buzz Aldrin, a Space Pioneer with Swedish Roots By Stephen Anderson
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evered as the second man to land on the surface of the Moon, Buzz Aldrin has yet to set foot in the museum where his feats are recognized in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood.
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin at the veteran parade in New York on November 11, 2010. Photo: Mikhail Kusayev
Born in 1930 in New Jersey of mixed Swedish ancestry, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. was called “Buzzer” by a sister who couldn’t pronounce “brother.” Shortened to “Buzz,” the nickname stuck and Buzz Aldrin became his legal name in 1988. A 1951 honors graduate of West Point, he received an Air Force commission and was a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. Subsequently earning a doctorate in astronautics from M.I.T., he was assigned to the Air Force Systems Division. In 1963, Aldrin was selected for the third group of NASA astronauts and was promoted to a Gemini 9 back-up crew. He became a pilot on Gemini 12, setting a record for
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon near the leg of the lunar module Eagle during the Apollo 11 mission. Mission commander Neil Armstrong took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. Image Credit: NASA
extra-vehicular activity and proving that astronauts could work outside their spacecraft. On July 20, 1969, Aldrin followed Neil Armstrong as the first astronauts who left their lunar landing vehicle and walked on the Moon. A Freemason and Presbyterian church elder, Aldrin gave himself communion and claimed Masonic territorial jurisdiction over the Moon for the Grand Lodge of Texas. In October 2013, the Swedish American Museum in Chicago opened a new educational exhibit, “Buzz Aldrin, a Space Visionary,” in its children’s gallery. A grant from the Swedish Council of America helped make it a reality seven days each week. Here a youngster can “blast off” on a personal space odyssey. Once a month, a “Moon Monday” program is provided with help from a mobile education cart equipped with lunar technology. When Aldrin left NASA, he was assigned commandant of the Air
Force Test Pilot School at the Edwards Air Force Base in California. He retired from active duty in March 1972 but continued to serve in managerial roles. In retirement, he continues to promote space exploration. In 1993, he produced a computer strategy game called “Buzz Aldrin’s Race into Space.” In 1995, he appeared in the film, “America: A Call to Greatness,” with Charlton Heston. In 2009, the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing, he participated in a rap video that helped support his foundation, ShareSpace. Aldrin has written four books: “Return to Earth” (1973), “Men from Earth” (1989), “Magnificent Desolation” (2009), and “Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration” (2010).He is coauthor of two science fiction novels: “Encounter with Tiber” (1996) and “The Return” (2000). In addition to numerous military decorations and other awards, Aldrin has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Congressional Gold Medal, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A crater on the Moon and an asteroid are named in his honor.
Astronaut Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, prime crew pilot of the Gemini XII spaceflight, undergoes evaluation procedures with the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit in the 30-foot altitude chamber at McDonnell Aircraft. Image Credit: NASA
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Swedish Press | May 2018 11
Swedish Space Exploration Then and Now By Peter Berlin
A Photo: Konstantin Shaklein
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Swedish Press | May 2018 12
s an internationally recognized leader in cutting-edge technology, Sweden was bound to embark on space exploration sooner or later. In 1961 the first sounding rockets were launched from Swedish Lapland to investigate the nature of noctilucent clouds – those high-altitude clouds that look like giant flying saucers against the dark sky after sunset. A sounding rocket goes straight up into space before falling back to Earth, as opposed to a launch vehicle that sends satellites into orbit and space probes into interplanetary trajectories. Later the noctilucent research was widened to include the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). The interest in exploring the Northern Lights was motivated by scientific curiosity and the wish to understand why the phenomenon causes radio interference. Since those early days, Sweden has launched a variety of space missions, sometimes alone but mostly as a member of the European Space Agency (ESA), the European equivalent of NASA. Through ESA, member states are able to pool their industrial and
financial resources in order to pursue space ventures that would otherwise be far too costly for any one participating nation. One of the most interesting ESA space missions was called Smart-1, with a Swedish company serving as the Prime Contractor. The Smart-1 spacecraft used cutting-edge electric propulsion to work its way to the moon over a period of 3 years. ESA operates on the principle of “industrial return”, a concept which ensures that most of a member state’s financial contribution to a given space program is returned in the form of R&D contracts placed with industry in that country. This has the advantage that undertaking space missions also serves to further the competitiveness of European industry in the global marketplace.
Above: Smart-1 en route for the moon. Graphic: ESA | Left: A sounding rocket lifts off from Esrange. Photo: DLR Picture
Over the years, Swedish industry has benefitted hugely from domestic as well as ESA-driven space activities. Notable examples are: • RUAG Space which is one of the world’s foremost builders of computers onboard satellites and rockets, i.e. the “brains” that enable spacecraft to function more or less autonomously. • OHB Sweden which provides hi-tech spacecraft electronics and specializes in building entire small satellites. • GKN Aerospace which manufactures key parts of the Ariane rocket engines. • Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) which operates a network of satellite ground stations and control centres to monitor and guide satellites by remote control. SSC is also in charge of launching high-altitude balloons and sounding rockets from its Esrange launch site for Swedish and international customers.
GKN Aerospace sandwich nozzle for Ariane 6. Photo courtesy of DLR
While OHB Sweden was still part of SSC, the company oversaw the construction and launch of several satellites. The first of these was called Viking, launched in 1986 to study the processes leading up to the appearance of the Northern Lights. The follow-on satellite Freja had similar goals and carried instruments provided by Swedish, German, Canadian and U.S. research institutes. The Northern Lights were also the focus of Astrid 1 and Astrid 2. Tele-X was a joint Nordic venture in satellite telecommunications from geostationary orbit, and Smart-1
was the mission to the Moon mentioned earlier. Odin is still alive and well in orbit; it combines two scientific disciplines on a single spacecraft, the first for studying star formation (astronomy) and the second for monitoring the depletion of the ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere (aeronomy). Lastly, Prisma is a pair of experimental satellites that has successfully demonstrated the technology needed for formation flying and docking in space. Space is an important subject at many Swedish educational institutions. For example, the Kiruna-based Rymdgymnasiet introduces high school students to the fundamentals of space science and technology. The Space Department of the Luleå University of Technology is also in Kiruna. Here, students from many nations come together to work towards their Master’s degrees and Doctorates in a variety of space-related subjects. The students take advantage of the nearby state-run Institute of Space Physics (IRF) and the above-mentioned SSC to launch experiments, complete their internships and work on their graduate theses. Some of the university students in Kiruna pursue their studies within the framework of state-sponsored programs that allow them to move every year between universities in different countries, all the while receiving full credits towards their degrees. Upon graduation, they are not only knowledgeable in their chosen space subjects, but they are also multilingual and multi-cultural – a superb prerequisite for making a career in one of the most cosmopolitan professions around. Swedish ambitions in space go further than designing satellites and launching sounding rockets. In the October 2013 issue of Swedish Press we interviewed Karin Nilsdotter, CEO of Spaceport Sweden who reported on plans to take tourists into space from Esrange. Another project has been
proposed to launch satellites directly into near-polar orbits, from where they can perform a variety of missions aimed at monitoring the health of our planet. On the subject of saving our planet, it is worth remembering that spacecraft, despite their exorbitant cost, perform essential services that we now take for granted. The health of agriculture, forests, the oceans and the atmosphere is studied from space using cameras and radars. Modern-day weather forecasts owe most of their accuracy to meteorological satellites. Satellite navigation and other space systems allow us to know where we are on Earth down to 1-metre accuracy using inexpensive GPS receivers. TV programs from anywhere in the world may be enjoyed thanks to communication satellites, and our homeland security is supported by intelligencegathering spacecraft. And, of course, our insatiable curiosity about the Universe and our planet’s origins is nourished by spectacular images captured by scientific spacecraft travelling – and sometimes touching down – in interplanetary space.
Astronaut Christer Fuglesang in his mission’s final spacewalk outside the International Space Station in 2009. Image © NASA/ESA
For Sweden, the focus has so far been on science, telecommunications and technology development. That said, a Swedish astronaut, Christer Fuglesang, has twice flown on the Space Shuttle to visit the International Space Station. As for sending humans to Mars, the Swedes have wisely adopted a wait-and-see stance.
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Swedish Press | May 2018 13
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Olle Norberg och hur allt började med en rymddräkt
Olle Norberg, Generaldirektör på Rymdstyrelsen Foto: Rymdstyrelsen
Olle Norberg arbetade som satellitkontrollingenjör i Rymdbolaget med placering vid Esrange Space Center 1988-1989. Under åren 1989-2001 var han doktorand, projektledare och forskare vid Institutet för rymdfysik i Kiruna. Han disputerade 1998 och avlade teknologie doktorsexamen vid Umeå universitet. Därefter var han under 2001 – 2009 åter verksam vid Rymdbolaget, först som platschef för Esrange Space Center och senare som Senior Vice President för Marketing and Relations. År 2009 utnämnde regeringen Norberg som Generaldirektör för Rymdstyrelsen.
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Swedish Press | May 2018 14
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Berätta om din uppväxt och hur du kom på att ägna dig åt rymdverksamhet. Jag är född 1963. På 60-talet var Esrange under uppbyggnadsfasen. Jag var naturligtvis alldeles för ung för att förstå vad som hände där. Vad som fångade min uppmärksamhet var Apolloprogrammet. För en 6-åring var ju månlandningarna helt fascinerande, detta att se människor landa på månen. Jag kommer ihåg så väl hur jag såg en rymddräkt i ett skyltfönster i Kiruna inför Julhelgen 1969. Den ville jag ha, och den fick jag! Sedan dess har jag varit fascinerad av rymden och vad man kan göra där. Läste mycket om det under hela min uppväxt, och drömde om att studera inom det området. Det blev en naturlig följd att jag läste Teknisk fysik på Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan i Stockholm. Under din långa karriär har du bl.a. varit forskare på Institutet för Rymdfysik (IRF) i Kiruna, chef för raketbasen Esrange strax utanför Kiruna och nu Generaldirektör på Rymdstyrelsen i Stockholm. Finns det en gemensam nämnare för dina erfarenheter i dessa roller? På något sätt så är väl den gemensamma nämnaren – åtminstone på Esrange och Rymdstyrelsen – att hjälpa andra forskare och industrier att uppnå sina ambitioner. Som rymdforskare på IRF så är det klart att fokus låg snarare på den egna gruppens möjligheter att nå fram till sitt mål. Men även där var jag mest intresserad av de delar som handlade om att samla in data och bygga instrument, alltså inte bara för min egen vetenskapliga
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lystmätnad, utan för en större krets. Om man ska försöka finna en röd tråd, så finns den snarare i mitt intresse för hur vi i Sverige kan bidra till att fler människor får möjlighet att jobba med rymden och får tillgång till de resurser som vi har framför allt på Esrange – flyga raketer, ballonger, ta ner data mm. Berätta i korta ordalag om Rymdstyrelsens mandat och aktiviteter. Rymdstyrelsen är en myndighet som sorterar under Utbildningsdepartementet. Vi sysslar inte bara med forskningsfrågor utan även med mycket som har med svensk industri att göra och med användningen av rymdteknik i samhället. Omkring två-tredjedelar av de resurser vi har går ut på att poola våra resurser inom ESA och ta fram den infrastruktur som behövs inom samhällets rymdverksamhet, som t.ex. satelliter för navigation, telekommunikationer och jordobservation. Därmed stödjer vi ju även svensk rymdindustri, får rymdindustrin att vara konkurrenskraftig och innovativ. Då och då talas det i Sverige om att man ska lansera kommersiell rymdturism från rymdbasen Esrange, detta i samarbete med internationella rymdentreprenörer som Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos och Elon Musk. I vilken mån har Sverige lyckats förverkliga dessa ambitioner? Vi bedrev ett samarbete med Bransons Virgin Galactic för ungefär 10 år sedan. Då tittade vi på möjligheterna att
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etablera en rymdhamn i Europa för Virgins resor. Vi hade ett samarbetsavtal med Virgin Galactic för att titta på de tekniska förutsättningarna. Men sedan har det tagit en oerhört lång tid för Virgin Galactic att komma igång med sin verksamhet på Mojave Air and Space Port i USA. Vi har ju ännu inte sett den första kommersiella flygningen med rymdturister ombord. Jag skulle vilja säga att Kiruna har god potential den dag det hela kommer igång. Men sedan återstår frågan hur stor rymdturismen blir. Det törs jag inte svara på. Jag var själv på Mojave Air and Space Port i maj förra året tillsammans med vår rymdminister. Naturligtvis finns det en spännande rymdverksamhet där. Men i samtalet med flygplatschefen framkom det att det är snarare Mojave som tittar på Kiruna för att se hur de kan efterlikna den struktur som vi har i form av utbildning och forskning i samverkan med industrin. På Mojave finns bara industrin, ingen utbildning eller forskning. Regeringen gav i september 2017 Rymdstyrelsen i uppdrag att i samverkan med Swedish Space Corporation undersöka förutsättningarna att på affärsmässiga grunder sända upp små satelliter från Esrange. Kan du berätta mer om bakgrunden till denna ambition, vilka hinder som återstår
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att övervinna, och när definitivt beslut väntas? Ursprunget till denna tanke går tillbaka flera decennier i tiden då Esrange etablerades som en uppskjutningsplats för sondraketer. Det faller sig därför naturligt att man samtidigt tittat på olika möjligheter. Sondraketerna går ju rakt upp till cirka 700 kilometers höjd och ramlar sedan rakt ner igen. Men att gå ut i bana, vad får det för konsekvenser? Vad behöver man för extra förmågor för att kunna genomföra detta? Det som är intressant nu är att vi har ett helt annat läge när det gäller kundtrycket. Förr i tiden var tanken snarare en teknikers önskedröm. Alla på Esrange ville detta så innerligt, men marknaden fanns inte. Nu är läget helt annorlunda genom att det finns en mängd små satelliter som väntar på uppskjutning – och nu pratar vi inte bara om mikrosatelliter, utan även om små satelliter som OneWeb. De sistnämnda kommer att skjutas upp med Soyuz-raketer framför allt. Men OneWeb och liknande konstellationer måste ju då och då fyllas på när enstaka satelliter upphör att fungera, och här finns alltså ett affärsområde för en liten startplats som Esrange att skicka upp små satelliter i bana med hjälp av små startraketer. Det
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finns redan ett flertal små raketer på världsmarknaden som skulle passa. Vi hoppas nu att regeringen ställer medel till förfogande under året, för man behöver bygga en viss infrastruktur på Esrange som ligger längre bort från huvudbyggnaden jämfört med sondraketerna. Regeringens budgetproposition kommer vanligtvis den 20:e september, men i höst sker ju samtidigt riksdagsvalet, så vi får se. Ditt mandat som Generaldirektör för Rymdstyrelsen går ut i maj i år. När du ser tillbaka på dina 9 år i tjänsten, vilka prestationer är du mest tillfredsställd med? Jag är väldigt glad över att ha kunnat få igång ett litet satellitprogram för forskning. Vi bygger nu en satellit i 50-kilosklassen som svenska forskare kommer att kunna dra nytta av. Vi har också satt igång ett ballong- och raketbaserat forskningsprogram som ger kontinunitet för svenska forskare att utnyttja resurserna på Esrange. Sedan har jag jobbat hårt för att vi ska få en riktig nationell rymdstrategi i Sverige. Den kommer ut nu i maj. Intervjuad av Peter Berlin
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Swedish Press | May 2018 15
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Putting Sweden on the Map At Home
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‘My curiosity and search for knowledge...’
Global S
Javier Martín-Torres, Chaired Professor in Atmospheric Science, Luleå University of Technology Although Javier MartínTorres has always had an interest in outer space, studying and teaching atmospheric science was not a decision that he made early in his life. Instead, he left that to destiny. “I had to find work to support myself when I was Javier Martín-Torres is studying to earn my PhD. currently on the faculty of The first job that came my the Department of Computer way was in the field of Science, Electrical and Space atmospheric science,” he Engineering (SRT) at Luleå said. University of Technology in Please tell us about your early years Luleå Sweden. He leads and higher education. research in Atmospheric I was born in a city called Jaén in Science, Geophysics, and southern Spain, but grew up in Astrobiology, and specializes Andújar and Linares. I had a happy childhood and dedicated much of in terrestrial, Martian and my time to playing football, as I exoplanet atmospheres. dreamed of becoming a star football He is an expert in space player. Science was, of course, always a big part of my life as well. mission development and is involved in current and future I was an avid reader from the age of seven and used to read books about Earth missions, as well as biology, geology, physics, astronomy missions to Mars and beyond. and history. At the age of 16 I decided that I wanted to become a physicist. He is an Advisor to the I wanted to know how the universe ESA and NASA Planetary works. Protection Offices, and At the age of 18, I moved to the has served in ESA Review University in Granada, where I specialized in theoretical physics. Panels.
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Swedish Press | May 2018 16
I earned a PhD from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalucia in Granada and the University of Oxford in the UK. After earning a post-doc research Fellowship from the European Space Agency I moved to Karlsruhe in Germany to work at the Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung. I was involved in the MIPAS/ Envisat mission, which was going to launch in 2002. Before Envisat launched I got an offer to work at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, USA. There I analysed data of the SABER instrument which is still flying and measuring onboard the TIMED spacecraft platform of NASA. After six years at NASA Langley Research Center I moved to California to work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, where I obtained a permanent position as a Senior Research Scientist. After two years there I got a job at the Center for Astrobiology in Madrid. How did you end up at Luleå University of Technology? The school offered a Chaired Professorship on Atmospheric Science, which allowed me to create a group which builds instruments and develops research. We currently have a group of seven seniors, two
l Swedes
‘...to make the earth a better place to live.’
postdocs, six PhD candidates and a few Masters students. Together we develop space instrumentation and, in particular, an instrument called HABIT which will travel to Mars in 2020. It will be part of the ESA mission ExoMars. What does your role as Professor of Atmospheric Science entail? I lead the Atmospheric Science Research Group in both research and education at all levels. I make research decisions regarding what lines of research our group follows. But most importantly, I am meant to be a role model for the people in our group, for the students, and I always represent Luleå University of Technology wherever I go. My tasks include planning, executing and monitoring research, and also supporting staff. I work with the Head of the SRT Department to ensure a good working environment for our staff. Who/what inspires you in your work? My curiosity and search for knowledge, challenge, innovation and desire to make the earth a better place for us to live. The members of my team also inspire me. I’m lucky to have found such an amazing group of outstanding people.
You have been chosen as Sweden’s National Contact for the Europlanet organization – the largest forum for the European community in planetary science. What would you like to accomplish in this role? Europlanet is the European network of planetologists and planetology labs. I would like to join efforts within the Swedish community in order to present our facilities to our European colleagues and offer our collaboration. I also hope to provide the Swedish community with information about all of the European infrastructures that we could access and that can help our community develop state-of-theart research at no cost and open up to new collaborations with our European colleagues. Planetary Science, and space in particular, have historically proven to benefit much from the collaboration between countries, given that space facilities, projects and instrumentation are usually expensive. Sharing efforts and reducing the costs by not duplicating already existing facilities is another goal of mine. How do you think the image of Sweden is changing and developing internationally (particularly in North America)? When living in the US I found that Sweden had the image of a country where high taxes were paid. This image has now changed to a more accurate one: Swedish taxes are affordable; they are rational and
efficient and reward our society. I also think that Sweden projects an image of modernity, innovation and a good taste for design. Furthermore, Swedes in the US have an image of being trustworthy. Doing business with Swedes is a guarantee of confidence and trust. I read somewhere that descendants of Scandinavian people in the US have better positions than the average person because of the trust that Scandinavian people radiate. I can understand that. I hope that with our developments in Space we can contribute to a modern image of Sweden to the world. For the first time, with HABIT, Sweden will land an instrument on Mars. This is a big event. How do you think Sweden has achieved the success it has despite being such a small country, population-wise? I think that there are four main reasons for this: organization, trust, tolerance and the fact that there is no corruption here. Sweden is a respectful and welcoming country; foreigners from all over the world are able to adapt, thrive and take on great opportunities. What is your favourite planet and why? Earth! Our beautiful home - full of colours, opportunities and an atmosphere full of breathable air. Interviewed by Sofie Kinnefors
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Swedish Press | May 2018 17
[Lifestyle]
Top Sju
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Ballet classic “Sleeping Beauty” (Törnrosa) premieres at the Royal Opera in Stockholm on May 11. The classic tale, featuring music by Pjotr Tchaikovsky and choreography by Márcia Haydée after Marius Petipa, tells the story of Princess Aurora who for her baptism receives magic gifts by her six fairy godmothers. Unfortunately, an evil fairy casts a spell on Aurora, dooming her to one day prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. Luckily one of the good fairies manages to change the spell so that Aurora will not die, but sleep for 100 years and be awakened by the kiss of a prince.
Swedish multinational clothing retail company H&M is joining the list of clothing stores offering budget friendly wedding gowns by launching their very own wedding collection. The collection is sold online and includes wedding dresses, as well as festive clothes and accessories. Media reports indicate that prices are considered low for wedding gowns, but slightly higher compared to regular H&M merchandise. For example, a short lace dress can be had for approximately 500 SEK, and a longer traditional wedding dress for about 2000 SEK.
1982 Since opening its door in 2013 the Abba-museum on Djurgården in Stockholm has become a great success – attracting one and a half million visitors. To celebrate its fifth anniversary the museum is expanding. The new department unveils what happened to Abba’s members after the band split in 1982 and features stations where visitors can, interactively, enjoy conducting the entire orchestra
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Swedish Press | May 2018 18
“Sleeping Beauty” (Törnrosa). Photo: The Royal Opera
in the musical “Chess” or paint “Donnas Greek House” from the musical “Mamma Mia.” The Abba-museum’s new department opens to the public on May 8th.
13 May 13 marks Tunnbrödets dag (the day of flat bread) in the Swedish calendar. Swedish flatbread can be crisp or soft and comes in many varieties. The original Swedish flatbread was, however, unfermented and baked with barley flour, salt and water. It is traditionally eaten with surströmming (fermented herring) or as dopp i grytan (soft bread soaked in pork broth).
2018
This spring’s Geranium of the Year was recently revealed at The Nordic Gardens, an exhibit in Stockholm. The stunning white hydrangea geranium with soft pink edges is called “Picotee Pink.” Geranium of
the Year blooms have been announced annually since 2007. “Picotee Pink” (like all other geraniums) needs nutrition, water and light. During spring, it can be kept indoors on a windowsill, and outdoors it flourishes best in a large pot or balcony box where it thrives until the first frosts.
15 Greg Poehler, known from the Swedish-American comedy series “Welcome to Sweden”, has put together a list, first published online at Buzzfeed, of 15 things Americans learn when moving to Sweden. Poehler (like his character Bruce) moved from the US to Sweden for love. High on Poehler’s list are the basics: The language is hard to learn; celebrities aren’t that special; being naked in public is OK; light therapy is a must; Swedes are fond of Americans; there are more Skarsgård brothers than Stellan and Alexander; and, in brief… everyone loves Sweden.
4 Holiday travels to Riksgränsen, a ski resort in Swedish Lapland 200 km north of the Arctic Circle on the border with Norway, have more than doubled. Four out of 10 Swedes choose to go skiing in Sweden during their winter holiday, according a survey done by Sifo on behalf of passenger train operator SJ. Among skiers traveling by train, Åre is the most popular destination, closely followed by Sälen and Riksgränsen.
[Lifestyle] Poetry A Scandinavian-American Poet, Singer and Dancer
read Tranströmer in Swedish to them, translated by Robert Bly, who I studied with at the Iowa Writers Series when I was at the University of Minnesota. Robert Bly also learned Swedish at home. I attach a flyer prepared for The Yale Club Reading. I have a new full-length book of poetry due out in April, 2018. It has Swedish culture woven in with the poetry. I am known as a Scandinavian-American poet here. I also sing Swedish folk songs and know how to dance gammaldans. The chairperson of the American Scandinavian Foundation informed me that my application for a prize from them is under consideration. I have been happy to have Swedish parents and I have three children who are also proud of their Swedish roots. Last December, they all went to the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis to celebrate Lucia.
Av Marion Palm Marion Palm, an awardwinning writer and poet who lives in Brooklyn, NY, contacted Marion Palm, founder Swedish Press and director of Poets to enquire Under Glass. whether we might publish a poem translated to Swedish by Marion’s cousin in Stockholm. After leaving a message on her answerphone, we received the following email. We found her Swedish irresistible and are reproducing it verbatim in the following.
V
ar bra att komma hem och höra Svenska i mitt hus denna dagan. Vist kan du anvanda mina diktur. Jag kommer inte ihog precis var dom var, men en var oversat i Svenska med min kusin’s son Pelle Gagneval som bor i Stockholm, fast dom ar min skrivning. Pelle’s mor och min mor Alice var syskon i Vastervik ifran Hultsberg familjen. Min far tog Alice over har till America i 1934 och dom boda har i Brooklyn hella tiden fast dom flygg fram och tilbaka manga ganger till Sverige. Vi prata Svenska hemma, och jag larade inte Engelska till efter jag borja skolan. Jag har studera Svenska pa laroverket i Minnesota, men ar lat over min stavninar. Forlot!
I was invited to read my own poetry at The Yale Club on March 16, 2018, by invitation only. It is a very prestigious venue coordinated by the publisher of Cross-Cultural Communications. I promised to
The Gift – “I Love You” Tender moments gather as a stone cast out on a slip of the tongue, precipitating rings in a pool from memory to infinity. d
Untitled Before the splendor of the snow-splashed trees. Before the statues on settled hills. Before the slumbering pond smothered Under her white blanket, The shelved sidewalk leads the way For the animated step Of the blind man with the white-tipped cane.
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Swedish Press | May 2018 19
[Lifestyle] Museum The Nordic Museum in Seattle Re-Opens with Great Fanfare
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he Nordic Museum is partnering with more than a dozen local and international organizations to turn the entire month of May 2018 into a “Nordic Seattle” celebration of Nordic arts, culture and innovation. With more than 20 events ranging from experimental rock to classical music, film, theater, literature, technology and business, the Nordic Seattle series will extend from April 17 through June 1, at venues all across Seattle. The Nordic Seattle series is designed to highlight and celebrate the May 5th grand opening of the Nordic Museum in its stunning new home on Market Street in the heart of the working waterfront of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The Museum’s mission is to share Nordic culture with people of all ages and backgrounds by exhibiting art and objects, preserving collections, providing educational and cultural
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Swedish Press | May 2018 20
experiences and serving as a community gathering place. The new museum was designed by Seattle’s Mithun architects in collaboration with renowned Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa, featuring a soaring central fjord atrium with angular walls that narrow as visitors go deeper into the museum. The core exhibition, tracing 12,000 years of Nordic and Nordic-American history, was designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, the firm that helped create the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Newseum, and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. “As we open our new museum, we want to reach out to the entire community with programs that demonstrate our expanded mission and showcase the incredible diversity of arts, culture and innovation that define the Nordic region today,” said Eric Nelson, CEO of the Nordic Museum. “We’re excited to be partnering with so many organizations across Seattle and beyond, to turn Seattle into a Nordic city for the month of May.”
“While 1 out of every 8 people in Washington state self-identify as having Nordic ancestry, we want our new museum to be a place for everyone,” Nelson said. “The new Museum will be a window into the past, present and future of the Nordic and Nordic-American experience and ideas.” The Nordic Seattle series is made possible through partnership with organizations across Seattle and beyond. Key partners include radio station KEXP, Seattle Symphony, Seattle International Film Festival, Town Hall Seattle, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle Public Library, University of Washington, World Affairs Council, Elliott Bay Book Company, Rainier Arts Center, and many others. Nordic Seattle is also supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Nordic Culture Fund, and the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. A full schedule and description of the events is available at www. nordicmuseum.org/nordic-seattle, along with information on how to buy tickets for individual events.
[Lifestyle] Culture Exhibits and Events By Anna Larsson
Gotland Open Studios Gotland Open Studios (Öppna Ateljéer Gotland) is one of Sweden’s largest open studio events with 110 artists participating this year. It takes place from May 10 to May 13. During a self-guided tour, the public is invited into the studios of Gotlandbased artists, craftspeople and designers across the island. In the weeks leading up to the event, the Gotland Art Museum – a museum in Visby dedicated to local arts and crafts from the early 1800s to the present – exhibits one piece per artist from April 28 to May 13. One of the participating artists is Ninni Westerman. She both paints in watercolors and uses her watercolor techniques as inspiration for fiber art paintings in felted wool. For her wool paintings she uses wool that she dyes herself from local sheep. Another participant is ceramic artist Anki Wolter, who will be showing both tableware and sculptures, such as her trademark “planter sculptures.” For more information, see www. gotlandsmuseum.se/konstmuseet, www.oppna-ateljeer.se, www.ninnisull.se and www.wolterkeramik.com. Vikings at the Mystic Seaport Museum Yet another Viking exhibit has made it across the ocean to the United States. This time, an exhibit named “The Vikings Begin: Treasures from Uppsala University, Sweden”
Watercolor “Stora Karlsö” by Ninni Westerman. © Ninni Westerman
is opening at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. On display will be artifacts from as early as the seventh century, featuring among other things a helmet and ceremonial objects. On display May 19 – September 30. For more information, see www. mysticseaport.org. Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and Astrid Lindgren’s Näs The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was first presented in 2003 in honor of children’s book author Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002),
creator of Pippi Longstocking and many other beloved characters. At SEK five million (over $600,000) it is the world’s biggest international award for children’s and young adult literature. The 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award went to American author Jacqueline Woodson, author of more than thirty books. She writes primarily for teens but also for children and adults and was named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in the United States in January. For those of us who would like to know more about Astrid Lindgren’s work as well as her life, a visit to Astrid Lindgren’s Näs in Vimmerby may be just the thing. Her childhood home and surrounding gardens are open to the public. Tours of the home are given daily May 10 – October 7, and the property including exhibits is generally open late March through mid-December. For more information, see www.astridlindgrensnas.se.
Felted wool “Gotland Beach Hut” by Ninni Westerman. © Ninni Westerman
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Hemma hos
Gothenburg Set to Get Urban Cable Car
[Design]
By Kristi Robinson
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othenburg’s skyline is about to change. At the same time, travel in the city is going to become much more efficient. Three years from now, in 2021, Gothenburg will be celebrating its 400th birthday. To honor the occasion, the city of Gothenburg is commissioning a new mode of transportation to bring residents and tourists of the city into this new era. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding this owing to the fact that it’s the first new mode of transportation in Sweden since the subway was built in the 1930’s. A 3km long aerial cable car will be constructed from the south bank of the river to the north of the city. The cable car will drastically reduce travel time. Aside from being a scenic attraction for tourists, it will provide an incredibly picturesque commute to work, for those who embrace heights. The commission was set up as an invitational design competition. The winning team was UNStudio from Amsterdam along with the local Gothenburg firm Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture. Their concept ‘New Beacons’ made an impression on the judges who felt that it combined poetry and playfulness, put great effort into paying homage to the history of Gothenburg’s harbour, and was sustainable. The cable car will run on one line that spans from the first station at Järntorget on the south of the Göta Älv (river) to three stations north of the city. Six towers of varying heights
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Four similar stations will be built along the 3km cable line. All Photos © Plompmozes
will hold up the cable line, with the highest tower located at Lindholmen quay. The architects took a sculptural approach to designing the towers in a way that echoes the appearance of shipyard cranes. They’re designed as an open structure to eliminate large areas of shadow cast on the ground, and also to minimize socially unsafe conditions, while providing a functioning public space for paths, streets, and green belts to pass through at the base of the towers. The architects collaborated with Berlin-based lighting pros Licht & Soehne to illuminate the towers with floodlights located on the inside surface of the tower beams, making them light up like beacons at night. The design of the towers incorporates sustainable principles. Made of prefabricated fibre reinforced spun concrete they’re built using minimal
materials, and also require very little maintenance. Along the line there will be four stations where passengers can hop on or off the gondola at platform level. At the first station, on the south side at Järntorget, it will be possible to connect to buses and trams at the ground level. The stations appear to have a floating roof, offering unobstructed views of the city. Skylights have been put in the roof to fill the station with natural daylight. The architects wanted the building to feel warm and safe, so they finished the walls and ceilings in wood, and integrated low energy indirect lighting. The stations are also designed to be sustainable. Each station generates its own electricity through solar cells built into the roof in order to provide lighting and heated floors. The structural pillars below the platform level will be finished in a moss culture cladding that removes dust and pollutants from the air. Additionally, the station is designed to reduce traffic noise. Although not the first city with an urban gondola, it could set a precedent for efficient and environmentally sound travel in large cities around the world.
Hemma hos
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moved to Canada as a wide-eyed 18-year-old. I never thought it would be forever, but here I am almost 40 years later. My story began in Calgary, Alberta, where I lived for 5 years. My introduction to Canada was, to say the least, a culture shock with all the “cowboys” wearing their cowboy boots, big belt buckles etc. It was a wonderful learning experience, including some yummy food discoveries like BBQ steak. I had been trained in Sweden as a children’s nurse, but I was not allowed to practice my profession in Canada unless I underwent re-certification. So I re-educated myself instead in my new-found love for fashion design. The logical next step was then to relocate to Toronto, the fashion capital of Canada. My two wonderful sons were born there – Dakota in 1995 and Luke in 1998. I decided not to go back to the fashion world with its all-consuming demands, and instead started to work for Canada Post. After almost 15 years in Toronto we then moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba. My sons have grown up here and become very successful musicians with diplomas. They have now decided to take their Masters Degrees in Music in Europe (Sweden, Finland or Hungary). So now I think I will retire back to Sweden with my Canadian husband. He has begged me to do so for the last 5 years, as he fell in love with Sweden the very first time he visited there. Through all these years and moves, one habit of mine never changed, and that was FOOD. My husband and sons have grown up with all the Swedish traditions, including the cuisine. They have many favorites, but as young boys our
[Treats]
à la Persson
sons were particularly fond of Korv Stroganoff. Sausages are served in a thousand different ways in Sweden. The one I particularly remember as a child was Falukorv. Although you cannot find it in Canada, a European wiener is an adequate substitute. Another dish that my friends frequently ask for is Jansson’s frestelse. This dish is based on potatoes and
Korv Stroganoff Ingredients: • 400 gr European wieners • 2 yellow onions • 1 tbsp butter or margarine • 1/2 tbsp flour • 3-4 dl beef broth • 2 tsp soy sauce • 3 tbsp tomato paste • 1-2 cucumber pickles • 2-3 tbsp sour cream
The Perssons: Fia, Dakota, Luke and Art.
anchovies and is very creamy. It is present on any Swedish holiday menu all year around. By Fia Persson
Preparation: Slice the wieners in strips or cubes. Peel and chop the onions. Sauté the wieners and onion in the butter. Sprinkle the flour on top and mix in well. Add the beef broth and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add the soy sauce and tomato paste and bring to a boil. Chop the pickles and add. Move to a serving bowl and pour sour cream on top. Serve with elbow or rotini pasta or boiled potatoes.
Janssons Frestelse Ingredients: • 8 potatoes • 2 yellow onions • butter or margarine • 1 can fillets of anchovies • 3 dl heavy cream • breadcrumbs
Preparation: Peel and cut potatoes in thin strips. Peel and cut onions in thin slices. Layer potatoes, onions and anchovies in a greased oven-safe casserole. The top layer should be potatoes. Pour on half of the cream. Sprinkle on some bread crumbs and a couple of dollops of butter. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes. Then pour on the rest of the cream and bake for another 10 minutes until the potatoes feel soft and the dish has a nice golden colour.
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Swedish Press Connects
Swedish Council of America
And the Winners are... By Gregg White, SCA Executive Director
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pring is perhaps the most exciting time of year at Swedish Council of America. This is when SCA announces the recipients of its annual grants cycle. The announcement was made by Dr. Anne-Charlotte Harvey, SCA Grants Committee Chair, after the SCA Board of Directors approved this year’s grants at its annual meeting in March. “This year SCA is funding seven museum exhibitions, four performance groups, one conference and three projects aimed at youth,” said Harvey. “Some recipients are large institutions while others represent grass-roots programs that are important in their local area. The SCA Grants Committee sees this as a good cross-section of activities in Swedish America and we know just how important funding from SCA can be to each of these groups.” “I have the great pleasure of informing the various groups that they will be receiving an SCA Grant for their project,” said SCA Executive Director, Gregg White. “In fact, as often as possible, I like to deliver the check in person or visit the organization to personally witness just what kind of impact SCA has on their community. That is one of the best parts of my job!” Here are some examples of organizations being funded by this year’s SCA Grants. A complete list of 2018 SCA Grant recipients and the projects funded is available on the SCA website, www.swedishcouncil.org. AMERICAN SWEDISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA The exhibition From the Heart, Made by Hand: Celebrating 80 years of Hemslöjd at the ASHM will introduce the rich tradition of hand craft in Sweden to the museum’s visitors through a remarkable gift of 64 textiles from every
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“View of Fort Orange, 1652” Sojourning Strangers Conference Courtesy of Len Tantillo.
province of mainland Sweden to the ASHM in 1938. Opens September 2018. BISHOP HILL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION, BISHOP HILL, IL The Nordland Band Concert will be part of the Bishop Hill Midsommar Music Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2018, in Bishop Hill, IL. In addition, a workshop about Scandinavian folk songs will be held in the Steeple Building Museum. Both the concert and workshop are free and open to the public. OLD SWEDES FOUNDATION AND HISTORIC SITE, WILMINGTON, DE The 17th annual New Sweden History conference entitled, “Sojourning Strangers: Swedes and Germans in the Middle-Atlantic Colonies” will be held in November 2018. It will explore the interactions between individuals or groups that led to better understanding of the experiences of Mid-Atlantic Swedes and Germans between 1638 and 1783. SWEDISH AMERICAN MUSEUM, CHICAGO, IL The Kungsholm Miniature Grand Opera exhibit will showcase the puppets and set that were once a part of the renowned Kungsholm restaurant in Chicago from 1941 to 1971. The exhibit will highlight the history and performances of the Kungsholm puppets. Associated events will include lectures, tours of the original Kungsholm building on Michigan Avenue, and more. Autumn 2018.
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Road to 2045
Road to 2045 In the Road to 2045 series, Swedish Press explores climate change issues in Sweden and how the country deals with this major challenge. Swedish Press has entered into a collaboration with Forum for Reforms, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (Fores) who are experts in this area. In the coming months you will see updates on activities and regulations in Sweden, case studies on interesting companies, and interviews with leading climate profiles.
The Skies are Turning Green By Jakob Lagercrantz
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y 2050, aviation is to halve its climate emissions compared to 2005, and from 2020 carbon emissions must be stabilized. That is both very aggressive and not nearly enough. Aggressive, because aviation is growing so quickly and solutions that are available in other transport sectors, such as electrification, are several years off in aviation. Not good enough, since the Swedish target does not fully comply with the global United Nations Paris agreement to reduce climate impacting emissions.
In Sweden, the new climate legislation stipulates that the transport sector is to reduce its climate-impacting emissions by 70 percent between 2010 and 2030. What is less known is that aviation is not formally part of the target. But once the target was launched, Swedavia raised its hand and insisted on being included in it. Thus, the national agency responsible for all the major airports of Sweden set the target at 100 percent fossilfree domestic aviation by 2030. And Swedavia has a good track record, as the target of fossil free transports on the ground was practically reached already in 2017. Since 2016, Swedavia buys biofuel each year corresponding to the fuel consumed by its employees on some 10,000 annual flights for business purposes. But the aviation agency cannot deliver on the targets on its own; it needs policy support. In Sweden there is currently a heated discussion about whether or not the tax on aviation, introduced on April 1st this year, will be helpful towards reaching that target, and the 2030-secretariat is doubtful. “For passenger cars, it has long been obvious that an efficient electric car and a gas-guzzling SUV should not have the same tax, and aviation
Photo: Mateusz Atroszko
should be no different,” says Mattias Goldmann of the 2030-secretariat. However, there is more of a consensus on the next step for greener, more sustainable aviation. The government and the opposition agree that sustainable biofuels are part of the equation; continuing with fossilfueled airplanes is clearly not sustainable. Airlines like BRA have started to offer passengers to chip in to ensure that the equivalent of their flights are covered by renewable fuels, using agricultural waste, used cooking oil and other leftover products. The bonus points thus collected can now be turned into a more sustainable flight. Across the border in Norway, Swedavia’s equivalent Avinor even predicts that by 2040, domestic aviation will have become electrified, something that was hardly even science fiction just a decade ago. “Sweden and Norway only account for a few tens of a percent point of global carbon emissions, so the way we can make a difference is by showing the way forward, and it is inspiring to see how many visits from around the world Sweden and Norway are now getting as a result of our tough targets for fossil-free aviation,” says Mattias Goldmann, himself responsible for a South African delegation visiting Sweden and the Arlanda airport in conjunction with the UN climate meeting in Durban. This is just one of many examples of how it may pay off for a small country to be a leader in an area where everyone is about to head in the same direction. Like greening the aviation sector. Fores (which includes the 2030-secretariat) is a Swedish think tank devoted to questions related to climate and environment, migration and integration, entrepreneurship and economic reforms, as well as the digital society.
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A home for the Nordic American community.
JOIN US!
Open for Swedish food on Wednesdays & Fridays. 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle | 206.283.1090 | www.swedishclubnw.org
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Scandinavians to build Heritage Park – Astorians of Scandinavian descent are celebrating a recent agreement with the City of Astoria that will allow them to build a Scandinavian Heritage Park in downtown Astoria, Oregon. This monument will honor the thousands of Scandinavian immigrants who made it to Oregon’s North Coast in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It aims also to contribute to increased awareness of all cultures in the community. The State of Oregon was home to only 47 Scandinavians in 1870, but by the turn of the century they were coming to the Pacific Northwest in droves. Many arrived in the North Coast of Oregon after 1870 when the railroad from San Francisco to Astoria was completed. Most of the immigrants who settled in Astoria were loggers, fishermen, farmers, and small business owners. According to the 1910 census there were 9599 inhabitants in Astoria, and 35% of the population classified them-
selves as Scandinavians. Finns were most numerous, followed by Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes. The non-profit Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association (ASHA) was formed in 2011 with a mission to preserve traditional Scandinavian culture and heritage through educational opportunities in areas of customs, language, food and the arts. ASHA’s primary activity has been to support the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival but it is now also the leading initiator to build the Scandinavian Heritage Park. Fundraising for the park has begun, and ASHA will receive check donations at P.O. Box 34, Astoria OR 97103. ASHA is a 501c3 registered organization and donors will receive a tax receipt. Donors should write Park on the memo line and include a note about why they are donating, e.g. “To celebrate my heritage,” “In honor of..,” or “In memory of...” It is also possible to make online donations at www.astoriascanpark. org where one can view preliminary designs for the park.
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Chicago Outside the Lines: A History of Swedish Comics – Do comics influence culture? Seemingly unusual for an art exhibit, “Outside the Lines: Comics from Sweden to Chicago” opened March 24 in the Swedish American Museum and may be seen in the Main Gallery through June 24.
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Organized and mounted by Museum curator Keith Ulrich, the presentation celebrates the colorful history of Swedish sequential art, cartooning and graphic novels. It also highlights the power of the medium as a cultural communication tool. “The appreciation of this art form, both as a type of personal expression and mode for providing political and social commentary, thrives in Sweden,” Ulrich points out. “There, comics are considered a respected, sophisticated narrative technique that transcends the pop culture stigma the art form has struggled against in the U.S.” 28
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CHICAGO Swedish American Museum 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640 Tel: 773-728 8111 | info@samac.org www.swedishamericanmuseum.org ONGOING exhibits: “Outside the Lines: A History of Swedish Comics,” based on “Swedish Comics History” by Fredrik Strömberg, in the Main Gallery through Jun 24; also, “Dreams of a Swedish Summer” by Lamanda Joy, in the Wallenberg Gallery through Jul 29. May 5 – Sat: Talk and book signing by Eric Basir, author of “Badin and the Secret of the Saami.” May 6 – Sun 3 pm: Chicago Swedish Mixed Chorus concert and celebration of its 80th anniversary. May 19 – Sat: “Smed, the Mini-Musical,” the uncertain journey of four generations of a family that chose to move north within Sweden. May 31 – Thu 6:30 pm: Artist Vico Alvarez, author of “Rosita Gets Scared,” will discuss the use of comics as an activism and educational tool for young people. DETROIT Swedish Club of Southeast Michigan 22398 Ruth St, Farmington Hills, MI 48336 Info: 734-459 0596 www.swedishclub.net May 6 – Sun 1 to 2:30 pm: Buffet
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MINNEAPOLIS American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 Tel: 612-871 4907 | www.asimn.org Ongoing through Jul 15: Exhibition – The Fantastical Worlds of Kim Simonsson – Sculptor Kim Simonsson of Fiskars, Finland, crafts innocent, yet beguiling life-sized figures of child and animals in “mosscovered” ceramics that lead the viewer into an imaginative, fairytale-like world inspired by the forests of Finland. PHILADEPHIA American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145 | Tel: 215-389 1776 | info@americanswedish.org | www.americanswedish.org Ongoing through Aug 26 – Sami – Walking with Reindeer – Erika Larsen introduces 8
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us to the day-to-day lives of modern Sami families through her acclaimed photography exhibition. PORTLAND New Sweden Cultural Heritage Society PO Box 80141 Portland, OR 97280 www.newsweden.org May 11 & 12: New Sweden's Annual Garage, Antique and Plant sale. Fogelbo, 8720 SW Oleson Rd. SEATTLE Swedish Cultural Center 1920 Dexter Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 Tel: 206-283 1090 | www.swedishclubnw.org info@swedishculturalcenter.org May 6 – Sun 8 am to 1 pm: Swedish Pancakes. Music and dancing, plus authentic Swedish pancakes, ham, lingonberries, coffee and orange juice. Music by the Nordic Reflections, Katrilli & Folk Voice Band, and Smilin’. WASHINGTON, DC Embassy of Sweden 2900 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20007 Tel: 202-467 2600 | www.swedenabroad.com ambassaden.washington@gov.se Exhibitions on display in House of Sweden through Jun 24 – Still Life by Karin Broos – The Creative Nation: Swedish Music and Innovation – Ingmar Bergman Moods: Costumes & Images – A Never-Ending Whispering Conversation The Fanny and Alexander Process CALGARY Swedish Society of Calgary 739 20 Ave. N.W. Calgary, AB T2M 1E2 Tel: 403-284 2610 | www.swedishsociety.ca May 26 – Sat: Bus Trip (Sponsored by The Swedish Society of Calgary) – A day long bus trip to the East of Ponoka region and also the Wetaskiwin museum. Cost $30.00/person, lunch included. Bus pick up 7:15 am and will depart 7:30 am Sharp. Water and snacks available on the bus. Pre-pay before May 20 by cash, cheque or E-pay. More info contact Ros-Marie at 403 275 3551 or roslars@outlook.com. 18
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WISCONSIN Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin Tel: 414-352 7890 | www.sahswi.org May 12 – Sat 1:20 pm: Early Swedish Settlement at Pine Lake/Chenequa, WI – History tells us it was 1841 when the first Swedish settlement in Wisconsin was established in the area of Chenequa, WI. SAHSWI member John Elliott takes us back in history to the Early Swedish Settlement. Event at Redemption Lutheran Church, 4057 North Mayfair Road Wauwatosa, WI. TORONTO Svenska kyrkan i Toronto 25 Old York Mills Road, Toronto ON M2P 1B5 Tel: 416-486 0466 | toronto@svenskakyrkan.se www.svenskakyrkan.se/toronto May 5 – Lör: Vårkonsert May 31 – Torsdag lunch VANCOUVER Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC V5B 4P9 Tel: 604-294 2777 | info@scandinaviancentre.org | www.swedishculturalsociety.ca May 30 – Wed: Author of the Swedish thriller book ”The Vanished”, Caroline Eriksson will visit the Centre. The visit is organized jointly by Swea and UBC, but the Cultural Society will coordinate the visit. WINNIPEG Swedish Cultural Assn of Manitoba 764 Erin Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 2W4 | Tel: 204-774 8047 | Reservations at: svenskclub17@gmail.com May 4 – Fri 11:30 am: A lovely homemade lunch and good company at the Centre. $8.00. Reserve please, by email. May 6 – Sun 10:30 am to a pm: Swedish Brunch – beautiful food, fabulous company. Cost is $15.00 adults; children 8-12 $7.50; under 7 is free. Please reserve for Brunch at sccreservations@shaw.ca May 12 – Sat: Banquet in honour of Winnipeg Jets winning the AVCO Cup 40 years ago; Hotel Fort Garry. Swedish hockey players will be in attendance: Ulf Nilsson, Anders Hedberg, Thommie Bergman, Willy Lumdstrom, Kent Nilsson. Tickets and more details: svenskclub17@gmail.com 28
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[Ads] and Info Swedish Press Classified Alberta Organizations Svenska Skolan i Calgary bedriverundervisning för barn 3-15 år gamla på lördagar kl 9:30-12. Alla barn är välkomna. Undervisningen sker på svenska. Kontakta Svenska Skolan genom Scandinavian center 403-284-2610 eller skicka epost till contact@swedishschool.com. Läs mer om vår skola på www.swedishschool.com BC Organizations Scandinavian Business Club Monthly meetings feature business speakers. Guests and new members welcome. Call SBC: 604-484-8238. Visit us at www.sbc-bc.ca Scandinavian Community Centre Beautiful setting for weddings, parties, birthdays, meetings and seminars. 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC info@scandinaviancentre.org 604-294-2777 www.scandinaviancentre.org Svenska Kulturföreningen Ordförande Ellen Petersson 604-970-8708. Kassör är Linda Olofsson, 604-418-7703 www.
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Swedish Club 1920 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109; Tel: 206-283-1090. Open Wednesday evenings for supper and games, Friday for lunch and dinner. Pancake breakfasts on first Sundays of the month. Rental venue for meeting, parties, etc. www.swedishclubnw.org
Swedish Canadian Village Beautiful Assisted Living Residence & Senior Subsidized Apartment Buildings Located in Burnaby, British Columbia. Ph# 604-420-1124 Fax# 604-420-1175 www.swedishcanadian.ca
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GRATTIS PÅ FÖDELSEDAGEN
Washington Organizations Nordic Museum has moved to a beautiful, brand-new building! In Seattle, 2655 N.W. Market St., Ballard; 206-789-5707; Grand Opening ceremony and activities begin at 12pm Saturday, May 5.
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Sista ordet
“Cinque – quatre – trois – deux – un – top!” When Half a Billion Dollars Went Up in Smoke By Peter Berlin
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satellite launch campaign is the experience of a lifetime. The launch teams typically work long days, 6 days a week for about a month in difficult environments. Cape Canaveral in Florida is not too bad as long as one doesn’t step on a venomous snake or gets eaten by an alligator. At Sriharikota in India one risks severe stomach upsets, while at Baikonur in the Kazakh desert the temperature goes from ovenlike to frigid depending on the season. Kourou in French Guiana lies on the edge of the Amazon jungle and comes with malaria, yellow fever and stinging butterflies in a sauna-like climate. The campaign itself consists in preparing the satellite and the rocket (the “launch vehicle”) for launch. In a nutshell, both are tested extensively to make sure that they have survived the transportation to the launch site from their countries of manufacture. They are then filled with highly toxic propellants before the satellite is mounted on top of the rocket. The campaign culminates with a countdown and lift-off. In late 1982, the European Ariane rocket was still a relatively new and unproven vehicle, with Kourou as its launch base. Two satellites were being prepared to fly together on the fifth Ariane launch. The British-built Marecs was intended for maritime communications, and the Italian-built Sirio 2 for earthquake predictions. They were to be launched into the so-called geostationary orbit, in
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which a satellite travels around the equator at the same rate that the Earth rotates around its own axis, so that to an observer on the ground the satellite seems fixed in the sky above. The launch was to occur around midnight. As the project manager of Sirio 2, I spent the afternoon resting in the hammock on the deck of my rented cottage. I reflected on the three years it had taken the Italian industrial team to design, build and test the satellite. I thought about my exasperation in the early days of the contract when, as a typical Swede obsessed with punctuality, I had tried to manage the Italians for whom time was cyclic rather than a straight line. They kept missing important deadlines, firmly convinced that the opportunities to achieve delayed milestones would always return at a later date. And they proved to be right. By hook and by crook, they managed to deliver the satellite to the launch site on time, within specification, and within budget, leaving me with a grudging admiration for their ability to improvise and multi-task when needed. “Cinque – quatre – trois – deux – un – top!” Inside Mission Control, the Ariane launch team and the VIPs in the observation area held their collective breath as the Ariane operations manager concluded the terminal countdown. On the large
video screen we watched the rocket’s main engines fire up. Shortly afterwards the two strap-on boosters ignited, and the rocket with the two satellites on top rose majestically from the launch pad. Although Mission Control was located at a safe distance from the pad, we could feel the vibrations and hear a dark rumble from the lift-off. As far as we could tell, the launch was flawless. Next to the video screen was a display that plotted the trajectory of the rocket based on radar signals recorded by tracking stations downrange from Kourou. For nine minutes the pen followed the pre-drawn track on the chart. Then it suddenly deviated and began to move downward before halting altogether. A frantic radio dialogue followed between Mission Control and the tracking stations. Within a few minutes it was clear that the launch had failed. We all buried our heads in our hands. The subsequent failure investigation concluded that the engine in the top stage of the three-stage launch vehicle had seized up, sending the two satellites back to Earth along a wide arc that ended in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa. Realizing that three years of intensive team effort and half a billion dollars of space hardware have fizzled out in only nine minutes leaves one with an indescribable sense of emptiness, both physically and mentally. The black humour of my Marecs counterpart helped restore my equilibrium when later that night he turned to me and said: “Cheer up, Peter. Our satellites are now truly geostationary… on the ocean floor!”
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