| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 766.1 | Number 66 - May 1991 | ELIS::GARSON | V+F = E+2 | Tue Nov 19 1991 06:30 | 189 |
| The Agency's Current and Future Policy
My primary objective here is to present my overall assessment of the space
situation in Europe, covering both the developments that have taken place
since the ESA Council met at Ministerial Level in The Hague, in November
1987, and what the next months are likely to bring for European space in
view of the decisions to be taken by the forthcoming Council at Ministerial
Level.
[By the Director General of ESA - DG]
Europe's Future in Space - The Challenges Ahead
[No abstract - DG]
Wherefore Manned Spaceflight?
[No abstract - DG]
Wings for European Spaceflight - The Future of Space Transportation
Over the last three years, the main effort in the space-transportation
field has been concentrated on getting work on the Ariane-5 and Hermes
Programmes firmly underway. Now that they are on the right path and a
favourable decision can be expected on the second phase of the Columbus and
Hermes Development Programmes, the time has come to give firmer shape to
thoughts on space transportation in the more distant future. The
preliminary studies on which work has started in various places need to be
directed at a common goal, and hitherto separate efforts drawn together.
The Hermes Missions - An Overview
Hermes, the European retrievable manned spaceplane to be launched on
repeated missions by Ariane-5 vehicles, is one of the major elements of the
European autonomous space infrastructure being developed during this
decade. Its main mission is to rendezvous, dock with and service Europe's
Columbus Free-Flying Laboratory. The built-in flexibility of the Hermes
design will also enable missions to be undertaken to the International
Space Station 'Freedom' and to other space stations such as the Soviet
'Mir'. It will also be possible to perform specific experiments onboard the
spaceplane itself.
Towards the Selection of ESA's Next Medium-Size Scientific Project
On 15 June 1989, the Directorate of Scientific Programmes issued a 'Call
for Mission Proposals' for the Next Medium-Size Project (M2) to the wide
scientific community. In response to this Call, twenty-two proposals were
received, of which six were selected by the Agency's Space Science Advisory
Committee (SSAC) for study at assessment level. This study phase was
completed with presentations of the projects to the scientific community on
9 and 10 April 1991. Following these presentations, the SSAC further
narrowed down the number of candidate missions, selecting four projects for
study at Phase-A level. This more detailed study phase will be completed by
early 1993, at which time the final selection of a single new project will
be made by the Agency's Science Programme Committee (SPC).
Some New European Developments in Chemical Propulsion
ESA has been promoting new developments in chemical spacecraft propulsion
for several years now. The last six years in particular have seen important
developments such as 'dual-mode propulsion', with which bipropellant
engines using hydrazine as a fuel in conjunction with catalytic thrusters
become feasible, as well as improvements in the classical bipropellant
engines. New liquid-, solid- and hybrid storable-propellant combinations
have also been identified, which not only produce 'more environment
friendly' combustion products, but also have markedly better performances
than the classical storable propellants. Considerable, and in many cases
novel, work has also been done on motor, igniter, and propellant gauging
and storage technology which will improve the performances of the
spacecraft of the future.
Two-Phase Heat-Transport Systems for Spacecraft
Due to the increased power dissipations onboard many of today's satellites,
more and more two-phase heat-transfer devices such as heat pipes are being
employed to enhance heat transportation and to increase radiator
efficiency. For future large-scale space applications, such as the
International Space Station Freedom, and possibly also Europe's Columbus and
Polar Platform Projects, thermal-management systems employing two-phase
heat-transfer loops are currently being considered. Compared to today's
single phase loops, they offer several worthwhile advantages, including
reduced overall mass, reduced pump power consumption, nearly isothermal
behaviour, adjustable working temperature, considerable flexibility in
terms of the siting of heat-dissipating components, and high growth
potential.
Laser-Based Remote Sensing from Space
At a time of increasing public awareness of the potential vulnerabilities
of the Earth's climate to man's activities, ESA is stepping up efforts to
develop space-borne instrumentation for the efficient monitoring of the
Earth's atmosphere. New space techniques for the provision of global data
must be developed if further significant advances are to be made in
operational meteorology, climate studies and environmental research. One of
the most exciting of the new approaches being considered is active sensing
with laser instruments, which use short light pulses to obtain
depth-resolved information on the composition and physical state of the
atmosphere. Key atmospheric observables such as aerosol layers, humidity
profiles and winds can be observed with unprecedented horizontal and
vertical resolution, remedying many of the deficiencies of current passive
sensor systems.
Twenty Satellite Years of ECS Operations at Redu
By February 1991, the ECS Control Centre at Redu had accumulated twenty
years of in-orbit experience with the ECS satellites, which it operates on
behalf of Eutelsat. The start of this effort began in June 1983 with the
launch of ECS-1, and was greatly expanded with the launches of ECS-2 in
1984, ECS-4 in 1987 and ECS-5 in 1988 (ECS-3 was lost as a result of a
launcher failure). The operational support required of Redu for the ECS
missions has been demanding, with the need to maintain the satellites
within a 0.1� station-keeping box, continuing demands from Eutelsat to
increase the number of transponders used for communications, and several
in-orbit relocation operations.
Powering the ESA Network
The quality and availability of power supply required by the Agency's
ground-station-network facilities cannot be provided by public networks.
Power plants have therefore been developed specifically for that purpose by
the Station and Communication Engineering Department at ESOC in Darmstadt,
and these have been implemented at a number of ESA sites.
The Eurostep Distance-Learning Experiment with Olympus
The achievements of Eurostep up to the end of the first year of operations
have pleased both its members and its sponsors. The challenge now is to
develop it into a self-supporting organisation that can continue to
contribute to the development of satellite distance-learning and satisfy
the needs of its members.
Accessing 'Prodat' from Very Small Satellite Terminals
'Prodat' has been developed as part of the Agency's Prosat Programme. The
latter embraces three main activities in the field of satellite
communications with mobiles: a link evaluation and measurement phase;
'Promar', a maritime voice experiment; and 'Prodat', a data-messaging
system.
Dynamic Development of Space Business - A Study of German Space Industry
This article is a summary of an empirical study of the German space
industry, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology
(BMFT)/DFVLR and performed by the Kienbaum Institute. It is based on data
from BMFT and ESA databases, together with primary data collected from
industry, i.e. BMFT and ESA contractors in Germany and their suppliers.
Speeding Payments to Industry - The ESA Solution
ESA payment conditions for prime contracts are designed to provide a
reasonable and contractually justified cash flow to Industry. Nevertheless,
payments to lower-tier contractors have often been very much delayed due to
the many levels of invoice approval required within the Industrial
Consortia. Investigation of complaints concerning these delays has shown
that the Agency almost invariably has paid within the due period, i.e. 30
days after receipt of the invoice from Industry. By the time the invoice
has reached the Agency, however, a long period has generally elapsed since
it was originally raised by the lower-tier contractor.
Recent Developments in ESA's Information and Data Policy
As the Agency's role developed over the last two decades, it became
apparent that the detailed provisions of its original information and data
policy would require a combination of modernisation and expansion. A major
step forward in this respect was made with the Council's approval of a new
ESA document entitled "Rules Concerning Information and Data".
'Hyperline': The Information Browser
State of the art information is vital to managers and engineers involved in
complex projects. The already large and ever-growing volume of that
information and the complexity of the computer query languages has made the
accessing and retrieval process a cumbersome task. One of the natural ways
in which humans acquire information is by 'browsing' - 'Hyperline' is a new
information-retrieval tool that allows both 'concept' and 'reference'
browsing, as well as providing the all-important semantic association
between the users' concepts and those contained in the information-
retrieval system itself.
Focus Earth
[No abstract - DG]
In Brief
[Omitted since it's not exactly current - DG]
Programmes under Development and Operations
[ditto - DG]
|
| 766.2 | Number 67 - August 1991 | ELIS::GARSON | V+F = E+2 | Tue Nov 19 1991 06:34 | 232 |
| The ISO Mission - A Scientific Overview
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) satellite will be the World's first
true astronomical observatory in space, operating at infrared wavelengths.
Astronomers will be able to choose specific targets in the sky and point
ISO towards them for up to ten hours at a time to make observations with
versatile instruments of unprecedented sensitivity. During its lifetime of
eighteen months, ISO will be used to observe all classes of astronomical
objects ranging from planets and comets in our own solar system, right out
to the most distant galaxies.
The ISO Spacecraft
The ESA Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) will provide astronomers with a
unique facility for detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared
wavelengths, covering targets ranging from Solar System objects to distant
extragalactic sources. The Observatory has two primary elements, a space
segment, namely the ISO satellite, and a ground segment. The latter will
provide all the facilities needed for satellite control, for the planning
of observations, and for data processing, including real-time assessment,
quick-look analysis and non-real-time offline data analysis.
Reading ISO's Scientific Instruments
In order to work satisfactorily, an infrared detection system must be
physically colder than the objects it needs to observe. Some of the objects
to be observed by the Agency's Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) might be as
cold as a few tens of degrees Kelvin. It is therefore essential that ISO's
detectors should themselves operate at temperatures close to absolute zero.
To avoid problems with electromagnetic interference, it is also necessary
that detector read-out (i.e. first-stage signal amplification) take place
as close as possible to the detectors. As conventional amplifiers cannot
work at temperatures close to absolute zero, special techniques have had to
be used for ISO's detectors.
Coordinated Parts Procurement for ISO - A Contribution for Cost-Effectiveness
The procurement of high-reliability electronic components for the Agency's
ISO scientific satellite has been centrally coordinated for all users. The
many benefits that have been derived from this approach have included
previously unidentified opportunities for the rationalisation of parts
types, a greater degree of flexibility, and improved management control.
The end result has been a measurable step forward in overall cost-
effectiveness.
Man in Space - A European Challenge in Biological Life Support
The decision to acquire the ability to support man whilst living and
working in space has stimulated the development of a number of life-support
technologies within the Agency. Among these, biological processes are very
promising because only they can ultimately support man in isolation from
Earth. These and similar future technologies will be critical to the
success of Europe's future space endeavours.
The ISEMSI Experiment: Europe's First Simulation Campaign for Long-Duration
Manned Spaceflight
The goal of achieving European autonomy for the long-duration manned space
missions planned for the beginning of the next century has given rise to
several studies being undertaken in 'space-analogous' environments during
the last two years. The first wholly space-oriented long-duration manned
simulation campaign undertaken in Europe took place during 1990, involving
a crew of six isolated for four weeks in a hyperbaric chamber complex. The
resources available for the study were entirely devoted to obtaining
scientific data on the psychological and physiological effects of
long-duration isolation and confinement on crew performance. Fundamental
lessons were learnt on the operational side also, and these will be fully
exploited in setting up future simulation campaigns.
Scientific Results from the ISEMSI Experiment
Mastery of the various factors associated with the prolonged presence of
humans in space is a long-term task, involving many disciplines that have
so far not been associated with space endeavours in Europe. Although
physiologists have been working on space-related problems for some years
now, particularly in the USSR, several aspects are still not yet
understood. The situation is even worse in other branches of the human
sciences, the psychological problems in particular not being well
appreciated in the western space world.
Interactive Graphical Simulation of Humans in Space
Simulation of the activities of astronauts aboard manned space systems
plays an important role in the design and eventual utilisation of such
systems. Many design aspects and mission plans are validated by such
simulations, which can also play a primary role during astronaut training.
Particularly in the early design phases, simulation is often the only means
of validating important aspects of the mission design, such as
accommodation, accessibility, ergonomics, visibility, operations time-
lining, etc.
The Ariane Transfer Vehicle (ATV) System Studies
Within this decade, NASA and its partners, including ESA, will build an
in-orbit infrastructure which will require periodic resupply, servicing and
removal of waste products. The current planning foresees the Shuttle, and
at a later stage Hermes, as the only systems performing this service. The
high-performance Ariane-5 vehicle, if combined with an 'intelligent'
expendable upper stage (Fig. 1), could provide Europe with an alternative
cost-effective means of supplying logistics cargo and building elements to
the International Space Station 'Freedom' (SSF) and a European Manned Space
Infrastructure (EMSI).
First Scientific Results from the Ulysses Mission
The successful launch of the Ulysses spacecraft on 6 October 1990 from the
Space Shuttle 'Discovery' marked the start of a five-year exploratory
journey to study the Sun and its environment from a unique vantage point, a
solar polar orbit. Although currently still in the ecliptic plane, the
scientific payload carried by Ulysses is already returning new and valuable
data.
Meteosat Monitors Humidity in the Earth's Troposphere
The distribution of water in the Earth's atmosphere, its transport and
seasonal change play a decisive role in determining our weather and
climate. Water vapour is the most effective greenhouse gas and the water-
vapour feedback to climate perturbations is known to be of great
importance. It is therefore essential to observe the Earth's humidity field
continuously on a global scale. The first results of a clear-sky climato-
logical study of the upper-tropospheric relative humidity at altitudes of
between approximately 4 and 9 km based on observations from the European
Meteosat geostationary meteorological satellite system have recently become
available.
Evolution of the Agency's Software Infrastructure for Spacecraft and Mission
Control
In 1974 ESOC decided to develop reusable spacecraft control system infra-
structures for ESA missions operated under its responsibility. Today there
are two main such infrastructure platforms in use at ESOC: The Multi-
Satellite Support System (MSSS) and the Spacecraft Control and Operation
System (SCOS). Both of these systems have evolved through different
implementation generations in order to cope, on the one hand, with the
increasing complexity of the missions to be operated and, on the other,
with the constant technological progress in the area of computer and
software engineering.
Risk Management at ESA
A few years ago the Agency - with objectives similar to those of large
industrial companies - established a Risk Management Office (RMO) within
its Directorate of Administration. Those who are somewhat sceptical about
the merits of such 'modern management' approaches might well ask: 'How
necessary and how useful is such an endeavour?' Unlike industry, ESA is not
profit-oriented. Nevertheless, its assets and operations have become both
very complex and very costly over the years and every means must be pursued
in order to avoid any major loss occurring, to safeguard the interests of
the Agency's Member States. This requires the systematic assessment of the
elements of risk within its programmes, their possible consequences, and
remedies in the broadest sense, which is a process known as 'risk
management'.
ESA's On-Line Directory of Space and Earth-Science Data
Research and operational data needs in the 1990s require integrated data-
management systems accessible to users at many sites. The ESA Prototype
International Directory (ESA PID) is the European node of an international
system of directories that is being sponsored by the Committee on Earth-
Observation Satellites (CEOS) and NASA in order to support users of data
from past and current missions, from field campaigns, and from the polar
platforms currently planned by both NASA and ESA.
["Access via Internet will be available in the near future."]
Focus Earth - First Images from ERS-1
[No abstract. There is in black and white the first image acquired at the
Salmijaervi Ground Station (Sweden). It shows an area near Spitzbergen,
Norway. Ditto the first acquired at the Fucino Ground Station (Italy). It
shows an area near the Frisian Islands, The Netherlands.
The spatial resolution is 25m. I'm not sure how that compares with Magellan
or what that is in football fields, apparently the standard unit for SAR
resolution. (-:]
In Brief
Meteosat-2 Completes Ten Years in Orbit
SPC gives Go-Ahead for Giotto Extended Mission
ERSC to Distribute ERS-1 Data for ESA
EUROAVIA Design Workshop 1991
ESA Telescience Experimenter Facility for Sounding Rockets Tested for the
First Time
Meteosat-3 Observes Solar Eclipse [Nice pix - DG]
Space Network Interoperability Recommendations Endorsed
Inauguration of Earth-Observation Facilities in Kenya
Hubble Space Telescope Finds Massive Stars in Globular Cluster
ESA/NASDA Earth-Observation Agreement Signed
SOHO/CLUSTER Contract Signed
ELA-1 Launch Pad Dismantled
Programmes under Development and Operations
In Orbit
Scientific Programme
IUE - until Dec. '91
Hipparcos - until Dec. '92
HST - ongoing
Ulysses - until Sep. '95
Earth Observation Programme
ERS-1 - launched July '91
MOP-2 - launched March '91
Applications
MARECS-A, MARECS-B2, METEOSAT-3, METEOSAT-4(MOP-1)
ECS-1, ECS-2, ECS-4, ECS-5, Olympus-1
Under Development
Scientific Programme
ISO - launch May '93
SOHO - launch July '95
Huygens - ready for launch Nov. '95 (Titan Sep. 2004!)
CLUSTER - launch Dec. '95
Communications Programme
Artemis - launch Dec. '94
DRS-1 - launch Dec. '95
DRS-2 - launch Sep. '96
Earth Observation Programme
POEM-1 - ongoing until April '92
MOP-3 - launch July '93
ERS-2 - launch Nov. '94
EOPP - ongoing until May '96
Space Station and Platform Programme
Microgravity - IML-1, EURECA, USML-1, D-2, IML-2
Columbus - ongoing
Space Transportation Programme
Ariane-5 - first launch April '95
Hermes - ongoing
Technology Programme
PH-1 - ongoing until May '93
|
| 766.3 | | ELIS::GARSON | V+F = E+2 | Tue Dec 03 1991 06:43 | 279 |
| Towards the Selection of ESA's Next Medium Size Scientific Project (M2)
=======================================================================
(Summary)
The ESA 'Space Science: Horizon 2000' programme was established in 1984. It
consists of four large missions (or so-called 'Cornerstone' missions), four
medium size missions and possibly a number of smaller missions. A large mission
costs on the order of 400 MAU. A MAU is a Million Accounting Units and an
Accounting Unit is approximately US$1.20 in 1984 dollars. A medium size mission
costs on the order of 200 MAU.
The large missions are:
* SOHO/CLUSTER, solar physics and magnetospheric physics respectively
* Rosetta, a comet sample return mission (future)
* XMM, space based X-ray observatory, launch 1998, lifetime 10 years
* FIRST, Far-InfraRed Space Telescope, spectroscopy in 200�m-1mm region (future)
The first medium-size mission (M1) is Huygens. The remainder of this article
describes the candidates for M2 and the various stages of review etc. that are
necessary. Six of the twenty-two missions that were proposed in 1989 made it to
assessment level. These were:
Astronomy/Astrophysics
* INTEGRAL
* IVS
* PRISMA
Solar-System Exploration
* MARSNET
* OPT
Fundamental Physics
* STEP
(Who thinks up these acronyms!)
All except PRISMA would actually exceed the threshold for a medium-size mission
(i.e. too expensive) so partners are being sought.
INTEGRAL - INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory
----------------------------------------------------------
This would be used to image gamma-ray sources in the energy range 15keV to
10MeV with an angular resolution of better than 20 arcmin. It will be capable
of high-resolution spectroscopy (2 keV at 1 MeV). The instrument would give an
order of magnitude improvement over GRO in sensitivity and resolution (but not
in overall coverage of the gamma-ray spectrum).
Processes which give rise to gamma-rays in this energy region include nuclear
excitation, radioactivity and positron annihilation (511 keV).
INTEGRAL consists of two main instruments: a germanium spectrometer and a
caesium-iodide code-aperture mask imager. These instruments are supplemented by
two monitors: an X-ray monitor and an optical transient camera.
The spacecraft would be three-axis stabilised with a pointing accuracy of 15'
(absolute), 1' (relative). The science data rate would be 40kbit/s.
Two possible orbits are being considered.
i) Highly Eccentric Orbit
Launched using a Titan-III class launcher into a geosynchronous, 4000km
perigee, 28� inclination orbit. This orbit would allow greater than 15 hours
per day uninterrupted observation periods outside the radiation belts. Its geo-
synchronous orbit would allow a single ESA ground station.
The spacecraft would use the XMM Common bus.
ii) Low Earth Orbit
Launched using the Ariane-4 into a near equatorial (free of the SAA), low Earth
orbit (period 90 minutes, altitude 550km). Mission control would be performed
by NASA using TDRSS.
The spacecraft would use the NASA Expendable Explorer Spacecraft (EES) bus.
IVS - International VLBI Satellite
----------------------------------
IVS will be a radio telescope in space. Its main goal will be to provide a
space-based Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) element. The primary
reason for placing a VLBI element in space is to achieve baselines larger than
the size of the Earth. The scientific objectives span a wide range of topics
including the physics of masers and stars, galactic and extra-galactic distance
determinations, and the physics of normal and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs),
including such phenomena associated with AGNs as jets and superluminal motion.
Direct distance determinations out to the distance of the Virgo galaxy cluster
will be performed.
IVS will have receivers for 4.5-8.5, 15-23, 42-63, 86-120 and if feasible
218-222 GHz. As well as performing interferometry it will be capable of acting
as a radio-telescope exploring such things as molecular oxygen lines in the
56-63 GHz that cannot be observed from the ground due to atmospheric blockage.
In this mode it will operate largely autonomously.
In its VLBI mode, IVS must be in real-time two-way contact with a telemetry
station, which provides the reference signal and receives the VLBI data. In its
radio-telescope mode data will be stored onboard and relayed to the ground once
or twice a day.
IVS will be moved between three different orbits with apogees 20000, 40000 and
150000 km and all with perigee 6000 km and inclination 63.4�.
Resolution: 10 �arcsec; simple structural information to 1 �arcsec
Primary reflector: 20m diameter.
Absolute, relative, reconstituted point errors not greater than 10, 5 and 5
arcsec respectively.
Service module mass: 7500 kg
Payload module mass: 4747 kg
Propulsion module mass: 15000 kg (propellant 11500kg)
Total launch mass: 27247 kg.
Launched by Soviet Energia vehicle.
PRISMA - Probing Rotation and Interior of Stars: Microvariability and Activity
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The objective of this mission is to combine monitoring of astroseismology and
stellar activity in order to validate stellar models. It will study the
internal dynamics of stars by measuring the characteristic frequencies,
amplitudes and lifetimes of radial and low-degree non-radial oscillation modes.
It will also study the internal magnetic dynamos, the photosphere and the outer
atmosphere of stars by measuring the temporal variations of the ultraviolet and
X-ray fluxes in addition to the previous measurements.
The payload will contain four instruments:
A Large Photometer (LP) with aperture 40cm and 1.5�*1.5� field of view. It
collects the broadband visible flux of stars brighter than magnitude 8 to detect
micromagnitude flux variations to 1 ppm.
A Small Photometer with aperture 15cm and 3�*3� field of view. Its purpose is
as for the LP but only goes down to mag. 6. It points independently of the
other three instruments and thus can survey the sky in parallel.
An Ultra-Violet Spectrometer covering the 120-285 nm wavelength range that
includes chromospheric and transition region lines. The spectral resolution
will be 0.02 nm. This instrument always sees the same field as the LP.
A normal-incidence eXtreme Ultra-Violet Telescope (XUVT) covering a 3nm
wavelength range centred at 17nm. This instrument always sees the same field as
the LP.
The spacecraft assumed for PRISMA is the XMM bus and it would be launched as a
lower Ariane-4 passenger (dual launch). The proposed orbit is geosynchronous
with a perigee altitude of 3070 km, an apogee of 68500 km and an inclination of
7�.
MARSNET
-------
The MARSNET mission consists of a network of three semi-hard landers to be
placed on the surface of Mars, about 3500 km apart. Each lander would be
carried on-board its own aeroshell and deployed at 15 km altitude for landing
at about 25 m/s. Ouch!
The purpose of the landers is to investigate such questions as to whether
biological activity has ever been present on the Martian surface and to give
new insights into the evolution of planets.
In addition to studying the internal structure and activity of Mars, the other
main scientific objectives would focus on science from the surface, and in
particular the mineral and chemical composition of rocks and soils, the
magnetic properties of minerals, and the surface meteorology at sites at various
latitudes and altitudes.
The operational lifetime would be at least one Martian year (687 days).
This mission could be complemented by a proposed NASA mission called Mars
Environment SURvey (MESUR).
The delivery of the three ESA Mars landers could be performed by moderate- to
high-performance expendable launch vehicles, such as Delta-II, Ariane-4,
Ariane-5, Titan-II/Centaur and Proton. The higher performance vehicles would
deliver more modules per single launch. In the MARSNET baseline scenario, a
composite, consisting of a carrier spacecraft (Mariner Mark-2 class) and a
number of entry modules could be launched towards Mars in appropriate reference
launch windows (1998, 2001, 2003).
Lander size:
Diameter: 90 cm
Height: 90 cm
Mass: 84 kg
Payload mass: 8.7 kg
Power supply: Solar cell array and battery
Instruments:
Seismometer Geophysics of the interior
Magnetometer
Television camera Geology
Descent imager
alpha-backscatter/ Geochemistry and mineralogy
XRF-spectrometer
Neutron detector
gamma-ray spectrometer
Coil experiment Magnetic properties of minerals
Resonance circuits
Meteorological package Meteorology
Atmospheric-structure
instrument
Thermal-array probe Surface properties
Permittivity meter
Solar-UV dosimeter Exobiology
OPT - Orbiting Planetary Telescope
----------------------------------
OPT is a 1m Ritchey-Chr�tien reflector with focal ratio f/30. A CCD camera will
cover the range 110nm-1�m and three spectrometers together will cover the range
110nm-20�m. The proposed OPT mission is a joint ESA/DARA/NASA endeavour. DARA
will provide the payload (including the telescope), NASA the launch and some of
the operations, ESA the overall coordination and the spacecraft. The pointing
accuracy will be better than 0.05 arcsec over a 1 hour integration time.
The scientific focus of this mission will include time-variable solar-system
phenomena (such as planetary atmospheric circulation, occultations, cometary
jets and planet magnetosphere interactions) and time-invariant solar-system
phenomena (such as planetary surface geochemistry and asteroid size, albedo and
rotation).
A highly eccentric orbit (1000 * 70000km, inclination 28.5�) will be used to
ensure 70% of operation time is usable. The expected mission duration is 2
years with consumables for 5 yrs. Scientific telemetry rate will be 133
kbit/sec with coverage to 96% using one European and one US 15-metre station.
STEP - Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle
--------------------------------------------------
STEP is a 'fundamental physics' mission, being studied as a cooperative venture
with NASA. Its primary scientific objective is to measure any difference in the
rate of fall of test masses in an Earth-orbiting satellite to one part in 10^17
of the total gravitational acceleration. STEP is the modern version of the
experiment attributed to Galileo which involved dropping two weights from the
Leaning Tower of Pisa. The most accurate determinations to date have shown the
inertial and gravitational mass to be equal to one part in 10^11.
The test masses would be placed in a near circular orbit of several hundred
kilometres altitude. Displacements as small as 10^-13 cm will be detectable
using SQUIDs (Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices). The experimental
apparatus needs to be evacuated to 10^-13 torr and cooled to 2K (to minimise
thermal expansion and for the superconductors to work). The bulk of the
spacecraft will be a dewar with a supply of 200 litres of superfluid helium
which will last about six months.
This mission will also give the opportunity of measuring G (the universal
gravitational constant) about 100 times more accurately than it is currently
known.
The spacecraft mass will be 824kg (of which 226kg is payload) and will be
launched using a four-stage Taurus launch vehicle in the USA. The annual launch
window is 19Feb-16April. (Don't ask me why.) The orbit for a 21 March launch
would be perigee 550km, apogee 690km, period 97.1 minutes, sun-synchronous. The
inclination will be 97.84�.
On board will be 14Mbit memory. Downlink data rate will be 42.5kbit/sec.
Ratings
-------
The Astronomy Working Group (AWG) considered the INTEGRAL, IVS, PRISMA, OPT and
STEP missions, the latter two jointly with the Solar System Working Group
(SSWG). It rated INTEGRAL the highest priority followed by IVS and PRISMA. The
SSWG also considered the MARSNET proposal and recommended that it (higher
priority) and OPT proceed to the next stage.
The Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) decided on April 12, 1991 that the
following four missions (in alphabetical order) should proceed to phase-A
study: INTEGRAL, MARSNET, PRISMA, STEP. Final selection of a single mission
would be in 1993.
|
| 766.4 | ESA meeting on future plans | VERGA::KLAES | All the Universe, or nothing! | Wed Nov 11 1992 13:25 | 91 |
| Article: 51436
From: A6%[email protected]
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: ESA ministerial conference at Granada (Spain)
Date: 11 Nov 92 15:28:58 GMT
Sender: [email protected]
Organization: [via International Space University]
--------------------------------------
ESTEC Public Relations - Announcement
Subject: PR No.3 Ministerial Meeting Progress Report
Issued by : Public Relations ESTEC
Date , time : 92-11-11 , 11:49
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY GIVEN MANDATE FOR THE COMING YEARS
The Council of the European Space Agency, meeting at Ministerial Level in
Granada on the 9th and 10th November 1992, under the Chairmanship of Profes-
sor Hubert Curien, the French Minister for Research and Space, gave ESA a
wide-ranging mandate to continue with all existing programmes.
The ministers representing 13 Member States of the Agency, the Associate
Member Finland, and Canada, re-affirmed the commitment made at the Munich
--------------------------------------
Meeting to the continuity and strengthening of European space policy, while
adapting the Agency's strategy for its future space programmes to the chang-
ing political and economic circumstances.
All Member States are strongly in favour of strengthening the Agency's ac-
tivities in the pursuit of a greater understanding of the Earth's environ-
ment and the problems that all countries feel in this domain. Envisat-1, a
remote-sensing mission dedicated to the science and processes of the envi-
ronment, thus ensuring continuity of the invaluable data provided by the
Agency's ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites received full support. Preparatory ac-
tivities will go ahead for the operational climate monitoring mission
Metop-1, planned for launch in 2000, to be developed in cooperation with
Eumetsat and which will represent a significant contribution to the Eumetsat
programme for long-term monitoring of "Plant Earth". A start will be made in
1993 on a second generation Meteosat system, again to be developed in close
collaboration with Eumetsat; the first launch being planned for 1999.
--------------------------------------
In pursuing the in-orbit infrastructure programmes, the development of APM
has now been given the go-ahead. The Agency will negotiate with NASA on the
exploitation costs of the international space station, aiming to achieve a
firm ceiling, within which a significant portion of the Agency's contrib-
ution will be made "in kind", which could include such services as the As-
sured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV), the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) using
the Ariane launcher and the Data Relay System (DRS)
Concerning Hermes, the decision was taken to continue with the orientation
of the programme towards greater and deeper cooperation with Russia to ar-
rive at a crewed space transportation system developed from Hermes which
will be reviewed in 1995.
The decision was taken to go ahead with the Data Relay Satellite, DRS-1.
These developments together with an assessment on the operations uses of the
DRS will be the subject of a major review in February 1995.
--------------------------------------
Within the Columbus programme means to provide full funding for the attached
pressurised module (APM) laboratory will be clarified; with specific meas-
ures being taken over the next few years to align development with the fi-
nancial resources available. A five per cent cut in APM costs was accepted.
The problems faced by several Member States following the financial re-align
ment in the last few months were fully discussed and the Agency must provide
an equitable solution of an interim nature before the end of the year.
The Ministers were enthusiastic about the synergy existing with the CEC on
Earth Observation questions, Eutelsat and Eumetsat. They welcomed what had
been achieved with ESA's international partners particularly USA, Russia and
Japan, and they look for intensification and expansion of relations.
Relations with Russia received particular attention, with emphasis on joint
studies in the areas of in-orbit infrastructures and associated communi-
--------------------------------------
cations, manned transportation systems and missions of European astronauts
to the Mir station. Possible cooperation with other former USSR countries
might be considered.
ESA now has clear policies to follow for the coming years, and a further re-
view at Ministerial Level will take place in 1995.
|
| 766.5 | ESA to participate at Moscow Aerospace '93 | VERGA::KLAES | Quo vadimus? | Mon Aug 02 1993 15:12 | 51 |
| Article: 68336
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: MAILRP%[email protected]
Subject: message from Space Digest
Sender: [email protected]
Organization: [via International Space University]
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 13:40:25 GMT
Press Release Nr 36-93
Paris, 30 July 1993
ESA at Moscow Aerospace '93: exhibition, presentations and visit to Star City
ESA will participate in the Moscow Aerospace '93, the international
specialized trade fair for Aerospace and Airport equipment, open from
31 August to 5 September 1993. Leading aerospace companies from the
CIS, the USA, Eastern and Western European countries, as well as
national and international organisations, will gather on the fair
grounds of "Krasnaja Presnja" in Moscow for a six day open window on
planes, space, avionics, aircraft equipment, helicopters, propulsion
and Research and Development. Several hundred thousand visitors are
expected to attend this event that also includes a presentation of
aircraft at the Central Airport of Moscow and flying displays at the
Airport of the Institute Lii at Zhukowsky (65 Km from Moscow).
In the context of the specialized trade fair, in the "Krasnaja
Presnja" fair ground, ESA will be featuring an exhibition covering the
current programmes and particularly Earth Observation and Space
Transportation Systems. The 250 sqm ESA stand will find place in Hall
1, where also Russian institutions and trading companies are located.
In the afternoon of 30 August (the day before the official opening),
after the inauguration Press Conference, ESA will present its
activities and will introduce to the press the four ESA astronauts
currently training for MIR flights in 1994 and 1995. On 31 August a
visit to Star City is being organised for the media. Further details
on these two events will be specified at a later date.
News media wishing to attend the ESA event and/or visit Star City in
the framework of Moscow Aerospace '93 are kindly invited to fill in
the attached form and return it to ESA Public Relations, preferably by
fax (Fax. nr. + 33 1 42 73 76 90).
For accreditation and invitations (needed to obtain Visa for Russia)
please apply directly to the Organizer of Moscow Aerospace '93:
Helbig Industriemessen - Mr. E. Fichtner/ Ms. B. Tyl
Postfach 1569
8480 Weiden- Germany
Tel. + 49- 961 33 028 - Fax. + 49- 961 37 449
|
| 766.6 | ESA uses VR | VERGA::KLAES | Quo vadimus? | Mon Aug 02 1993 19:15 | 54 |
| From: US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Andrew Yee, Science North"
31-JUL-1993 21:06:08.96
To: [email protected]
CC:
Subj: Virtual worlds
European Space Agecny
Press Information Note No. 16-93
Paris,France 14 June 1193
VIRTUAL WORLDS
The technological advances of the last few years, particularly in
electronics and informatics, have led to the development of real-time
imaging and more recently to the advent of virtual reality.
The simulation unit at the European Space Agency's Space Research and
Technology Centre (ESTEC, in the Netherlands) has since 1991 been
investigating virtual reality, which is recognized as a new simulation
technique of undoubted interest for space applications.
The benefits of this new technology will be presented at the Paris air
show, at the ESA pavilion, where three demonstration programmes will
offer an opportunity to journey into virtual worlds.
Journey on the Surface of Mars
Exploring our solar system using semi-autonomous craft, as part of a
mission to Mars, for example, would obliviate the need to expose
astronauts to hostile conditions. Using virtual reality techniques it
will be possible to control, from the Earth or from an orbiting
spacecraft, the movements of a rover on the surface of the red planet.
This technique is known as "telepresence" and involves the operator
receiving the information needed to feel immersed in this distant
environment (use of stereovision) and able to control the vehicle's
movements intuitively.
Extravehicular Activity
Here the operator performs extravehicular activity outside the Russian
Mir space station. Thanks to simulation of the space sled the operator
can carry out various tasks while experiencing the effects of
weightlessness. Using virtual reality it will thus be possible to
define procedures for intervention by astronauts on future space stations.
Ocean Observation
Earth observation satellites, such as ERS-1, generate huge volumes of
scientific data. By means of real time imaging, scientists are now
able to visualize that data in three dimensions and travel through
these worlds, which are at one and at the same time virtual and real,
in order to locate interesting phenomena such as variations in sea
level as determined by the topography of the ocean floor.
|
| 766.7 | ESA Projects for 1994 | VERGA::KLAES | Quo vadimus? | Wed Jan 12 1994 15:15 | 260 |
| Article: 81188
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: MAILRP%[email protected]
Subject: Message from Space Digest
Sender: [email protected]
Organization: [via International Space University]
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 1994 11:19:15 GMT
Press Release Nr.01-94
Paris, 11 January 1994
ESA ready for 1994.
In 1994 ESA will be involved in a long series of events.
These are the key dates to be earmarked in your agendas:
__________________________________________________
January:
13/01 HST Servicing Mission first results: Press
Conference at NASA Goddard Space Flight
Centre, Greenbelt, USA. Release of first
images to European media and production of
video news release distributed via Reuter.
20/01 Ariane V63 launch (Eutelsat II F5 & Turksat 1).
__________________________________________________
February:
11/02-18/02 STS-61 crew visit to Europe. Report on
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) mission.
Tentative schedule:
11/02 ESA HO, Paris, France
14/02 BAe, Bristol, United Kingdom
15/02 ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
16/02 ESO, Munich, Germany
17/02 Bern, Switzerland
18/02 Geneva, Switzerland
21/02 Presentation of HST results to ESA's Science
Programme Committee (SPC) at ESA HO.
Session open to Press.
23/02 Ariane V64 launch (Intelsat 7 F2).
28/02-03/03 15th AIAA International Communications
Satellites Systems Conference, San Diego,
USA. ESA exhibition stand.
t.b.d. Hand over of Meteosat-6 to Eumetsat. Press
event in Darmstadt, Germany.
__________________________________________________
March:
08/03-11/03 Oceanology International '94, Brighton, UK.
Exhibition and conference. ESA/BNSC
exhibition stand and ERS-1 demonstrations.
t.b.d. Ariane V65 launch (Solidaridad II and Bd-3N).
__________________________________________________
April:
25/04-28/04 Eureca results symposium, ESTEC
Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
25/04-29/04 European Geophysical Society conference,
Grenoble, France. ESA booth.
t.b.d. Ariane V66 launch (Telstar 4 or DirectTV 2
& Thaicom 2).
t.b.d. Forum der Technik, Munich, Germany. ESA exhibition.
__________________________________________________
May:
09/05-13/05 2nd Euro-Latin American Space days,
Buenos Aires, Argentina. ESA exhibition.
28/05-05/06 ILA '94, Internationale Luft-und Raumfahrt
Ausstellung, Berlin, Germany. 1500 sqm Space
pavilion in cooperation with DARA, DLR and BDLI.
t.b.d. Ariane 5, 1st Vulcain firing on launch pad
(first of a series of firing to validate ELA3
launch pad and ground infrastructure).
t.b.d. ERS-2 Press Day, ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
Presentation of spacecraft and briefings.
t.b.d. Ariane V67 launch (Panamsat 2).
__________________________________________________
June:
06/06-10/06 International Society for Photogrammetry
and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) conference,
Ottawa, Canada. ESA/Radarsat booth.
t.b.d. Ariane V68 launch (Brasilsat B1 and Turksat 2).
t.b.d. Ariane 5, M3: third firing of Ariane 5 booster
with flight structure in Kourou, French Guiana.
__________________________________________________
July:
08/07 ESA Science exhibition inauguration at the
Hamburg Planetarium, Hamburg, Germany
(till December 1994).
08/07-22/07 STS-65/Spacelab IML-2 (Internatinal
Microgravity Laboratory) Mission. Large ESA
involvement in payload (Biorack, CPF, etc..)
10/07-21/07 COSPAR ' 94 (Committee on Space Research)
Plenary meeting, Hamburg, Germany.
t.b.d. Ariane V69 launch (DirectTV2 & Thaicom 2).
__________________________________________________
August:
13/08-24/08 International Aereonautical Union (IAU) '94
General Assembly, the Hague, the Netherlands.
__________________________________________________
September:
05/09-11/09 Farnborough International '94. ESA Space
pavilion with BNSC and UK industry.
13/09-16/09 ULYSSES first polar pass Workshop at
ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Press
Day on 16/09.
t.b.d. Signature of Envisat and Polar Platform
development contracts.
t.b.d. Ariane V70 launch (Astra 1D).
t.b.d. Ariane 5, M4: fourth firing of Ariane 5 booster
with flight structure in Kourou, French Guiana.
t.b.d. Launch of Russian Photon retrievable
satellite with ESA's Biobox 2 and Biopan 2.
__________________________________________________
October:
03/10 EUROMIR 94 launch; 30 day mission with ESA astronaut
09/10-14/09 IAF '94 (45th International Astronautical
Federation Congress and exhibition), Jerusalem,
Israel. ESA exhibition.
t.b.d. STS-66/ Atlas 3 (Atmospheric Laboratory for
Applications and Science) mission with ESA
participation and ESA astronaut on board.
t.b.d. Ariane V71 launch (Brasilsat B2 & Eutelsat II
F6 or Telecom 2C).
__________________________________________________
November:
t.b.d. EUROMIR 94 - end of mission
t.b.d. Ariane V72 launch (Panamsat 3 or M-SAT)
t.b.d. Ariane 5, M5: fifth firing of Ariane 5 booster
with flight structure in Kourou, French Guiana.
t.b.d. Texus 33 launch with mainly ESA payload
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
December :
t.b.d. Launch of ERS-2 by Ariane.
or
Jan. 1995
Note: Launch dates are very much dependent on different factors such
as readiness of spacecraft and/or launcher and thus remain
undetermined (t.b.c. = to be confirmed) for quite some time. Ariane
launch dates will be confirmed by Arianespace, NASA will manifest
Shuttle launch dates accordingly. All other ESA events still t.b.c. at
this stage will be re-confirmed in due time via the usual flow of
Press Releases and Information Notes.
Press Release Nr.02-94
Paris, 11 January 1994
ESA astronaut assigned to ATLAS 3 Shuttle mission
ESA astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy has been selected by NASA to fly
as mission specialist on board Space Shuttle Atlantis for flight
STS-66 this autumn. The mission, named ATLAS 3 (Atmospheric Laboratory
for Applications and Science), continues a series of flights to study
the Sun's energy and its effects on Earth's climate and environment.
Jean-Francois Clervoy, a Frenchman, was selected by ESA in May 1992
along with five other young candidates to expand the corps of ESA
astronauts. Three of them, together with ESA astronaut Ulf Merbold
(Germany), who has already flown two Shuttle missions, are training in
Star City, near Moscow, for the ESA/Russian EUROMIR 94 and EUROMIR 95
missions. They are Pedro Duque from Spain, Christer Fuglesang from
Sweden and Thomas Reiter from Germany. Maurizio Cheli (Italy) and
Jean-Francois Clervoy have been in Houston since mid-1992 and have
qualified as mission specialists at NASA's Johnson Space Flight Center
there.
The STS-66 mission is scheduled to last 10 days. In addition to the
ATLAS 3 payload -with a significant ESA contribution and a strong
input from European scientists - the mission will include the
deployment and retrieval of the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometer
Telescope for Atmosphere, or CRISTA. Mounted on the Shuttle Pallet
Satellite (SPAS), this payload is designed to explore and measure the
variability of the atmosphere. CRISTA/SPAS is a joint U.S./German
experiment.
Jean-Francois Clervoy's main task will be to operate the Shuttle's
robot arm to deploy the CRISTA-SPAS experiment and then retrieve it
before the mission is concluded. US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel
Donald R. McMonagle has been selected to command Space Shuttle
Atlantis; USAF Major Curtis L. Brown Jr. will be the pilot, while
Scott E. Parazynski and Joseph R. Tanner - both on their first Shuttle
assignment - will be the other mission specialists, alongside Clervoy.
Ellen Ochoa has been named payload commander for this flight.
Press Information Note Nr.01-94
Paris, 11 January 1994
First results after servicing Hubble Space Telescope.
One month after the successful conclusion of the first Hubble Space
Telescope (HST) servicing mission, ESA and NASA will present the first
results obtained with the refurbished telescope at a press conference
on Thursday 13 January 1994 at 10h30 EST (16h30 Paris time) at the
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA.
Scientists from NASA and ESA will present the first images obtained
with both the Wide Field and Planetary Camera II and ESA's Faint
Object Camera. Photos and detailed written information on these first
results will be available upon request from Public Relations at ESA
Headquarters in Paris from Friday 14 January 1994.
Note for TV editors/ News Rooms:
On Thursday 13 January, at a time still to be confirmed by Reuters
Television, a television news release will be transmitted via
Eutelsat. The technical details of the video link are as follows:
EUTELSAT II, Flight 1: 13 deg. E, transponder
40
Polarisations downlink: Linear X (horizontal)
Frequency downlink: 12.52141 GHz
Power (EIRP): 52 dBW (central Europe)
Transponder bandwidth: 36 MHz
Video bandwidth: 30MHz
Deviation sensitivity: 20 MHz/V for PAL
Audio sub-carrier: 6.6 MHz FMSC 75
seconds
Deviation: 150 KHz peak
For further information please contact:
Reuters Television, London: Tel. (44) 81 453 4476
|
| 766.8 | ESA Press Releases Distribution List | GLITTR::KLAES | Be Here Now | Mon Mar 21 1994 17:40 | 29 |
| From: US1RMC::"HSCHNEID%[email protected]" "MAIL-11 Daemon" 21-MAR-1994
To: Multiple recipients of list NEW-LIST <[email protected]>
CC:
Subj: NEW: ESAPRESS - European Space Agency Press Releases
ESAPRESS on [email protected]
ESAPRESS is an an open LISTSERV distribution list for the official
European Space Agency (ESA) press releases. The ESA public relations
office in ESA headquarters in Paris puts all their official press
releases on this moderated ESAPRESS Listserv distribution list.
If you wish to subscribe send the command
SUB ESAPRESS your name
to [email protected] in the BODY of the e-mail.
Contact: Hermann Schneider HSCHNEID%[email protected]
or [email protected]
% ====== Internet headers and postmarks (see DECWRL::GATEWAY.DOC) ======
% Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 09:08:12 CST
% Reply-To: HSCHNEID%[email protected]
% Sender: NEW-LIST - New List Announcements <[email protected]>
% From: Hermann Schneider <HSCHNEID%[email protected]>
% Subject: NEW: ESAPRESS - European Space Agency Press Releases
% To: Multiple recipients of list NEW-LIST <[email protected]>
|
| 766.9 | | TROOA::SKLEIN | Nulli Secundus | Mon Mar 21 1994 17:53 | 8 |
|
Re: -1
Is anyone already on this dist list? If so, do they mind posting
the press releases here. If not, let me know and I will get
onto the list and post the releases here.
Susan
|
| 766.10 | Finland becomes the fourteenth member of the ESA | JVERNE::KLAES | Be Here Now | Wed Mar 23 1994 09:35 | 40 |
| From: US1RMC::"ESAPRESS%[email protected]" "ESAPRESS list" 23-MAR-1994
To: Multiple recipients of list ESAPRESS <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
CC:
Subj: Finland joins the ESA.
Press Release No. 09-94
Paris, 22 March 1994
Finland becomes ESA's 14th Member State
On Tuesday, 22 March 1994, Mr Matti Vuoria, Secretary General at the
Ministry of Trade and Industry, acting on behalf of the Finnish
Government, and Mr Jean-Marie Luton, ESA Director General, signed the
Agreement for Finland's accession to the ESA Convention, thereby
bringing the number of Member States to 14*.
Under the Agreement, which will have to be ratified by its Parliament,
Finland will become a full ESA Member State on 1 January 1995.
As an associate member of the Agency since 1 January 1987, Finland has
increasingly contributed to its science and optional programmes. It
is now planning to participate actively in ESA's space science, Earth
observation, and satellite communications programmes.
"Finland's accession to the ESA Convention is a clear sign of the
importance and value of European cooperation on space and strengthens our
position at a time when major space projects are becoming international
programmes" said Mr Jean-Marie Luton after the signing ceremony.
* The thirteen other Member States are: Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
% ====== Internet headers and postmarks (see DECWRL::GATEWAY.DOC) ======
% Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 08:34:40 EST
% Sender: ESAPRESS list <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
% Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2X
% From: MAILRP%[email protected]
% To: Multiple recipients of list ESAPRESS <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
|
| 766.11 | ESA Publications | MTWAIN::KLAES | Keep Looking Up | Tue Jun 07 1994 14:18 | 50 |
| Article: 2562
From: [email protected] (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey)
Newsgroups: sci.space.policy
Subject: Re: WANTED: ESA BUDGET INFO.
Date: 7 Jun 94 10:36:10 -0600
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Steve Borowko) writes:
> Does anyone know of a good information source for ESA news, plans, and
> budget forecasts? I have had some success on the experimental European
> Space Information System (part of the WWW), but would like to know if other
> information sources are available. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
For plans and project status, you can't beat the quarterly magazine
*ESA Bulletin*. Every issue has brief status reports in English and
French on every major ESA project, and a list of recent technical
papers and publications. In addition, there are lots of feature
articles, almost always in English, with nice color illustrations,
taking a detailed look at current or future ESA affairs.
The most recent issue (February 1994) is particularly nice. It has
two articles on the Huygens Titan probe, one on the Rosetta comet
mission, one on using lunar helium-3, and a bunch on Earth satellites,
especially remote sensing. Even better, there are 3-D pictures of
star fields from the Hipparcos data and 3-D landscapes viewed by the
ERS-1 radar satellites-- and it came with a tiny pair of anaglyphic
goggles for viewing the pictures! Like, wow, man!
If they don't receive *ESA Bulletin*, get your library to subscribe--
it's free. Best of all for us norteamericanos, it's paid for with
somebody else's tax money (for which I am deeply grateful to the
people of Europe)!
Write to:
ESA Publications Division
ESTEC
Kelplerlaan 1
2200 AG Noordwijk
The Netherlands
Bill Higgins, Beam Jockey | "I'm gonna keep on writing songs
Fermilab | until I write the song
Bitnet: [email protected] | that makes the guys in Detroit
Internet: [email protected] | who draw the cars
SPAN/Hepnet: 43009::HIGGINS | put tailfins on 'em again."
--John Prine
|
| 766.12 | Nineteenth ESA/Japan Annual Meeting | MTWAIN::KLAES | Keep Looking Up | Thu Jun 09 1994 17:21 | 76 |
| From: GEMVAX::US4RMC::"ESAPRESS%[email protected]" "ESAPRESS list"
9-JUN-1994 11:57:19.54
To: Multiple recipients of list ESAPRESS <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
CC:
Subj:
Press Information Note Nr.13-94
Paris, 8 June 1994
19th ESA/Japan annual meeting
The nineteenth meeting between the European Space Agency (ESA) and
Japan took place on 6, 7, and 8 June 1994 at ESA Headquarters in
Paris, France.
Both sides reviewed their respective space programmes since the last
annual meeting which was held in Tokyo in 1993 and expressed their
intention to pursue more active and closer cooperation. The main
areas of common interest were confirmed, in particular in the fields
of Space Science, Telecommunications, Space Transportation, Earth
Observation, Space Station, Space Experiments, Product Assurance and
Network Operations.
In the areas of:
- Space Science, the negotiations with the Institute of
Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan for
the establishment of a cooperative framework devoted
to the enhanced utilisation of ESA's Infrared Space
Observatory (ISO) through the provision of extended
operations are in a final stage.
- Telecommunications, a Memorandum of
Understanding on a joint optical link experiment
between ESA's ARTEMIS satellite and NASDA's
Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test
Satellite (OICETS) has been finalised. Besides the
exchange of information on current and future
programmes, both ESA and Japan have investigated
other potential areas of cooperation.
- Space Transportation, both sides proceeded to a
fruitful exchange of information.
- Earth Observation, ESA and Japan recognised the
satisfactory implementation of their reciprocal
agreement on data exchange between the ESA's ERS-1
satellite and NASDA's JERS-1 satellite. Arrangements
for the commercial distribution of data of both
satellites were discussed. ESA and NASDA have also
investigated potential cooperation on ERS-2, ADEOS
(Advanced Earth Observing Satellite, scheduled for
launch in February 1996) as well as for post-2000 missions.
- Space Station, both parties proceeded with a fruitful
exchange of information on their respective
contribution to the International Space Station.
- Space Experiments, flight opportunities for
microgravity experiments were reviewed by both sides.
ESA and Japan agreed to further investigate
experiments proposed by ESA for the NASDA's ETS
VII (Engineering Test Satellite, scheduled for launch
in August/September 1997).
The twentieth ESA/Japan meeting is now scheduled to take place in
Japan in 1995.
% ====== Internet headers and postmarks (see DECWRL::GATEWAY.DOC) ======
% Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 17:47:34 EST
% Reply-To: ESAPRESS list <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
% Sender: ESAPRESS list <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
% Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2X
% From: MAILRP%[email protected]
% To: Multiple recipients of list ESAPRESS <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
|
| 766.13 | I'm sure it would get there but... | AUSSIE::GARSON | achtentachtig kacheltjes | Sun Jun 12 1994 01:36 | 16 |
| re .11
:
:
:
>Write to:
>
> ESA Publications Division
> ESTEC
> Kelplerlaan 1
> 2200 AG Noordwijk
> The Netherlands
There's a typo there. It's Keplerlaan, as in Johannes Kepler. "Laan"
could be translated as avenue or alley or lane.
|
| 766.14 | RE 766.11 | MTWAIN::KLAES | Keep Looking Up | Tue Jun 14 1994 18:16 | 32 |
| Article: 2651
From: [email protected] (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey)
Newsgroups: sci.space.policy
Subject: Address for ESA magazines (was Re: WANTED: ESA BUDGET INFO.)
Date: 13 Jun 94 13:16:08 -0600
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
(Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey) writes:
> For plans and project status, you can't beat the quarterly magazine
> *ESA Bulletin*.
I have heard from Fritz de Zwaan (FDEZWAA2%[email protected]) of
the European Space Agency. He corrects the address I gave,
recommending that for subscription requests the best address is:
ESTEC / EPD
Att: f de Zwaan
P.O. Box 299
2200 AG Noordwijk
The Netherlands
Specifying the post office box, rather than the street address I gave,
will get faster service.
Kepler: "Did you know that Tycho, | Bill Higgins, Beam Jockey
my boss, had an artificial nose?" | Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Galileo: "An artificial nose! | Bitnet: [email protected]
How did he smell?" | Internet: [email protected]
Kepler: "Terrible!" | SPAN/Hepnet: 43009::HIGGINS
|
| 766.15 | ESA WWW | MTWAIN::KLAES | Houston, Tranquility Base here... | Fri Jul 01 1994 13:06 | 26 |
| Article: 2984
Newsgroups: sci.space.policy
From: [email protected] (Hugh Evans)
Subject: Re: ESA funding
Sender: [email protected]
Organization: Logica Plc. Contractor at ESA ESTEC - I speak for neither
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 1994 13:19:02 GMT
Somebody a few days ago enquired about the ESA budget. Information
about ESA can be found via the ESA Welcome page on the WWW at:
http://mesis.esrin.esa.it/
Information about the Budget is available at:
http://www.esrin.esa.it/htdocs/esa/budget.html
Hope this helps.
--
Hugh Evans
European Space Research and Technology Centre - Noorwijk, Netherlands
Internet: [email protected] SPAN: ESTWM2::hevans
A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.
|
| 766.16 | HUBES to prepare for EUROMIR 95 | MTWAIN::KLAES | No Guts, No Galaxy | Wed Aug 31 1994 14:28 | 85 |
| From: US1RMC::"ESAPRESS%[email protected]" "ESAPRESS list"
30-AUG-1994 06:02:29.02
To: Multiple recipients of list ESAPRESS
<ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
CC:
Subj: The HUBES experiment
Press Release Nr.24-94
Paris, 22 August 1994
The HUBES experiment : a ground-based simulation of a 135-day manned
spaceflight
In the framework of the co-operation between the European Space Agency
and Russia, a 135-day flight by a European astronaut on board the
Russian orbital Mir complex is scheduled for 1995. This mission,
EUROMIR 95, will follow EUROMIR 94, a shorter (30-day) mission
scheduled to start on 3 October 1994.
In order to acquire knowledge needed for the EUROMIR 95 mission, the
Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, Russia, has been
contracted by ESA to conduct a 135-day ground-based simulation (from 1
September 1994 to 14 January 1995) to study Human Behaviour in
Extended Spaceflights (HUBES). On behalf of ESA, the Norwegian
Underwater Technology Centre (NUTEC) of Bergen, Norway, is responsible
for project management. The subjects of the experiment will be : three
Russian research volunteers.
The unique test-bench facilities, the varied equipment and the
expertise accumulated by IBMP in the preparation of programme for
biomedical investigation in space by developing appropriate
methodologies and relevant equipment have helped to create the
conditions that will enable HUBES to simulate real space missions on
board the Mir station to the closest possible degree (*).
The objectives of the HUBES simulation are:
- To compare and validate psychological methods and
tools for use in crew selection, training, monitoring
and in-orbit support flight;
- To select those most appropriate for possible
application during a real long-duration spaceflight (e.g. EUROMIR 95);
- To improve knowledge about human requirements on
extended space missions.
On the basis of an international competition, 31 studies were selected
for the HUBES experiment, proposed by research groups from the Czech
Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia,
Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America in
the areas of : individual performance, group behaviour, chronobiology,
physiology, neuro-immunology, nutrition and flight operations. A press
conference to mark the start of the HUBES experiment will take place
on 1 September 1994 at 11:00 hrs at IBMP, 76-a Khoroshevskoye Shosse,
Moscow, Russia.
The research volunteers will enter the chamber at 12:00 hrs. If you
wish to attend the press conference and witness the event, please
contact IBMP directly:
Prof. Dr. V. Gushin
Tel.: +7 095 195 2366, 195 1500 or 195 6335
Fax.: +7 095 195 2253
(*) Note:
When preparing for the HUBES experiment, the results of the previous
experimental campaigns conducted by the ESA Long- Term Programme
Office of the Directorate of Space Station and Microgravity were taken
into account. These campaigns, ISEMSI-90 (Bergen, Norway, 6 men,
duration: 28 days) and EXEMSI-92 (Cologne, Germany, 3 men and 1 woman,
duration: 60 days), were performed in shore-based deep diving
complexes (hyperbaric chambers). During these two experiments, the
psychology of group dynamics and individual performance under
isolation and confinement were studied amongst many other topics.
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|
| 766.17 | Microgravity research | MTWAIN::KLAES | No Guts, No Galaxy | Thu Sep 08 1994 16:26 | 276 |
| From: US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Andrew Yee, Science North"
4-SEP-1994 02:11:25.03
To: [email protected]
CC:
Subj: Europe's space research in weightlessness: ESA and microgravity
European Space Agency
Press Information Note No. 15-94
Paris, France 23 June 1994
EUROPE'S SPACE RESEARCH IN WEIGHTLESSNESS: ESA AND MICROGRAVITY
ESA's research in the field of microgravity is concerned with the
exploration and later the exploitation of the "microgravity" environment in
a low Earth orbit and with the challenge of being able to maintain man for
long periods under orbital conditions.
Microgravity, literally vey low gravity, is the term given to the physical
environment of an orbiting spacecraft. This environment is unique, and
cannot be reproduced on Earth. It is characterised by minimal
gravitation, an ultra-high vacuum, low temperatures, full solar radiation
spectrum and cosmic proton and havey ion irradiation.
There are two main field of research performed in this microgravity
environment, one dedicated to the life sciences, and the other to general
physics, material and fluid sciences.
The life sciences look into many areas of biology, botany and physiology,
including problems associated with the well being of astronauts in space.
On Earth, every movement or action involves a reaction against gravity,
the force that attracts bodies towards the centre of the Earth. In the
microgravity environment of space, the effect of releasing this force on
the functioning and reactions of organisms can be investigated. Such
knowledge is required if permanent manned orbiting facilities and
interplanetary space flight are to become reality.
Life science research also encompasses radiation biology, the study of
the effect of cosmic ray particles on living matter (an important element in
the evaluation of radiation hazards for prolonged space flight), and
exobiology, the study of the origin of life. This field considers such
questions as the likelihood of life having originated on other celestial
bodies and the possibility of interplanetary (or interstellar) transfer of
living organisms. Bioprocessing, a further field for the commercial
exploitation of space, looks into the use of microgravity as a tool for
separation process and techniques, and the production of medically
valuable proteins like hormones, enzymes and vaccines.
In the human physiology domain, life science research has brought
insights into specific gravity driven and gravity dependent processes,
such as bodily equilibrium, blood volume control, and musculo-skeletal
problems. The research has proved several previously accepted
biological and physiological theories have to be reconsidered or are
incomplete. For example, osteoporosis (a bone disease hampering
many elderly people, mainly female) which is largely controlled by
hormones, was found to be affected in space by lack of mechanical
forces acting on the bone structure. Understanding of such functional
mechanisms will have a direct impact on treatment strategies. "Ultimately
it is believed that once a mechanism has been understood, a means to
compensate for it can then be found," comments Heinz Oser, the senior
life scientist in the ESA microgravity programme. It is hoped that drugs
and countermeasures for people suffering from such problems as
edema, hypertension and muscle wasting will result from life sciences
research in microgravity.
The general physics, material and fluid science research looks into areas
such as fluid physics, crystal growth, material processing, and
fundamental physics. The study of some of these processes is
particularly interesting in microgravity where the absence of gravitational
forces provides favourable conditions which cannot be produced on Earth.
On Earth, the gravitational forces may be the cause of undesirable
mechanisms, such as convection and sedimentation, which hinder
perfection of such processes as crystal growth and material processing.
In the absence of convection, better quality crystals with better structural
properties may be grown. In the absence of sedimentation (which
causes separation of components according to their densities) metals of
different density can be mixed together without the heavier metals
sinking before they solidify. This will enable the production of alloys of
different composition and greater strength, and in the case of monotectic
alloys much better bearing characteristics.
Fluid physics research investigates how the absence of gravity
influences the behaviour of fluid. This may have important spin-offs in
the storage and transfer of liquid propellants, and in material processing
(since most material on Earth are processed when in their fluid state).
In the field of the fundamental physics, besides tests of general relativity,
there are projects to develop an ultra precise atomic clock with long term
perspective of application in Global Positioning System.
"The applications of microgravity research are very hard to quantify,"
explains Hannes Walter, chief scientist for fluid and material in the
ESA microgravity programme, "however, it is clear today that these
research activities have advanced the understanding of the influences of
gravity on numerous physical and physico-chemical processes, and such
understanding is the first step leading to the perfection of many
technological and industrial processes on Earth."
An example of this, is the validation or correction of theories describing
the formation of alloys and composite material, achieved by comparing
results obtained in microgravity and those obtained on Earth, which have
led to improvements in various metallurgical processes. One such
improvement has led to new casting processes of aluminium alloys (with
dispersion of bismuth of lead) for application in self lubrication bearings.
Such bearings are employed in automotive engines and have a
potentially large industrial market (see following note). Similarly, the
identification of the relative influence of various transport processes on
crystal perfection has led to improvements in ground based techniques,
such as the application of magnetic fields to reduce gravity driven
convection. This results in the growth of better quality crystals.
The actual processing of material in space is still subject to speculation.
"It is at present unrealistic since the transportation costs are far too high,"
says Hannes Walter. "I do not see an industrial production in space in
the next decade. There are some products being manufactured in space,
like the famous latex spheres, but these are, and always will be,
exceptions." For the production of a material in space to be justifiable, it
must have superior or unique properties compared to any competitor or
replacement on Earth; it must be a key element in a system for advanced
industrial, medical or other high technology applications; and it must
have a high cost to weight (or volume) ratio.
There are many material about which we need to know more in order to
optimise them and make them available for industrial application.
Microgravity will help us learn more about the fundamental issues in
material processing which is something which cannot be valued highly
enough since materials are the key to technological progress.
How does Europe access microgravity?
In order to perform this research, access to a microgravity environment is
needed. Ideally, this is provided by orbiting systems such as Spacelab
and Get Away Specials on board the Shuttle, Biosatellites, the EURECA
platform, and space stations. These provide from days (Spacelab) to
years (space stations) of microgravity. Access is, however, also available
using non-orbiting systems such as drop towers, drop tubes, parabolic
flights and sounding rockets. These provide between 5 seconds (drop
towers) and 15 minutes (sounding rockets) of microgravity. Details of
these systems are given below:
Drop towers/tubes: These towers or tubes, which are evacuated so that
an experiment capsule can free fall, provide 10 seconds of microgravity.
They are used to verify the operation of devices, to check the feasibility of
operations, and to perform short term studies. A 100 m drop tower is
found at the University of Bremen in Germany, and a 50 m evacuated
drop tube at Grenoble, France.
Parabolic flights: Aircraft flying parabolic trajectories provide up to 25 s
of microgravity. The aircraft is flown in a 45 degree climb and then all
engine thrust is reduced and it free falls on a parabolic trajectory during
which experiments can be performed, before it is pulled out of the dive
into level flight. Sequences of between 20 and 40 parabolas are
normally flown on each mission, allowing repetition of experiments.
Large pieces of apparatus can be carried and are operated by the
experimenter on the flight. Parabolic flights are used for precursor
experiments and equipment checkout in material and life sciences.
ESA uses a reinforced Caravelle of the French National Space Agency
(CNES) and the Russian IL-76 MDK aircraft. An Airbus A300 is also
being considered as a new option.
Drop capsules: Up to one minute of microgravity is provided in these free
falling capsules dropped from balloons. The payload is carried to an
altitude of 40 to 45 km and then released to fall through the atmosphere.
Sounding rockets: When only a few minutes of microgravity are needed,
these rockets work out cheaper than using a satellite or in-orbit
laboratories. They include the German TEXUS and Swedish MASER
sounding rockets, which provide between 6-7 minutes of microgravity,
and the German/Swedish long duration sounding rocket, MAXUS, which
provides 14 minutes of microgravity. The advantage of sounding rockets
is the short lead time between experiment selection and flight, and the
frequent flight opportunities. These sounding rockets are launched from
ESRANGE in Kiruna, a space establishment in northern Sweden where
complete launch and recovery services are provided.
Balloon flights: These do not provide a microgravity environment directly,
but are used to expose samples to radiation conditions similar to those
encountered in orbit. They provide information to complement results
form orbiting experiments.
Spacelab: This laboratory, the European contribution to the American
Space Shuttle programme, is flown in the Shuttle's cargo bay. Designed
on a modular basis, Spacelab comprises a long or short pressurised
cabin inside which astronauts can work on experiments in a shirt sleeve
environment. To this laboratory are added one to three U-shaped
'pallets' on which experiments are exposed directly to the vacuum of
space. Certain missions may use just these pallets, together with an
'igloo' services module. The first Spacelab mission took place in 1983.
An average mission lasts 10 days. Facilities to perform experiments in
the life, material and fluid sciences are carried on board. The designers
of ESA experiments carried on Spacelab have real-time video and two-
way audio contact with the astronauts and experiments on board, and
can remotely operate some of their experiments. They can now partly
make this communication from their research laboratories throughout
Europe, via ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), which
communicates with NASA at the Spacelab mission control centre at
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Get Away Specials (GAS): These are self-contained payloads which are
accommodated in standard containers installed in the Space Shuttle
orbiter bay and exposed to the space environment. They provide a low
cost access to space.
Biosatellites: Cooperation with Russia permits ESA experiments to be
flown on their retrievable Foton type satellites. They offer 14 days in
orbit, are unmanned and are principally reserved for biological experiments.
EURECA (EUropean REtrievable CArrier): This fully automatic
instrument carrying platform is ideal for microgravity studies since
microgravity levels are particularly low. It is launched by the Shuttle and
then transferred to a 525 km orbit where it remains operational for a
period of six to nine months before recovery by a subsequent Shuttle
flight. EURECA's first mission, launched in 1992, was a great success.
Eighty percent of its multi-disciplinary payload, was dedicated to
microgravity research.
The Russian Mir space station: ESA microgravity opportunities are
available on board this Russian Space Station. Such missions are
considered as precursor flights for the International Space Station.
During the first two EUROMIR missions planned for 1994 and 1995, ESA
astronauts will spend 30 days and 135 days respectively in orbit
conducting experiments from European scientists.
The future Columbus laboratory: This is European contribution to the
International Space Station, and is being designed to have an
operational life of 10 years. Experiments in the material, fluid and life
sciences will take place. The Columbus Laboratory, one of the modules
at the heart of the station, will be part of a permanently manned system in
which astronauts will work in a shirt sleeve environment. A payload
mass of up to 4,000 kg will be available.
European microgravity opportunities for 1994
In March this year, ESA carried out its 18th parabolic flight campaign with
10 experiments, following by the successful launches of four experiments
in material sciences and fluid physics on board TEXUS 32 and Minitexus
2 sounding rockets in early May. On 14 June, six radiation biology
experiments were launched from Plesetsk (Russia) on board Biopan,
mounted onto the retrievable Russian capsule Foton-9. Landing should
occur on 1 or 2 July.
Another ESA parabolic flight campaign (no. 19) is scheduled in early July
on board the Russian Ilushin 76 aircraft. Training of the ESA astronauts
preparing for the EUROMIR 95 mission will also be part of the activities
during this campaign.
ESA is also heavily involved in the second International Microgravity
Laboratory Mission (IML-2). This Spacelab mission is scheduled to be
launched on 8 July 1994 on Space Shuttle Columbia. Like its
predecessor, IML-1, this mission will be completely dedicated to research
in microgravity. ESA is providing about 50% of the payload and four of
the nineteen on board facilities: Biorack, for experiments in cell and
developmental biology, and radiation physics; the Bubble Drop and
Particle Unit (BDPU), dedicated to the study of bubbles, drops and
particles in transparent liquids, the Critical Point Facility (CPF), designed
to investigate phenomena occurring near the critical point in transparent
fluid; and the Advanced Protein Crystallisation Facility (APCF), for the
growth of proteins from crystals. Moreover, for the first time ESA will
provide to the scientific community a means to communicate by remote
operations directly with their experiments from five different User Centres
in Europe.
Another microgravity opportunity on board a Russian retrievable satellite
is offered in September with the flight of Biobox mounted onto Foton 10.
EUROMIR 94, the first ESA mission on board the Russian Space Station
MIR, is scheduled for launch on October 3, 1994. Thirty experiments in
the fields of human physiology, material sciences and technology will
be carried out by the ESA astronaut for a long duration mission of 30 days.
A further parabolic flight campaign (no. 20) is scheduled in October this
year on board the Caravelle, during which 11 experiments should be
carried out.
Finally, three fluid physics experiments are planned to be flown on board
the TEXUS 33 sounding rocket in November 1994.
|
| 766.18 | Guarding against ice during global yatch race | MTWAIN::KLAES | No Guts, No Galaxy | Mon Sep 19 1994 19:16 | 140 |
| From: US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Andrew Yee, Science North"
19-SEP-1994 09:49:57.05
To: [email protected]
CC:
Subj: Around the world in nine months with satellite data
[From the June 1994 issue (No. 44) of EARTH OBSERVATION QUARTERLY, published
by the European Space Agency.]
AROUND THE WORLD IN NINE MONTHS WITH SATELLITE DATA
By Mary Jo Wagner, Eurimage, Rome, Italy
It sounds a bit like the Olympics. In a way, it is, but of a different
calibre. It's the "Olympics" of conquering the world -- by boat. "The
Whitebread Round The World Race for the Heineken Trophy is the pinnacle of
achievement in yachting", proclaims one piece of promotional material
for Whitebread. "No other yacht race tests crews and equipment like it. It
is about surfing at 30 knots through the freezing stretches of the Southern
Ocean, or drifting in the searing heat of the Doldrums, searching for the
sail combination that could be the difference between winning and losing."
The Whitebread is a million dollar project for the yachtsmen and women
who enter. The boats, ranging from 60 to 84 ft long, the latter of 84 ft
needing about 16 crew, are the largest expense as they are most often
custom-designed specifically for the race. These are not luxury yachts.
Anything that is weight, apart from what is absolutely necessary, is
thrown out. No heat -- consumes fuel, no proper beds, one toilet
maximum. Winning is all that matters.
It is a marathon that is raced like a sprint. For 24 hours a day, every day,
crews push the boats and themselves to squeeze out that extra knot of
speed. Thus it is a continuous fight for 32 000 nautical miles and nine
months in the most inhospitable living conditions and unfriendly waters
surrounding five continents to win.
This means every knot, every second, every minute counts. From the
time the racers left Southhampton, England last September until the time
they'll return in early June 1994, they have been choosing the best
course, the fastest course to try to win. And they will choose any route
that seems the most advantageous. A wrong move can let the trophy
float away.
However it hasn't been all that easy. Two of the six Legs of the race take
the 16 yachts through the Southern Ocean along the Antarctic where
they not only meet the freezing cold weather but their biggest threat -- ice.
A serious race such as this was therefore a good candidate for "testing
out" the results of a recent global sea-mapping study using remote-
sensing satellite data carried out by ESYS Ltd. and the University
College London Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) both
located in the UK. "It is clear that global sea ice is a parameter which
isn't particularly well-monitored and people have very little information,"
said Dr. Sally Howes, Director of ESYS. But through the use of polar-
orbiting satellites, in particular the European Space Agency's ERS-1, a
global view of sea ice can be provided in a few days.
Moreover, with ERS-1 this type of sea ice information can be supplied
very quickly -- in a matter of hours -- which could be of interest and
importance for numerous types of activity. The Whitebread race is one
such event.
"These races certainly need a near real-time ice service during the
event," explained Dr. Howes. "Because they come across icebergs and
growlers, which are when icebergs break up and set small amounts of
ice floating around which are hard to see, and if you're going very fast
and hit ice you could hole the boat."
Each yacht has a radar for spotting icebergs but the range is limited to
about five nautical miles. Because of that they can't plan very far ahead.
For this having sea ice information in advance is very important.
"One of the aims of the project was to test out the actual feasibility and
operational capability of dealing with a request like this with the satellite
data sources available on this time scale," said Dr. Seymour Laxon of MSSL.
Through the ESA facility of ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, near real-time access
to ERS-1 Radar Altimeter (RA) data was arranged. Data from the
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) was requested from the O'Higgins
ground station located in Antarctica and owned by the German
Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR). The ERS-1 radar satellite,
launched by ESA in 1991, was specifically designed to retrieve data on
areas previously poorly monitored such as ice and polar regions and has
the ability to supply this data independent of light and weather
conditions. In addition both SAR low-resolution and RA data can be
received and processed within a few hours after acquisition, hence the
capability for the near real-time service.
SSM/I data was supplied by NASA through U.S. DMSP military satellite,
which is very useful for meteorological forecasting. The British Antarctic
Survey in Cambridge provided the NOAA/AVHRR data from their HRPT
station at Rothera located on the Antarctic penisula and PoSat imagery
was acquired by the PoSat Consortium and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
Every morning satellite data were pulled from international
telecommunications networks. Utilising the RA and preprocessed SSM/I
data, sea-ice maps as well as wind-speed and wave-height maps were
then processed. The products were then sent to MSSL and ESYS for
quality control and a combined data map, wave-height map and wind
speed map were sent to Whitebread headquarters in Southhampton
around 4 p.m.
It takes about three hours to put all the products together. The SSM/I
map takes about 10 minutes to produce and the other two together (wind
and wave) take 45 minutes. But then to merge all the data to process the
other products takes around three hours.
>From there, the Whitebread headquarters sent information to each yacht.
"Each yacht has an Immarsat Sat Com C terminal," explained Mr.
Michael Woods of the Whitebread race. "We can communicate at all
times through this terminal and that's how we track the yachts too.
Through the link we sent daily weather data showing wind vectors from
Meteo France and a summarised text of the combined SSM/I and Altimeter
maps from ESYS, extracting the latitude/longitude positions of ice."
Fortunately on Leg 4 the yachts traversed the Antarctic during the
summer so the ice edge extent had receded and was not as much of a
threat as the previous Leg 2. But some yachts, who took a particularly
southern route spotted icebergs and growlers. Some of the boats noted
the position of the icebergs and faxed the information to ESYS for
verification. Every yacht arrived safely to Punta del Este completing Leg
4, and pulling an end to their ice worries in mid-March. Perhaps this near
real-time service could account for some of that safety. "We've been
doing the race for 20 years and never had a serious run-in with ice yet,"
commented Woods. "But the possibility is always there. This service
improves the safety of the race which we are always striving for. It was
an interesting and encouraging trial run."
"We did manage to get hold of all the data sources that we had hoped to
get," confirmed Laxon. "The altimeter data provided a critical
contribution, but more SAR data would have been useful to spot some of
the icebergs which the yachts saw."
Acknowledgement
This service has been performed by ESYS and MSSL under contract to
the Defense Research Agency Farnborough as part of the British
National Space Centre-funded programme to promote applications
development, develop industrial capabilities and the user base in Earth
observation.
|
| 766.19 | Atmospheric Re-entry Demonstrator (ARD) | MTWAIN::KLAES | No Guts, No Galaxy | Tue Sep 20 1994 17:24 | 83 |
| From: GEMVAX::US4RMC::"ESAPRESS%[email protected]" "ESAPRESS list"
20-SEP-1994 15:28:02.42
To: Multiple recipients of list ESAPRESS <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
CC:
Subj:
Press release No. 27-94
Paris, 19 September 1994
ESA signs ARD contract with AEROSPATIALE
Europe chooses the "simple, fast and economical" option Europe has two
years to develop and prepare for launch by Ariane-5 a space vehicle
demonstrator that can be considered as the first step towards a future
crew transport vehicle.
The demonstration vehicle, called the ARD or Atmospheric Re-entry
Demonstrator, is the tangible result of the reorientation of ESA's
manned space programme towards affordable concepts paving the way for
Europe's contribution to the International Space Station programme.
ESA has decided to appoint A rospatiale (France) as prime contractor
for the ARD development contract.
The unmanned ARD capsule, measuring 2.8 m in diameter and weighing
about 3000 kg, will be launched in April 1996 by Ariane 502.
This venture will be a first for Europe in many respects:
* It will be the first time time a launcher operating in dual
launch configuration, in this case Ariane-5, injects a
satellite into geostationary transfer orbit and a re-entry
vehicle into low orbit.
* It will also be the first time a space vehicle of this size
is developed to such a tight schedule (20 months) and under such
severe budget constraints (firm fixed price contract).
* The aims of the ARD are to validate Europe's ability
to cope with the aerothermodynamic problems of
atmospheric re-entry, demonstrate its mastery of the
materials and measurement techniques involved, and
provide operational experience in navigation,
guidance and control along a re-entry and recovery
trajectory. The contract will thus combine the ongoing
technology development effort with the work on the
concept for the development of the future Crew
Transport Vehicle (CTV), currently being carried out in
parallel by two separate groups of European firms, one
headed by A rospatiale and the other by DASA (Germany).
* The management approach is an unusual one, involving:
- a very sharp reduction in the number of models and tests
- maximum use of existing equipment and software.
* Finally, A rospatiale, applying streamlined management
methods, will head up a team of 22 contractors from 9
different countries.
Jean-Marie Luton, ESA's Director-General, and Louis Gallois, Chief
Executive of A rospatiale, will sign the contract on Friday, 30
September 1994, at ESA Headquarters in Paris.
The signing ceremony will feature a briefing on the ARD programme by J
rg Feustel-B echl, Director of ESA's Manned Spaceflight and
Microgravity Programmes, and Bernard Humbert, Head of the Manned
Spaceflight Programme Group at A rospatiale Espace & D fence.
Members of the press wishing to attend are asked to fill in the
enclosed form and return it to ESA's Public Relations Department, if
possible by fax ((33.1) 42.73.76.90).
The briefing will take place at 10 a.m., after which drinks will be served.
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% To: Multiple recipients of list ESAPRESS <ESAPRESS%[email protected]>
|
| 766.20 | ESA selects experiments for parabolic flights | TROOA::SKLEIN | Nulli Secundus | Thu Nov 03 1994 17:55 | 162 |
| From: "Andrew Yee, Science North" <[email protected]>
Subject: ESA parabolic flight competition: selected expeiments
Date: 2 Nov 1994 00:55:22 -0800
Organization: Science North
European Space Agency
Press Information Note No. 20-94
Paris, France 22 July 1994
ESA PARABOLIC FLIGHT COMPETITION: SELECTED EXPERIMENTS
At the closing date of the ESA parabolic flight competition for students,
not less than 49 interesting and valid proposals for experiments were
received from all over Europe.
The proposals confirm the high interest in space science and technology
among students and also their good understanding of the space
environment and its capabilities.
The selection jury, under the chairmanship of ESA astronaut Wubbo
Ockels, had a difficult task in selecting those experiments best adapted to
be flown on the special parabolic flight, organised by ESA with the
support of the Society of Space Engineering Students of the Delft
University of Technology (The Netherlands) and of the European Union,
in the framework of the Second European Week for Scientific Culture in
November 1994 (21-25 November 1994).
After long consideration and stressing the high scientific value of all
proposals received, the jury selected the experiments listed in the table
attached to this release.
The jury also concluded that this kind of competition may reveal excellent
and innovative ideas to be investigated at professional level for future
space missions and which possibly may find some application in the
future Space Station experimentation and instrumentation. In the
immediate future, the competition gives the students a taste of
weightlessness and the possibility to conduct their own investigation on
board.
A limited number of places for journalists will be available on the
parabolic flights for students. Journalists interested in obtaining more
information concerning the respective experiment proposals or who
would like to fly with the students should contact the ESA Public
Relations Division at ESA Headquarters in Paris.
COUNTRY: Belgium
EXPERIMENT: The mean free path of a particle in a randomwalk process
TEAM: S. Vereecke, B. Vandenbussche
UNIVERSITY: Ghent University & K.U. Leuven
COUNTRY: Finland
EXPERIMENT: Heat flow around printed circuit boards and heatsinks in low
gravity conditions
TEAM: Pasi Takala, Sami Kiiskila
UNIVERSITY: Tampere University of Technology
COUNTRY: France
EXPERIMENT: Spin stiffened membrane antennae
TEAM: J.-M. Brindeau, S. Defer, S. Py
UNIVERSITY: ENSICA
COUNTRY: France
EXPERIMENT: Nucleation near glass transition in a low melting temperature glass
TEAM: Christophe Le Deit
UNIVERSITY: Rennes University
COUNTRY: Germany
EXPERIMENT: Collision and aggregation experiment
TEAM: Gerhard Wurm
UNIVERSITY: Jena University
COUNTRY: Germany
EXPERIMENT: Investigation of the "Second Order Marangoni-Effect" in transparent
liquids
TEAM: A. Griesche
UNIVERSITY: Technical University of Berlin
COUNTRY: Germany
EXPERIMENT: Chill casting of Al-Pb alloys in aerogel crucibles
TEAM: Gudrun Korekt, Olaf Schumacher
UNIVERSITY: Cologne University
COUNTRY: Germany
EXPERIMENT: Detection and identification of different expressed genes in
primary osteoblasts under microgravity conditions
TEAM: Jochen Tenbosch
UNIVERSITY: Westfalische Wulhelms-University
COUNTRY: Germany
EXPERIMENT: Stationary magnetic levitation experiment
TEAM: Felix Huber, Jochen Hermann
UNIVERSITY: Stuttgart University
COUNTRY: Germany
EXPERIMENT: Shear-cell under microgravity
TEAM: G. Mathiak (*), Axel Griesche (*), Gabi Welzel (**)
UNIVERSITY: (*) TU Berlin, (**) TU Braunschweig
COUNTRY: Germany
EXPERIMENT: Spherical couette flow experiment
TEAM: Marcus Linek, Malte Stockert, Jan-Rolf Schmidt
UNIVERSITY: Bremen University
COUNTRY: Italy
EXPERIMENT: Reynold's experience in microgravity conditions
TEAM: D. Cisofi, G. Bertolero
UNIVERSITY: ??
COUNTRY: Italy
EXPERIMENT: Proof-mass actuator systems used for active vibration control of
large space structure
TEAM: Pierpaolo Vezzosi, Monica Politano
UNIVERSITY: Milan University
COUNTRY: Italy
EXPERIMENT: Coupling of thermocapillary convection and fingering instability of
ferrofluids in microgravity conditions
TEAM: Luigi Crocco, Grazia Lamanna
UNIVERSITY: Naples University
COUNTRY: The Netherlands
EXPERIMENT: Shape evolution of liquid bodies under microgravity conditions
TEAM: Paul Hofman, Vivek Chatuverdi
UNIVERSITY: Nijmegen University in collaboration with Aachen
University
COUNTRY: The Netherlands
EXPERIMENT: (Title still open)
TEAM: Manish Panday, Colin Hart
UNIVERSITY: Notts University, Delft University
COUNTRY: Norway
EXPERIMENT: Turbulent mixing of high density ratio fluids
TEAM: Magne Nordnes, Kare Nordnes, Arild Vik
UNIVERSITY: Trondheim University
COUNTRY: Poland
EXPERIMENT: Combustion of dusts in microgravity
TEAM: R. Sornek, J. Mainka, M. Blogowski, K. Benkiewicz
UNIVERSITY: Warsaw University
COUNTRY: Spain
EXPERIMENT: Gravity dependent pendulum
TEAM: E. Checa, F. Arevalo, E. Gordo, I. Fernandez
UNIVERSITY: Madrid University
COUNTRY: Switzerland
EXPERIMENT: Mutation rate of DNA replication and transpositional activity in
microgravity conditions
TEAM: S. Kochli, Marcel Keller
UNIVERSITY: Basel University
COUNTRY: UK
EXPERIMENT: The fluid coil actuator
TEAM: Hajime Yano, Howard Shaw
UNIVERSITY: Kent University
COUNTRY: UK
EXPERIMENT: Spiral crystalline growth in chemical gardens
TEAM: Alison Hickman, Eleanor Fell
UNIVERSITY: Ashford School
|
| 766.21 | Ratification on Finnish membership in ESA | TROOA::SKLEIN | Nulli Secundus | Wed Jan 04 1995 14:27 | 40 |
| Article: 6756
From: [email protected]
Subject: Ratification of the agreement on Finnish membership of ESA [ESA Press Release No.46-94]
Date: 20 Dec 1994 12:00:51 -0800
Organization: European Space Agency
Press Release No.46-94
Paris, 14 December 1994
Ratification of the agreement on Finnish membership of ESA
The President of the Republic of Finland, acting under
authorisation from the Finnish Parliament, has notified the
European Space Agency of ratification of the Agreement on
his country's accession to the ESA Convention (see Press
Release No. 09-94 of 22 March 1994). Finland will thus
become a full ESA Member State on 1 January 1995.
Finland, which acquired the status of an associate Member
State on 1 January 1987, was already participating in ESA's
Earth Observation and Telecommunications as well as in the
science programmes.
As we approach 1995, which will be a very eventful year for
ESA (Euromir 95, Ariane 501, the launch of ERS-2, the ISO
and SOHO, the Council meeting at ministerial level), the
accession of a new Member State, bringing the total to 14*,
shows a growing interest in European space activities on the
part of more countries and enables ESA to "strengthen its
position at a time when space programmes are taking on a
world dimension", as ESA Director General Jean-Marie Luton
put it when the Agreement was signed.
This further addition to ESA's membership is a sign of
European countries' confidence in the Agency.
*The other thirteen Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Canada is a
cooperating State.
|