ESA TV Footage — info on feed 16 May 2001

The next ESA TV Footage feed will be transmitted on

Wednesday 16 May 2001

11:00-12:00 GMT

Please note the transmission parameters below.

The ESA TV footage feed includes the following three items:

XEUS PRESENTATION (11:00-11:15 GMT, 13 minutes)

XEUS is an imaginative mission under study by ESA. XEUS will be a long lived x-ray observatory in space with a sensitivity comparable to the most advanced future facilities such as NGST, ALMA and Hershel. The goal of XEUS is nothing less than the study of the first black holes, created whent the Universe was just a few percent of its current age.

XEUS is imagined to be built in two stages. First XEUS-1 would be launched like a satellite, or better, two satellites; however, the x-ray mirror block and the detector module are separated by several dozen meters, and are kept aligned to extreme accuracy in orbit. The second stage of XEUS involves the International Space Station. Its logistical capabilities and its robotic arm will be used to assemble in orbit a telescope with 30 sqm x-ray mirror size

This transmission outlines the concept of XEUS, told with 3-D graphics and real images, and comprises of a 4 minute A-roll with English commentary and a 9 minute B-roll with clean international sound. This item is a replay of the “Europe by Satellite” ESA Exchange of 11 May 2001.

PARABOLIC FLIGHTS 2000 (11:20-11:40 GMT, 18 minutes)

This week,14-17 May 2001, the European Zero-g Airbus will again fly for an ESA parabolic flights campaign. A spectacular manoevre makes it possible for the aircraft to generate up to 20 seconds of weightlessness for its passengers and payload, which is used for astronaut training and research. This B-roll includes images from last years student parabolic flights campaign. This item was first transmitted by the ESA TV Service in October 2000.

X-38 PRESENTATION (11:40-11:55 GMT, 15 minutes)

When astronauts fly into space they require a safe carrier to return to earth after the mission. the US Space Shuttle and the Russian Soyuz capsule are current vehicles with the complicated re-entry technology needed.

As a partner in the International Space Station (ISS), ESA is leading for appropriate know-how in re-entry technology. The ESA/NASA joint project X-38 is the testing platform for the future Crew Return Vehicle, CRV, from the ISS. European scientists have planned and designed the X-38’s aerodynamic shape.

Preparing the first real return from orbit in 2002, scientists have made numerous tests of the model in order to find out the optimum of characteristics.

Today’s transmission shows preparation and assembly, historical shots about early return vehicles and detailed information on wind tunnel tests with a small model. The pictures show the flight through the supersonic barriers after having the aircraft slowed down from initial mach 25 to mach 1. Also real drop tests of a full scale model from a B52 aircraft and the smooth landing will be shown. The transmission carries split audio with English commentary by ESA Astronaut Frank de Winne. This item was first transmitted by the ESA TV Service in June 2000.

Satellite parameters for all three items:

Eutelsat W1, 10 degrees East

Transponder B5, channel 2 (digital, horizontal)

F=11.14375 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4

MPEG-2 (4:2:0)

MCR: Tel +31 71 565 6322, Fax +31 71 565 6340

PID-codes (Hex): audio 24, video 21, text 0, PCR 21

For further information and a daily update of the transmission schedule, visit our website at http://television.esa.int. For all enquires, contact Claus Habfast, Tel +31 71 565 3838, Fax +31 71 565 6340, e-mail chabfast@hq.esa.fr.