France in Space No. 186 – 21 Nov 2001

1: GOOD FRENCH RESULTS AT THE 8TH ESA COUNCIL

2: ATV IS RAPIDILY TAKING SHAPE

3: ALCATEL SPACE WILL OPERATE AND MAINTAIN CNES STATION AT AUSSAGUEL

4: DIRECT TV-4S SATELLITE HAS TAKEN THE ROAD FOR KOUROU

5: EADS REVENUES REACH CEO’S HOPES

6: THANKS GIVING

** 1: GOOD FRENCH RESULTS AT THE 8TH ESA COUNCIL

France achieved excellent results at the European Space Agency (ESA)
Ministers Council. On November 15, the 15 nations of the ESA plus Canada
earmarked 2,1 billion Euros for ARIANE (three programs related to ARIANE
and Space Center in French Guyana)to develop in terms of power, versatility
and competitiveness. 2002-2006 ESA budget will also provide 547 million
Euros for the development of Galileo, a rival to the United States’ Global
Positioning System (GPS). The budget includes 83 million Euros for
operating the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). One
billion Euros will be provided for the ARTES (Advanced Research in
Telecommunication Systems)program. ESA ministers, meeting in Edinburgh,
Scotland, are determined to comply with their commitments to the
International Space Station and are asking NASA to do so as well.
[ESA Press Release, Press Release of French Research Ministry and Spacer,
11/15/2001]

** 2: ATV IS RAPIDILY TAKING SHAPE

On November 12, the “Spacecraft” service module of the Automated Transfer
Vehicle (ATV) was shipped from Astrium’s facility in Bremen, Germany, to
the European Space Agency’s facilities in the Netherlands. Early December,
it will be integrated with the mechanical and thermal module of the “Cargo
Carrier” which was delivered late July by Alenia Spazio of Turin, Italy.
The two modules will be assembled to create the first test model. It will
remain in the Netherlands for 11 months, and undergo acoustic, thermal and
vibration testing. Construction of the first flight-standard ATV will start
mid-2002, with launch to the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled
for 2004. EADS Launch Vehicle is prime contractor for the ATV, which will
ferry supplies to ISS and periodically reboost it into orbit.
[EADS Press Release, 11/13/2001]

** 3: ALCATEL SPACE WILL OPERATE AND MAINTAIN CNES STATION AT AUSSAGUEL

French Space Agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) has awarded
Alcatel Space the task to provide operations and maintenance services
control stations at its Aussaguel site near Toulouse in southwest France.
Taking effect January 1, 2002, the contract covers a total of 12 stations,
including the 2-GHz station of the satellite tracking network and the
control stations for Jason and Stentor satellites. Over the last 12 years
or so, Alcatel Space has successfully operated ground-based systems for
CNES, ESA ‘European Space Agency), Eumetsat, Arianespace and the DLR
(German Space Agency), in Europe, Kourou (French Guyana) and the Kerguelen
Islands making it the European leader in this field.
[Alcatel Space Press Release, 11/07/2001]

** 4: DIRECT TV-4S SATELLITE HAS TAKEN THE ROAD FOR KOUROU

The satellite DirectTV-4S built by Boeing Satellite Systems for Direct TV
(Hughes Electronics subsidiary), has just been shipped to Kourou, French
Guyana. On November 26, an Ariane4 rocket will launch the satellite into
orbit. DirectTV-4S can broadcast a narrow high-power beam while
transmitting to 300 channels. The capabilities of the satellite will allow
to meet the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act objectives as early as
January 1, 2002.
[Les Echos, 11/08/2001 and Arianespace Press Release, 11/14/2001]

** 5: EADS REVENUES REACH CEO’S HOPES

EADS (European Aeronautic Space and Defense Company) is on track to reach
revenues and profit targets for the current year. The world’s second
largest aerospace and defense company announced on Tuesday, a 26%-revenue
increase for the third quarter of 2001 to EUR 6.6 billion over the third
quarter of last year. Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, CEOs of EADS,
said: “Our growth forecasts for the full year 2001 are confirmed by our
third-quarter figures. We expect to achieve our 20% revenue growth target
for 2001, despite a now more challenging global economic environment”.
Revenues at the Space division were down 6% during the first nine months of
2001, compared to the same period of 2000. The current space market is
difficult, particularly in the commercial telecommunications satellite and
commercial launcher businesses.
[Les Echos, 11/14/2001, and EADS Press Release, 11/13/2001]

** 6: THANKSGIVING

Due to Thanksgiving holidays, the France-In-Space newsletter will not be
posted on Friday 23 November 2001.

[From Alcatel Space Press Release, Arianespace Press Release, EADS Press
Release, ESA Press Release, Les Echos, Press Release of French Research
Ministry, Spacer]