France in Space No 204 – ESA Will Go To The Moon In 2003

• 1: ESA WILL GO TO THE MOON IN 2003
  
• 3: EUTELSAT INCREASES ITS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN HISPASAT
  
• 2: A NEW ESA ASTRONAUT IN ISS
  
• 4: IN BRIEF
  

** 1: ESA WILL GO TO THE MOON IN 2003

Thirty years after Apollo 16’s lunar module, Orion, the European Space
Agency (ESA) will launch a mission to the moon, known as SMART-1. Scheduled
to be launched early in 2003, the main purpose of the SMART-1 mission is to
flight-test the new solar Electric Propulsion technology, a kind of
solar-powered thruster, ten times more efficient than the usual chemical
systems used when travelling very long distances. Such a system could
provide the propulsion system for future ESA missions into deep space, such
as BepiColombo. SMART-1 will also map the moon more accurately than ever
before. SMART-1 will look at the darker parts of the Moon’s south pole for
the first time and will thus help scientists to understand if ice is
present at the lunar poles.
[ESA Press Release, 04/23/2002]

** 2: A NEW ESA ASTRONAUT IN ISS

The latest European astronaut was launched to the International Space
Station on April 25, at 12:26 local time (06 :26 GMT) from Baikonour,
Kazakhstan. Italian ESA Astronaut Roberto Vittori, a former Italian Air
Force test pilot and his fellow crew members Yuri Gidzenko, the mission
commander, and flight tourist Mark Shuttleworth, are due to dock with the
Space Station in two days time on April 27. During his eight-day stay in
the station, Vittori will work alongside the resident crew and oversee four
European experiments. These will look at the forces involved in moving
around microgravity and the effects on humans of cosmic particles during
long mission, assess newly developed clothing, and test a non-intrusive
blood pressure monitoring device.

[ESA Press Release, 04/25/2002]

** 3: EUTELSAT INCREASES ITS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN HISPASAT

Eutelsat S.A. announced that its stakes in HISPASAT has increased to 27.69
percent from 21.15 percent, thereby reinforcing its position as a key
strategic shareholder in Spain’s national satellite operator. Eutelsat
signed an agreement with HISPASAT in August 2001 to enter into the capital
of the company with the potential to enlarge its investment. The increased
stake takes Eutelsat’s representation on HISPASAT’s Board of Shareholders
from two to three seats. Operating Spain’s regional satellite system,
HISPASAT provides services to the Iberian peninsula and Latin America. The
company manages three HISPASAT satellites with a fourth due for launch in
2002. Eutelsat S.A. is one of the world’s leading providers of satellite
communications solutions and operates 18 satellites and additional capacity
on three other satellites.
[Eutelsat Press Release, 04/11/2002]

** 4: IN BRIEF

On April 19, 2002, during its General Assembly, in Paris, EUROSPACE, the
Association of European Space Industry, renewed its Board and appointed
Pascale SOURISSE President. Pascale SOURISSE is President of Alcaltel’s
space Activities and President & CEO of Alcatel Space and Alcatel Space
Industries [EUROSPACE Press Release, 04/19/2002].

[From ESA Press Release, EUROSPACE Press Release, Eutelsat Press Release]