France In Space #236

** 1: CNES IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING ITS FINANCIAL SITUATION

CNES President Yannick d’Escatha presented the French space agency’s new
programmatic schedule. The French Space Agency (CNES) has agreed with its
supervisory ministries upon a plan to pay back its 35-million-Euro deficit
over 3 years. 10 programs are stopped. The CNES’ financial contributions to
Netlander (a network of 4 geophysical and meteorological landers to study
Mars internal structure), Glast (Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope) and
Aden (Network of ground stations to process and distribute ALOS Japanese
satellite data for users in Europe and Africa) projects are aborted. The
Picard program is frozen (microsatellite who would have performed sun
measurements – diameter, differential rotation). Until further information
is provided about the schedule of the International Space Station (ISS), the
Déclic (study of phase transitions and transport phenomena in transparent
materials), Cardiolab, Cardiomed and Cadmos (cardiac monitoring systems)
projects are frozen. The Atelier de Télécommunications du futur (ATF)
project (Future Telecommunications workshop) is frozen and the
French-Brazilian micro-satellite project is stopped. These measures are
designed to restore financial stability and margins for manoeuvre to put the
agency in the best position to maintain France’s space policy commitments in
2005.
[CNES Press release 04/30/2003]

** 2: FRANCE DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE UP ON SPACE

Space is a strategic goal for France and Europe, not only because of the
defense and security stakes but also due to its various applications in many
fields such as Earth observation, environment, telecommunications and
satellite positioning. This is why France has underlined the significance of
its space operations, including reliable launch capabilities, satellite
manufacturing facilities and technology control capacities to use
space-related equipment. France is convinced that what’s at stake justifies
that Europe plays a larger political role in the space industry. France will
continue its initiatives to establish space as a shared competence of the
European Union. The space industry is now in a crisis. This situation
requires a mobilization of France, as well as the Member States of the
European Space Agency, and the organizations involved in the Space industry.
[Research & New Technologies Ministry Press Release 04/15/2003]

** 3: FOUR-STATE EUROPEAN DEFENSE INITIATIVE

French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Belgian
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, and Luxembourger Prime Minister Jean-Claude
Juncker, have introduced a proposal to their European partners regarding a
type of “pick and pay” European defense program. The most ambitious Member
States are invited to join them and take a list of tangible actions. Other
Member States could just support the most consensual measures, such as
creating a European security and defense council. With its three partners,
France has initiated a pioneer group in the defense field. Question is now
whether or not they will be able to gain momentum. The four Member State
leaders have received the backing of Romano Prodi, the European Commission
President, who insisted that defense is “a fundamental strategic priority
for Europe” and “the foundation of the Member States’ joint security”. Such
statements will definitely be heard by all of those, including among new
Member States, who restrain the European defense scope to a tool of the
Atlantic Alliance.
[Le Monde 04/30/2003]

** 4: JOB CUTS IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY

The French satellite manufacturer, Alcatel Space, has announced that 450
additional jobs will be cut in Europe – 150 in France, 130 in Norway, 100 in
Denmark and 70 in Switzerland. Subsidiaries in Norway and Denmark will be
closed, and the Swiss subsidiary will be sold by the end of 2003. Serge
Tchuruk, Alcatel’s CEO, wants to cut the corporate workforce from 77,000
employees in 2002 down to 60,000. Snecma (French Propulsion Company) has
signed an agreement allowing employees to retire willingly at 55 or 57. This
targets approximately 1,200 people. This will allow Snecma to bring some
fresh blood in its organization. Snecma plans on hiring 300 new employees
this year while letting 750 people go.
[AFP Press Release 04/25/2003 Le Monde 04/27-28/2003]

** 5: CNES, ESA AND THE ISS

Since 1995, Europe has been committed to the construction and operation of
the International Space Station (ISS). The major contributions to this
program are the Columbus laboratory and the ATV resupply vehicle. Under the
contract, CNES (French Space Agency) will also take responsibility for the
management of Control Center development and prepare, coordinate and support
all ATV operations on behalf of ESA (European Space Agency).
[CNES Press Release 04/17/2003]

** 6: IN BRIEF

The new orbiting space telescope GALEX will observe galaxies in ultraviolet
light across 10 billion years of cosmic history. Such observations will tell
scientists how galaxies, the basic structures of our Universe, evolve and
change. The contribution of CNES and French scientists is very important as
they supply science instruments and support. [CNES Press Release 04/29/2003]
The ESA Council appointed Mr Antonio Fabrizi, an Italian, to the post of
Director of Launchers, for a four-year term.[ESA Press Release 04/28/2003]

[From AFP Press Release, CNES Press Release, ESA Press Release, Le Monde,
Research & New Technologies Ministry Press Release]

France In Space is a weekly synthesis of French space activities based on
French press. Its content does not reflect an official position of the
French Government or CNES. It is provided by the CNES office and the Office
of Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Washington D.C
Editors: Vincent Sabathier, Thibaut Girard – Translator: World Traduction

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