France in Space #234

** 1: EUROPEAN PROSPECTS FOR MANNED SPACE FLIGHTS

Shortly after the Columbia accident, NASA inquired whether the Europeans
might wish to speed up the development of their Automated Transfer Vehicle
and make it available earlier. NASA also suggested that Europe has the
know-how to realize manned flights to the ISS: the ARD/Express capsules
represent proven reentry technologies for upsizing the ARD demonstrator to a
manned spacecraft without the immediate need to tackle larger innovations.
Ambitious projects already foundered in the mid-nineties due to lack of
funds – such as the Hermes space transporter and the Sänger ram-rocket
transporter. However, the entire concept of Ariane 5 provides Europe with a
man-rated launcher which could reliably handle the supply and astronaut
transport to the ISS and back with upgrades of simple European space
capsules – by cooperating with the USA and Russia or taking over from them.
[Planet Aerospace 04-05-06/2003]

** 2: JASON 1 & JASON 2 MOVE FORWARD

Jason-1, the French-US ocean-observing satellite in orbit since 7 December
2001 is dedicated to studying the impact of the oceans on climate. Only one
year after launch, Jason-1 is already achieving instantaneous accuracy of
the order of 4 centimeters, has 68 regular users and over 400 teams using
its altimetry data. Jason-1 data are used to track oil slicks following the
prestige tanker wreck off Spain and also to monitor the currently developing
El Nino condition. Jason-1 also aided skippers competing in the Route du
Rhum ocean yacht race and is providing assistance in managing fish stocks.
The Jason-2 follow-on satellite will be modernized and changed to integrate
new technologies. Developed jointly by CNES (French Space Agency) and NASA,
while Jason-1 was designed predominantly with science mission in mind,
Jason-2 will complete the transition to shift towards operational services.
As a result, NASA and CNES have welcomed Eumetsat and NOAA as program
partners. Alcatel Space will develop the satellite. Jason-2 is scheduled for
launch by NASA in 2007.
[CNES Magazine 02/2003]

** 3: FIRST CNES MICROSATELLITE

Mainly dedicated to studying ionospheric disturbances related to natural
geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tsunamis) and also
the planet’s electromagnetic environment disturbances due to human activity,
the DEMETER satellite (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted
from Earth-quake Regions) is the first release from the micro-satellite bus
developed by CNES (French Space Agency). The purpose of this mission is also
to validate several technological innovations in flight: a new functional
on-board management line (computer, mass memory, and broadband remote
measurement), orbit control concept, and new pyrotechnic devices.
[CNES qui se passe ? 02/2003]

** 4: GALILEO: THE DEAL IS DONE

It appears that wisdom prevailed in the end. Following months of
discussions, Italy and Germany eventually agreed upon their respective place
in the industrial alliance that will develop Galileo’s various technical
components. The terms of their agreement have not been officially disclosed
yet. However, governmental sources led to believe that Galileo Industries
will be headquartered in Germany and space-based components directorate will
be German. Italy will share the project’s overall management and handle the
engineering part. France will manage ground stations and the UK will deal
with relay stations. The industrial and social stakes are huge. Overall,
140,000-150,000 employees will be involved in this project. Starting in
2006, a privately-owned consortium will take over the project and launch 30
satellites. From 2008, the consortium will operate the system. Eutelsat has
already expressed interest in becoming the system’s operator. Loyola de
Palacio, the EU Transportation Commissioner, who lately urged ESA to take a
quick decision, was officially “happy” that the project was back on track
eventually.
[AFP Press Release 03/28/2003 La Tribune 03/31/2003 Air & Cosmos
03/29/2003]

** 5: DLR PLAYS A KEY ROLE FOR COLUMBUS

By signing a 37.7 million euros contract with DLR (German Space Agency) to
develop the Columbus Control Centre for the European Columbus laboratory on
the International Space Station (ISS), ESA (European Space Agency) is
recognising its long-standing experience and competence in Oberpfaffenhofen
in the management of manned spaceflight operations. Columbus is a European
science laboratory built to facilitate European research in space. ESA
expects to launch the laboratory in October 2004. The main functions of the
Columbus Control Centre will be to command and control the Columbus
laboratory systems, to provide and operate the European ground
communications network for the facility, and to coordinate operations for
the European payloads on board the ISS. Once the Columbus Control Centre is
ready for operations in 2004, DLR will take responsibility under a further
ESA contract for management of the centre and coordinate and support all
on-orbit operations of the Columbus laboratory on behalf of ESA. The team
will act on ESA’s behalf vis-à-vis NASA and other ISS partners for the
execution of all Columbus operations. The Columbus Control Centre has to be
operational in time to provide ground communication services for the ESA
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Control Center in the Toulouse CNES Center,
France. The ATV is scheduled to be launched by Ariane 5 from Kourou, French
Guiana, in September 2004 and is designed to resupply the ISS and carry out
orbit reboost operations.
[ESA Press Release 03/27/2003]

** 6: IN BRIEF

Ariane 5’s Flight 160 is scheduled to lift off on April 8th. The European
launcher will send into orbit Galaxy XII (built by Orbital for PanAmSat) and
Insat 3A satellites. [Arianespace 03/28/2003] The ESA’s Maxus 5 sounding
rocket mission was successfully launched on April 1st from Esrange, north of
the Arctic Circle near Kiruna in northern Sweden. The rocket carried a 488
kg payload of five scientific experiments. [ESA Press Release 04/01/2003]
Based on a Eutelsat survey, 132 million households in Europe and the Middle
East (4 out of 10 households which have a TV set) receive channels from the
Eutelsat satellite, including 54% through cable and 45% through satellite
dish. [Les Echos 03/31/2003]

[From AFP Press Release, Air & Cosmos, Arianespace Press Release, CNES Qui
se passe ?, CNES Magazine, ESA Press Release, Planet Aerospace, Les Echos,
La Tribune]

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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