France in Space #271
** 1: CNES AND EUROPEAN SPACE INDUSTRY TOGETHER TO DEVELOP RE-ENTRY VEHICLES
Step by step, the European Space Agency’s Aurora space exploration programme
is beginning to take shape. This ambitious programme, started by ESA in
2002, sets out a strategy over the next 30 years for Europe’s robotic and
human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and even beyond. Atmospheric re-entry
issues will strongly impact the development of reusable vehicles and the
planning of exploration missions. Two re-entry vehicles projects, aimed to
demonstrate reusable technologies maturity, are being considered. First, the
Pre-X vehicle, initiated by CNES, will be the first in Europe to demonstrate
gliding atmospheric re-entry involving the use of specific thermal
protection technologies. Its first flight is scheduled for 2008. Second, the
Expert vehicle, a European project, will study the ballistic re-entry phase
and help to understand both aerodynamics and thermal issues of this type of
re-entry. Tests are expected to begin in 2007. CNES highly supports the
French firms involved with the programme, namely EADS Space Transportation,
Dassault Aviation, Snecma Propulsion Solide, Astrium SAS but also the
aerodynamics research centre ONERA. The Aquitaine region, where many of
these companies are located, also supports the Pre-X and Expert projects
through a partnership signed last month with CNES. [CNES 11/08/2004, La Vie
Economique du Sud Ouest 10/27/2004].
** 2: BRITISH COMMITTEE SEEKS FOR GUILTY PARTIES IN BEAGLE 2 FAILURE REPORT
The Beagle 2 failure report, written by a British parliamentary committee,
is strongly critical of the British government’s handling of Beagle 2
financing, and of what it views at ESA’s duplicity in its dealing associated
with the lander. Beagle 2 separated from ESA’s Mars Express orbiter in
December 2003 and was never heard from again. The report concludes that the
50 million British pounds (92 million dollars) spent on Beagle 2, half of it
by British taxpayers, was a worthy if risky investment. Indeed, when its
modest investment in Beagle 2 proved insufficient, the British National
Space Center appealed to ESA for help. But Beagle 2 program management never
was fully transferred to ESA even after the agency agreed to pay about half
of the total project costs. Some of this money is to be reimbursed to ESA by
United Kingdom. With the Mars Express launch date approaching and money for
that mission already tight, ESA officials were unable or unwilling to take
charge of Beagle 2 and provide proper risk mitigation and testing measures,
the report says. It concludes that the project’s financial banking was
stapled together in an improvised way, with no one -neither the private
sector, nor the British government and nor ESA – taking full responsibility.
However, the report highlights the fact that the failed Beagle 2 Mars lander
was worth the investment for its spin-offs in other technology areas and for
boosting UK industry ability to win future ESA space exploration work.
[Space News, 11/08/2004]
** 3: NEW SOYUZ MODEL SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED
Starsem, Arianespace and their Russian partners reported that the maiden
flight of the Soyuz 2-1a launch vehicle on Monday 8 November 2004 from the
Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia was accomplished successfully. This launch
marks a major step forward in the Soyuz evolution programme as this version
of the launcher implements a digital control system providing additional
mission flexibility and enabling control of the launch vehicle with a larger
fairing. The next step will be the introduction of the Soyuz 2-1b. This
version will have a more powerful third-stage engine to significantly
increase the overall launch vehicle performance and provide additional
payload mass capability. The inaugural flight of the Soyuz 2-1b is presently
scheduled for mid-2006 from Baikonur. Both new versions of the Soyuz
launcher will be adapted in view of their operation by Arianespace from
Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. This will be made possible through the
“Soyuz at CSG” ESA programme, which encompasses the development of a Soyuz
launch complex on the territory of Sinnamary and participation in the Soyuz
2-1b development. The inaugural flight of a Soyuz from French Guiana is
scheduled for 2007. [ESA 11/09/2004]
** 4: ALCATEL CONFIRMS ITS LEADERSHIP IN GEOSTATIONNARY METEOROLOGICAL
SYSTEMS
Alcatel Space, the European Organization for the Exploitation of
Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat) and the European Space Agency (ESA)
officially signed the contract, worth 135 million euros, for the fourth
Meteosat Second Generation satellite, MSG-4. Under the supervision of ESA,
Alcatel Space is leading a consortium of European manufacturers in the
design and construction of the MSG-4 satellite. The MSG program ensures the
long-term viability of Europe’s satellite weather forecasting system, which
will develop oceanographic, marine, weather/atmosphere, risk management and
water resource applications. Alcatel Space is the world’s leading producer
of geostationary weather satellite systems, and has been the prime
contractor for all Meteosat satellites. The long-term partnership between
Alcatel Space, ESA and Eumetsat also encompasses the meteorological
satellite ground segments field. After developing the MTP (Meteosat
Transition Program) mission control center for the Meteosat program, Alcatel
Space is responsible for delivering the Core Ground Segment for the Eumetsat
Polar System (EPS) and is in charge of supplying and installing 47
second-generation Meteosat receiving stations in 45 African countries.
[Alcatel Space 11/03/2004, ESA 11/03/2004]
** 5: SINO-EU COOPERATION FOR THE GALILEO SYSTEM
China and the European Union have reiterated their commitment on cooperating
to develop the Galileo System, determined, they say, not to let the United
States have a monopoly on the technology and service. Insiders believe that
the Galileo System can be compatible with the Global Positioning System
(GPS) developed by the United States. With an error less than a meter,
Galileo can be used to secure safe flight take-offs or landings, or for
running trains. That is why it enjoys promising prospects in China’s
transportation sector. Philippe Camus, CEO of EADS, and a Chinese
spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have both made it very
clear that Sino-EU cooperation Galileo is absolutely for civil purposes
only. Insiders see the Galileo Program as a symbol of global cooperation in
aerospace development, and China is regarded now as a permanent and natural
partner in the aerospace industry. [SpaceDaily.com 11/10/04]
** 6: IN BRIEF
The French company Spot Image, which manages the distribution of imagery
collected by the French government-owned Spot satellites, signed on October
26 an agreement with Terra Image USA. This company will become the exclusive
distributor of Spot satellite imagery to American civil government agencies.
[Space News 11/08/2004]
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express
spacecraft, provided this week Europe’s highest resolution pictures so far
of the Martian moon Phobos. The images show the Mars-facing side of the
moon, taken from a distance less than 200 kilometres with a resolution of
about seven meters per pixel. Many details can be seen inside various-sized
craters, which will help planetary scientists to unravel the Phobos
mysteries. [ESA 11/11/2004]
[From AFP, Air & Cosmos, Alcatel, Arianespace, Aviation Week & Space
Technology, Cercle Finance, CNES, EADS Astrium, EADS Space, ESA, Le Figaro,
Launch Services Alliance, La Lettre de l’Expansion, NASA, Reuters, Space
News, Spacetoday.net, 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: Jean-Jacques Tortora, Clémence Le Fèvre, Valery Tessier-Leon
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About CNES
“CNES develops and leads national space programmes. The main thrust of its
action is to serve France’s ambition to sustain a strong space capability
and contribute to scientific discovery at the highest levels. CNES is
committed to fostering innovative space technologies that meet the current
and future needs of society. Most programmes are pursued in cooperation with
international partners. CNES also plays a central role in programmes
initiated by ESA, the European Space Agency, to which it is a major
contributor. It is thus a driving force behind ESA programmes and
activities”.
