Annual Report 2007

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2007 was another exciting, challenging and defining year for The wider significance of the SPRT Report the ESA Science Programme. It was marked, in addition to to other parts of ESA and the broader European space community has been very significant successes of its missions, by the adoption of acknowledged both within and outside the the Science Programme Review Team (SPRT) Report by the agency. ESA Council in March 2007, with its associated implementing 2007 was the 50th anniversary of man’s Resolution and by the issuing of the Call for Proposals to the first space launch, and the later footsteps of great explorers who opened up new worlds Cosmic Vision 2015–25 Plan. to us, are also marked by the inception Mission successes included the two of the Cosmic Vision 2015–25 Plan which, successful Earth swingbys of Rosetta and similar to those events, puts another the continuation of the excellent scientific challenge before mankind. There can be no returns coming from Ulysses, SOHO, Cluster, greater challenge than seeking the answers Mars Express, Venus Express and the to the four central themes of Cosmic Vision. JAXA/ESA Hinode missions. The worldwide interest shown in ESA’s two high-energy No matter how challenging these scientific astronomical observatories, XMM-Newton objectives may seem, we need only and Integral, has resulted in a large over- point to what ESA, through the Scientific subscription for observing time, leading Programme, has already achieved – even to the extension of both missions. Taking in recent years – to give the assurances account of the SPRT Report, the Science necessary that, given sufficient resources Programme Committee approved the and a continuation of the trust that has extensions based on a coupling of the two been placed in the programme by its missions, combining their operations into a stakeholders, the Scientific Programme is single integrated mission operations centre. up to the challenge of providing the skills and management to lead the search for The financial limits set on the Solar Orbiter these answers. mission were reviewed within ESA and European industry, leading to the possibility for the mission to enter its Definition Phase, subject to obtaining a launch through international cooperation with NASA. The corresponding Announcements of Opportunity were released on 18 October by ESA and 22 October by NASA and the mission is now on course to meet a launch schedule of mid-2017.

The martian moon Phobos as seen by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA’s Mars Express in January 2007 (ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)

10 11 Annual Report 2007

→ SCIENCE

2007 was another exciting, challenging and defining year for The wider significance of the SPRT Report the ESA Science Programme. It was marked, in addition to to other parts of ESA and the broader European space community has been very significant successes of its missions, by the adoption of acknowledged both within and outside the the Science Programme Review Team (SPRT) Report by the agency. ESA Council in March 2007, with its associated implementing 2007 was the 50th anniversary of man’s Resolution and by the issuing of the Call for Proposals to the first space launch, and the later footsteps of great explorers who opened up new worlds Cosmic Vision 2015–25 Plan. to us, are also marked by the inception Mission successes included the two of the Cosmic Vision 2015–25 Plan which, successful Earth swingbys of Rosetta and similar to those events, puts another the continuation of the excellent scientific challenge before mankind. There can be no returns coming from Ulysses, SOHO, Cluster, greater challenge than seeking the answers Mars Express, Venus Express and the to the four central themes of Cosmic Vision. JAXA/ESA Hinode missions. The worldwide interest shown in ESA’s two high-energy No matter how challenging these scientific astronomical observatories, XMM-Newton objectives may seem, we need only and Integral, has resulted in a large over- point to what ESA, through the Scientific subscription for observing time, leading Programme, has already achieved – even to the extension of both missions. Taking in recent years – to give the assurances account of the SPRT Report, the Science necessary that, given sufficient resources Programme Committee approved the and a continuation of the trust that has extensions based on a coupling of the two been placed in the programme by its missions, combining their operations into a stakeholders, the Scientific Programme is single integrated mission operations centre. up to the challenge of providing the skills and management to lead the search for The financial limits set on the Solar Orbiter these answers. mission were reviewed within ESA and European industry, leading to the possibility for the mission to enter its Definition Phase, subject to obtaining a launch through international cooperation with NASA. The corresponding Announcements of Opportunity were released on 18 October by ESA and 22 October by NASA and the mission is now on course to meet a launch schedule of mid-2017.

The martian moon Phobos as seen by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA’s Mars Express in January 2007 (ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)

10 11 Annual Report 2007 → COSMIC VISION PLAN 2015–25 FOUR THEMES

What are the conditions How does the Solar What are the fundamental How did the Universe begin for life and planetary System work? laws of the Universe? and what is it made of? Planning for the future The new long-term plan, Cosmic formation? – the ‘Cosmic Vision’ Vision 2015–25 This will be a global attempt to A century after Einstein’s The origin and early evolution The first ‘Call for Mission Proposals’ in This theme looks at the understand the Solar System as theory of relativity was of the Universe is still largely Implementation of the current plan March 2007 marked the beginning of the emergence of life not only in a whole, from the Sun to the proposed, physics remains unknown. Less than 5% of (2005–15) implementation of the new Cosmic Vision our Solar System but also in limits of its sphere of influence, a vast field for investigation. the mass of the Universe has The year saw the consolidation of the 2015–25 and was an important milestone. ‘exoplanets’ orbiting other as well as the formation The laws of physics as currently been identified, the rest being collaboration with Japan with the signature By June, 50 proposals were received. The stars. This requires the study mechanisms of gaseous giants formulated do not apply at composed of mysterious ‘dark on 29 April 2007 of the Memorandum of significance of ESA Science on the world stage of how and where stars form, and their moons, and the role extreme conditions, and are not matter’ (23%) and ‘dark energy’ Understanding (MoU) with JAXA on the is shown by the fact that half of the proposals how planets emerge from this of small bodies and asteroids at all understood for the first – one of the most surprising BepiColombo mission to Mercury, whereby included international partners (i.e. outside process, and the appearance in the process of planetary fractions of seconds after the recent discoveries. the Institute of Space and Astronautical ESA Member States). The main potential of signs of life (bio-markers) formation. Big Bang. Some implications, Science (ISAS) within JAXA will provide the international partners are NASA (USA), JAXA in other stellar systems as well like the behaviour of matter at magnetospheric orbiter. ESA Science also (Japan), CNSA (China) and RSA (Russia). as our own. extremely high temperatures continued collaborations with the Chinese and energies or the existence space agency on the Double Star mission The competitive evaluation process by the of gravity waves, still have to and on the Chang’E 1 mission to the Moon Science advisory bodies and the Executive be explored. which was successfully launched in October. was concluded in mid October with the selection for assessment studies made by The collaborations with NASA on the James the Space Science Advisory Committee. In Call for Proposals (5 March 2007) Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and on the preparation for the mission assessment LISA Pathfinder mission were formalised studies in 2008 and 2009, the Executive with the signature of the respective MoU on started working with potential collaborating 50 Proposals received by 29 June 2007: 18 June 2007. agencies to agree on their participation in the study activities. 19 Proposals in Astronomy and Astrophysics Regarding LISA, the gravitational wave 19 Proposals in Study and Exploration in the Solar observatory planned as a joint mission The Science Programme, with its new System Science including the Sun with NASA, the report of the NASA Beyond Cosmic Vision 2015–25, remains the flagship 12 Proposals in Fundamental Physics Einstein Program Assessment Committee of ESA and its Member States. (BEPAC) concluded that LISA will open up an entirely new way of observing the Universe, Missions in operation or SELECTION BY SSAC 16-17 OCTOBER 2008 OF 8 CANDIDATE MISSIONS with immense potential to enlarge our archived phase understanding of physics and astronomy in unforeseen ways. Within ESA, LISA has been ESA continued to obtain exciting scientific replanned to become candidate for the data from 17 science satellites in orbit L-class mission launch slot in 2018, the first mission in the (including those in collaboration with other new Cosmic Vision 2015–25 plan. space agencies). These missions range from an orbiting telescope (NASA/ESA Hubble The provision by NASA of the launch Space Telescope), two satellites in orbit TANDEM/ XEUS services for Solar Orbiter in the frame around the Sun (NASA/ESA Ulysses and LAPLACE of the collaboration with their Sentinels SOHO), missions to other planets (Mars mission has been confirmed in a Letter of Express, Venus Express and NASA/ESA/ASI Agreement signed by the NASA Associate Cassini-Huygens), a comet lander (Rosetta), Administrator for the Science Mission two observatories (XMM-Newton and M-class mission Directorate, and addressed to the ESA Integral) and a formation-flying mission Science Director. (Cluster, together with the CNSA/ESA Double Star). Significant scientific results are also being obtained from Akari and DARK Hinode (both Japanese missions) and MARCO CROSS- PLATO ENERGY SPICA COROT (French-European-Brazilian) to which POLO SCALE MISSION ESA makes various contributions. Schematic view of Cosmic Vision 2015–25

12 13 Annual Report 2007 → COSMIC VISION PLAN 2015–25 FOUR THEMES

What are the conditions How does the Solar What are the fundamental How did the Universe begin for life and planetary System work? laws of the Universe? and what is it made of? Planning for the future The new long-term plan, Cosmic formation? – the ‘Cosmic Vision’ Vision 2015–25 This will be a global attempt to A century after Einstein’s The origin and early evolution The first ‘Call for Mission Proposals’ in This theme looks at the understand the Solar System as theory of relativity was of the Universe is still largely Implementation of the current plan March 2007 marked the beginning of the emergence of life not only in a whole, from the Sun to the proposed, physics remains unknown. Less than 5% of (2005–15) implementation of the new Cosmic Vision our Solar System but also in limits of its sphere of influence, a vast field for investigation. the mass of the Universe has The year saw the consolidation of the 2015–25 and was an important milestone. ‘exoplanets’ orbiting other as well as the formation The laws of physics as currently been identified, the rest being collaboration with Japan with the signature By June, 50 proposals were received. The stars. This requires the study mechanisms of gaseous giants formulated do not apply at composed of mysterious ‘dark on 29 April 2007 of the Memorandum of significance of ESA Science on the world stage of how and where stars form, and their moons, and the role extreme conditions, and are not matter’ (23%) and ‘dark energy’ Understanding (MoU) with JAXA on the is shown by the fact that half of the proposals how planets emerge from this of small bodies and asteroids at all understood for the first – one of the most surprising BepiColombo mission to Mercury, whereby included international partners (i.e. outside process, and the appearance in the process of planetary fractions of seconds after the recent discoveries. the Institute of Space and Astronautical ESA Member States). The main potential of signs of life (bio-markers) formation. Big Bang. Some implications, Science (ISAS) within JAXA will provide the international partners are NASA (USA), JAXA in other stellar systems as well like the behaviour of matter at magnetospheric orbiter. ESA Science also (Japan), CNSA (China) and RSA (Russia). as our own. extremely high temperatures continued collaborations with the Chinese and energies or the existence space agency on the Double Star mission The competitive evaluation process by the of gravity waves, still have to and on the Chang’E 1 mission to the Moon Science advisory bodies and the Executive be explored. which was successfully launched in October. was concluded in mid October with the selection for assessment studies made by The collaborations with NASA on the James the Space Science Advisory Committee. In Call for Proposals (5 March 2007) Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and on the preparation for the mission assessment LISA Pathfinder mission were formalised studies in 2008 and 2009, the Executive with the signature of the respective MoU on started working with potential collaborating 50 Proposals received by 29 June 2007: 18 June 2007. agencies to agree on their participation in the study activities. 19 Proposals in Astronomy and Astrophysics Regarding LISA, the gravitational wave 19 Proposals in Study and Exploration in the Solar observatory planned as a joint mission The Science Programme, with its new System Science including the Sun with NASA, the report of the NASA Beyond Cosmic Vision 2015–25, remains the flagship 12 Proposals in Fundamental Physics Einstein Program Assessment Committee of ESA and its Member States. (BEPAC) concluded that LISA will open up an entirely new way of observing the Universe, Missions in operation or SELECTION BY SSAC 16-17 OCTOBER 2008 OF 8 CANDIDATE MISSIONS with immense potential to enlarge our archived phase understanding of physics and astronomy in unforeseen ways. Within ESA, LISA has been ESA continued to obtain exciting scientific replanned to become candidate for the data from 17 science satellites in orbit L-class mission launch slot in 2018, the first mission in the (including those in collaboration with other new Cosmic Vision 2015–25 plan. space agencies). These missions range from an orbiting telescope (NASA/ESA Hubble The provision by NASA of the launch Space Telescope), two satellites in orbit TANDEM/ XEUS services for Solar Orbiter in the frame around the Sun (NASA/ESA Ulysses and LAPLACE of the collaboration with their Sentinels SOHO), missions to other planets (Mars mission has been confirmed in a Letter of Express, Venus Express and NASA/ESA/ASI Agreement signed by the NASA Associate Cassini-Huygens), a comet lander (Rosetta), Administrator for the Science Mission two observatories (XMM-Newton and M-class mission Directorate, and addressed to the ESA Integral) and a formation-flying mission Science Director. (Cluster, together with the CNSA/ESA Double Star). Significant scientific results are also being obtained from Akari and DARK Hinode (both Japanese missions) and MARCO CROSS- PLATO ENERGY SPICA COROT (French-European-Brazilian) to which POLO SCALE MISSION ESA makes various contributions. Schematic view of Cosmic Vision 2015–25

12 13 Annual Report 2007

Hubble Rosetta The Hubble SpaceTelescope probed Comet 17P/Holmes for clues as to why the comet had Rosetta made a swingby of Mars in February 2007 at 250 km above the planet’s surface. mysteriously brightened by nearly a million-fold in a 24-hour period. The accuracy of the navigation system was critical as the spacecraft had to enter, for the first and only time, a 24-minute eclipse due to the shadow of Mars. In November, Rosetta successfully made a swingby of Earth.

Ulysses Ulysses celebrated 17 years in space and uncovered interesting changes in the magnetic field of the tail of Comet C/2006 P1 McNaught, the brightest comet observed from Earth in Venus Express the last 40 years. Views of Comet Holmes from Earth and Hubble 3D imaging of large portions of the atmosphere of Venus was carried out, showing large (NASA/ESA/Weaver/Dyer) variations in the structure of the central part of southern polar vortex during three orbits, and also providing clues about the temperature variation of the clouds. Rosetta’s view of Mars during swingby (CIVA/Philae/ESA) SOHO SOHO demonstrated the possibility of short-term forecasting of appearance and density of solar energetic particle (SEP) events, using data from the COSTEP instrument (important in understanding ‘space weather’, a major hazard to humans in space). Projects under definition and development

Herschel/Planck (2009) All flight hardware of both spacecraft, Herschel and Planck, was completed and the Cassini-Huygens integration of flight models completed. After years of development, the three Herschel The Cassini orbiter continued to map the surfaces of the moons orbiting Saturn. In the scientific instruments completed their flight model acceptance and calibration campaigns. meantime detailed analysis of the Huygens probe data from Titan continued and many more results were published in refereed literature. For the flight model of Planck, the year started with the integration of the two scientific Venus Express view of the south polar vortex SOHO also viewed Comet McNaught instruments and the telescope. The spacecraft was fully integrated and had its first major (ESA/VIRTIS/Obs. de Paris) environmental test campaign by the year end. The completion of the acceptance test campaign was expected in the summer of 2008. XMM-Newton XMM-Newton discovered the first ‘black hole’ inside a globular cluster, providing the first convincing evidence that they might not only survive but flourish in such globular clusters. LISA Pathfinder (2010) On the spacecraft side, most of the Critical Design Reviews (CDRs) at equipment and subsystem level were held. There were still two ongoing critical developments: the micro- Cluster propulsion and the caging mechanism of the LISA Technology Package. The launch to the Herschel cryostat assembly Six years of data from the four spacecraft have been used to derive, for the first time, Sun-Earth Lagrangian Point 1 is planned for mid-2010. statistical maps of convection cell patterns under various solar conditions. This is Cassini sees liquid lakes on Titan important in understanding the response of Earth’s magnetic environment to solar activity. (NASA/JPL/USGS) Simultaneous measurements performed by the four spacecraft and Double Star have now suggested a third type of substorm onset. Microscope (2010) Progress was made in the two critical areas of payload and micropropulsion. The payload went through the Preliminary Design Review of the T-SAGE accelerometer, allowing start of the development phase. The satellite control requirements were relaxed to allow Integral consideration of cold gas as an alternative micropropulsion system to Field Emission Electric Integral discovered ‘annihilation-asymmetry’, in other words our galaxy’s antimatter Propulsion. The decision between the two candidate micropropulsion techniques was cloud is lopsided, representing a significant step towards a solution to one of the major postponed to mid-2008, pending test results. outstanding problems in high-energy astrophysics. Thanks to data from Mars Express, combined with models of the martian climate, scientists can now Planck at ESTEC suggest how the orbit of Mars around the Sun Gaia (2011) affects the deposition of water ice at the martian Mars Express South Pole (ESA/DLR/FU Berlin) The Preliminary Design Review of July 2007 left the An important result was obtained concerning the origin of perennial water ice deposits at project with a set of major actions which were finally the south pole of Mars. Observations by the OMEGA instrument have shown that these closed by end of the year, confirming that the critical deposits are of three types. Achieved with a combination of data analysis and modelling, science performances of the mission are met by the this result sheds new light on climate changes on Mars. proposed design.

The competitive selection of about 80 subcontractors, which had started in 2006, was completed in mid 2007 with all subcontractors contributing to the production of the spacecraft selected. The Multilateral Agreement concerning the Gaia Data Processing was approved. The formal interfaces with The hexagonal optical bench configuration (left) the Data Processing and Analysis Consortium were agreed and the DPAC Project Office and a Gaia primary mirror(above) implemented.

14 15 Annual Report 2007

Hubble Rosetta The Hubble SpaceTelescope probed Comet 17P/Holmes for clues as to why the comet had Rosetta made a swingby of Mars in February 2007 at 250 km above the planet’s surface. mysteriously brightened by nearly a million-fold in a 24-hour period. The accuracy of the navigation system was critical as the spacecraft had to enter, for the first and only time, a 24-minute eclipse due to the shadow of Mars. In November, Rosetta successfully made a swingby of Earth.

Ulysses Ulysses celebrated 17 years in space and uncovered interesting changes in the magnetic field of the tail of Comet C/2006 P1 McNaught, the brightest comet observed from Earth in Venus Express the last 40 years. Views of Comet Holmes from Earth and Hubble 3D imaging of large portions of the atmosphere of Venus was carried out, showing large (NASA/ESA/Weaver/Dyer) variations in the structure of the central part of southern polar vortex during three orbits, and also providing clues about the temperature variation of the clouds. Rosetta’s view of Mars during swingby (CIVA/Philae/ESA) SOHO SOHO demonstrated the possibility of short-term forecasting of appearance and density of solar energetic particle (SEP) events, using data from the COSTEP instrument (important in understanding ‘space weather’, a major hazard to humans in space). Projects under definition and development

Herschel/Planck (2009) All flight hardware of both spacecraft, Herschel and Planck, was completed and the Cassini-Huygens integration of flight models completed. After years of development, the three Herschel The Cassini orbiter continued to map the surfaces of the moons orbiting Saturn. In the scientific instruments completed their flight model acceptance and calibration campaigns. meantime detailed analysis of the Huygens probe data from Titan continued and many more results were published in refereed literature. For the flight model of Planck, the year started with the integration of the two scientific Venus Express view of the south polar vortex SOHO also viewed Comet McNaught instruments and the telescope. The spacecraft was fully integrated and had its first major (ESA/VIRTIS/Obs. de Paris) environmental test campaign by the year end. The completion of the acceptance test campaign was expected in the summer of 2008. XMM-Newton XMM-Newton discovered the first ‘black hole’ inside a globular cluster, providing the first convincing evidence that they might not only survive but flourish in such globular clusters. LISA Pathfinder (2010) On the spacecraft side, most of the Critical Design Reviews (CDRs) at equipment and subsystem level were held. There were still two ongoing critical developments: the micro- Cluster propulsion and the caging mechanism of the LISA Technology Package. The launch to the Herschel cryostat assembly Six years of data from the four spacecraft have been used to derive, for the first time, Sun-Earth Lagrangian Point 1 is planned for mid-2010. statistical maps of convection cell patterns under various solar conditions. This is Cassini sees liquid lakes on Titan important in understanding the response of Earth’s magnetic environment to solar activity. (NASA/JPL/USGS) Simultaneous measurements performed by the four spacecraft and Double Star have now suggested a third type of substorm onset. Microscope (2010) Progress was made in the two critical areas of payload and micropropulsion. The payload went through the Preliminary Design Review of the T-SAGE accelerometer, allowing start of the development phase. The satellite control requirements were relaxed to allow Integral consideration of cold gas as an alternative micropropulsion system to Field Emission Electric Integral discovered ‘annihilation-asymmetry’, in other words our galaxy’s antimatter Propulsion. The decision between the two candidate micropropulsion techniques was cloud is lopsided, representing a significant step towards a solution to one of the major postponed to mid-2008, pending test results. outstanding problems in high-energy astrophysics. Thanks to data from Mars Express, combined with models of the martian climate, scientists can now Planck at ESTEC suggest how the orbit of Mars around the Sun Gaia (2011) affects the deposition of water ice at the martian Mars Express South Pole (ESA/DLR/FU Berlin) The Preliminary Design Review of July 2007 left the An important result was obtained concerning the origin of perennial water ice deposits at project with a set of major actions which were finally the south pole of Mars. Observations by the OMEGA instrument have shown that these closed by end of the year, confirming that the critical deposits are of three types. Achieved with a combination of data analysis and modelling, science performances of the mission are met by the this result sheds new light on climate changes on Mars. proposed design.

The competitive selection of about 80 subcontractors, which had started in 2006, was completed in mid 2007 with all subcontractors contributing to the production of the spacecraft selected. The Multilateral Agreement concerning the Gaia Data Processing was approved. The formal interfaces with The hexagonal optical bench configuration (left) the Data Processing and Analysis Consortium were agreed and the DPAC Project Office and a Gaia primary mirror(above) implemented.

14 15 Annual Report 2007

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) (2013) PRODEX (Programme de Dévelopement d’Expériences Scientifique) The NASA/ESA/CSA JWST project progressed as planned. For all ten critical technologies PRODEX is an optional Science Programme established to provide funding for the industrial identified at mission level at the start of the programme, the Technology Readiness Level development of scientific instruments or experiments proposed by institutes or universities (TRL) 6 was demonstrated. and selected by ESA for one of its research programmes in science, microgravity and Earth observation. ESA provides administrative, financial and technical management in support The major subsystems of the two European instruments, NIRSpec and MIRI, were of the responsible scientific teams. The countries currently participating in PRODEX are assembled and tested. The Ariane-5 ECA RAMP (Revue d’Analyse de Mission Préliminaire) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Norway and Switzerland. The projects being developed was completed successfully, verifying the compatibility of Ariane-5 for launch of JWST. range from small data-analysis activities to fully fledged flight instruments for scientific exploitation.

Artist impression of JWST The MIRI instrument on the JWST has been the largest project run within the PRODEX BepiColombo (2014) Office during 2007 with participation of four out of the six PRODEX Participating States The Implementation Phase contract proposal was approved by the Industrial Policy contributing with hardware elements. In particular, Phase D activities were completed for Committee and the mission adopted by the Science Policy Committee (SPC). The formal the MIRI cryo-harness and nearly completed for the MIRI Contamination Control Cover, international agreements needed for the implementation of the project were approved both Swiss contributions to the MIRI programme. Furthermore, major new projects were by the ESA Council. The System Requirements Review was completed after consolidation initiated for BepiColombo, Gaia and ExoMars. Finally the PRODEX Programme has also of the system requirements specifications. The spacecraft equipment procurement phase substantially contributed to the first phases of development of life and material science started and about 40% of the competitive Invitations to Tender were issued and 20% of the projects with launch opportunities in the period 2008–10. subcontractors were selected. In 2007, the following experiments were launched: The scientific performances of the Mercury planetary orbiter instruments were confirmed and the design definition is generally adequate, maintaining the overall payload mass at MISSIONS EXPERIMENTS SUBSYSTEMS PROPOSERS (COUNTRIES) 60 kg. The definition of the mission operation centre and of the scientific operation centre continued and the implementation plans were issued. Artist impression of BepiColombo Foton-M3 Freqbone Vander Sloten (B) Radcells Van Oostveldt (B) Osteogene Carmeliet (B)

Solar Orbiter (2017) The following hardware elements were completed in 2007 under the PRODEX Programme. The two parallel Phase A contracts, placed with Alcatel Alenia Space and EADS Astrium SAS, were concluded, including breadboarding of the critical heat shield. The spacecraft baseline design relies heavily on the reuse of technology and equipment from the BepiColombo project. MISSIONS INFRASTRUCTURE/SUBSYSTEMS COUNTRY MODEL

ESA and NASA analysed the possibility of implementing the Solar Orbiter mission together Herschel-Planck Detector and Mechanism Controller B Flight Model with NASA’s inner heliospheric Sentinels mission as a joint programme of cooperative for Photoconductor Array Camera science. A joint Solar Orbiter/Sentinels Science and Technology Definition Team defined this and Spectrometer (PACS) combined mission. Solar Orbiter will be launched by NASA and will carry a significant US SMEX Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)-Lo CH Flight Model payload contribution. JWST MIRI Filters IRL Flight Model JWST MIRI Contamination Control Cover CH Flight Model In October 2007, the Solar Orbiter Payload Announcement of Opportunity was released to JWST MIRI Cryo-Harness CH Flight Model the scientific community. In parallel, technology development activities were initiated to LISA Pathfinder Inertial Sensor Front End Electronics CH Electrical Model advance the readiness level of the key elements. In November 2007, go-ahead was given by JWST MIRI Instrument Control Electronics B Verification Model SPC and IPC for entering the Definition Phase. JWST MIRI Input and Optics Calibration Unit B Verification Model

European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) LISA (2018) The Directorate of Science made significant changes at ESAC in Spain throughout 2007. As the first large mission of Cosmic Vision 2015–25, LISA is planned for launch in 2018. The Following the setting up of a new Science Operations Department at ESAC, all ESA science Mission Formulation activity performed by Astrium GmbH has produced very good results operations for missions in orbit, with astronomy missions (XMM-Newton, Integral) and Solar during the course of the year. The baseline design that includes steering of the whole System missions (Mars Express, Venus Express, Rosetta), are now fully established there. optical-bench plus telescope assembly has been confirmed. Preparations began for the operation of future science missions. ESAC will host all the The technology required by LISA matured in the course of 2007, both in Europe, in liaison scientific archives of missions in operation, as well as developing archives for upcoming with Member States, and in the USA. Data analysis was progressed in the framework of the missions. ESAC plays a major role in the Virtual Observatory (VO) initiatives to make it Mock LISA Data Challenge that involved the worldwide LISA community. the VO node for European astronomy. The data processing ground segment for the Earth Observation SMOS mission was also set up at ESAC during the year. Satellite tracking The SPC confirmed LISA as one of the candidate missions for the Cosmic Vision L1 selection. activities at ESAC have been reduced but continue at a low level. The need to start the LISA implementation phase right after LISA Pathfinder has been recognised by the two partners, ESA and NASA. The respective roles and responsibilities of Several scientific workshops were organised at ESAC, including: ‘X-rays from nearby the partners are being revisited within the new financial boundaries of L1 mission envelope galaxies’ workshop, Akari, Herschel and VO workshops. For the 50th anniversary of for ESA and medium-size mission envelope for NASA. spaceflight, ESAC participated in a national exhibition that travelled around Spain, an Aeronautics and Space Exhibition organised by the City Hall of Barcelona, which received close to 200 000 visitors.

16 17 Annual Report 2007

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) (2013) PRODEX (Programme de Dévelopement d’Expériences Scientifique) The NASA/ESA/CSA JWST project progressed as planned. For all ten critical technologies PRODEX is an optional Science Programme established to provide funding for the industrial identified at mission level at the start of the programme, the Technology Readiness Level development of scientific instruments or experiments proposed by institutes or universities (TRL) 6 was demonstrated. and selected by ESA for one of its research programmes in science, microgravity and Earth observation. ESA provides administrative, financial and technical management in support The major subsystems of the two European instruments, NIRSpec and MIRI, were of the responsible scientific teams. The countries currently participating in PRODEX are assembled and tested. The Ariane-5 ECA RAMP (Revue d’Analyse de Mission Préliminaire) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Norway and Switzerland. The projects being developed was completed successfully, verifying the compatibility of Ariane-5 for launch of JWST. range from small data-analysis activities to fully fledged flight instruments for scientific exploitation.

Artist impression of JWST The MIRI instrument on the JWST has been the largest project run within the PRODEX BepiColombo (2014) Office during 2007 with participation of four out of the six PRODEX Participating States The Implementation Phase contract proposal was approved by the Industrial Policy contributing with hardware elements. In particular, Phase D activities were completed for Committee and the mission adopted by the Science Policy Committee (SPC). The formal the MIRI cryo-harness and nearly completed for the MIRI Contamination Control Cover, international agreements needed for the implementation of the project were approved both Swiss contributions to the MIRI programme. Furthermore, major new projects were by the ESA Council. The System Requirements Review was completed after consolidation initiated for BepiColombo, Gaia and ExoMars. Finally the PRODEX Programme has also of the system requirements specifications. The spacecraft equipment procurement phase substantially contributed to the first phases of development of life and material science started and about 40% of the competitive Invitations to Tender were issued and 20% of the projects with launch opportunities in the period 2008–10. subcontractors were selected. In 2007, the following experiments were launched: The scientific performances of the Mercury planetary orbiter instruments were confirmed and the design definition is generally adequate, maintaining the overall payload mass at MISSIONS EXPERIMENTS SUBSYSTEMS PROPOSERS (COUNTRIES) 60 kg. The definition of the mission operation centre and of the scientific operation centre continued and the implementation plans were issued. Artist impression of BepiColombo Foton-M3 Freqbone Vander Sloten (B) Radcells Van Oostveldt (B) Osteogene Carmeliet (B)

Solar Orbiter (2017) The following hardware elements were completed in 2007 under the PRODEX Programme. The two parallel Phase A contracts, placed with Alcatel Alenia Space and EADS Astrium SAS, were concluded, including breadboarding of the critical heat shield. The spacecraft baseline design relies heavily on the reuse of technology and equipment from the BepiColombo project. MISSIONS INFRASTRUCTURE/SUBSYSTEMS COUNTRY MODEL

ESA and NASA analysed the possibility of implementing the Solar Orbiter mission together Herschel-Planck Detector and Mechanism Controller B Flight Model with NASA’s inner heliospheric Sentinels mission as a joint programme of cooperative for Photoconductor Array Camera science. A joint Solar Orbiter/Sentinels Science and Technology Definition Team defined this and Spectrometer (PACS) combined mission. Solar Orbiter will be launched by NASA and will carry a significant US SMEX Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)-Lo CH Flight Model payload contribution. JWST MIRI Filters IRL Flight Model JWST MIRI Contamination Control Cover CH Flight Model In October 2007, the Solar Orbiter Payload Announcement of Opportunity was released to JWST MIRI Cryo-Harness CH Flight Model the scientific community. In parallel, technology development activities were initiated to LISA Pathfinder Inertial Sensor Front End Electronics CH Electrical Model advance the readiness level of the key elements. In November 2007, go-ahead was given by JWST MIRI Instrument Control Electronics B Verification Model SPC and IPC for entering the Definition Phase. JWST MIRI Input and Optics Calibration Unit B Verification Model

European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) LISA (2018) The Directorate of Science made significant changes at ESAC in Spain throughout 2007. As the first large mission of Cosmic Vision 2015–25, LISA is planned for launch in 2018. The Following the setting up of a new Science Operations Department at ESAC, all ESA science Mission Formulation activity performed by Astrium GmbH has produced very good results operations for missions in orbit, with astronomy missions (XMM-Newton, Integral) and Solar during the course of the year. The baseline design that includes steering of the whole System missions (Mars Express, Venus Express, Rosetta), are now fully established there. optical-bench plus telescope assembly has been confirmed. Preparations began for the operation of future science missions. ESAC will host all the The technology required by LISA matured in the course of 2007, both in Europe, in liaison scientific archives of missions in operation, as well as developing archives for upcoming with Member States, and in the USA. Data analysis was progressed in the framework of the missions. ESAC plays a major role in the Virtual Observatory (VO) initiatives to make it Mock LISA Data Challenge that involved the worldwide LISA community. the VO node for European astronomy. The data processing ground segment for the Earth Observation SMOS mission was also set up at ESAC during the year. Satellite tracking The SPC confirmed LISA as one of the candidate missions for the Cosmic Vision L1 selection. activities at ESAC have been reduced but continue at a low level. The need to start the LISA implementation phase right after LISA Pathfinder has been recognised by the two partners, ESA and NASA. The respective roles and responsibilities of Several scientific workshops were organised at ESAC, including: ‘X-rays from nearby the partners are being revisited within the new financial boundaries of L1 mission envelope galaxies’ workshop, Akari, Herschel and VO workshops. For the 50th anniversary of for ESA and medium-size mission envelope for NASA. spaceflight, ESAC participated in a national exhibition that travelled around Spain, an Aeronautics and Space Exhibition organised by the City Hall of Barcelona, which received close to 200 000 visitors.

16 17 Annual Report 2007

→ EARTH OBSERVATION

2007 was marked by many severe events around the globe, such contribution to the other activities of the as heavy flooding in Asia and the United Kingdom, widespread GSC was under finalisation. The consortia in charge of the first GMES fast-track and fires in the Mediterranean region in summer and in California in pilot services were selected by the EC in the October, volcanic eruptions in Colombia, oil spills in the North Sea course of the year, with ESA support for the evaluation of the proposals. and Chile or earthquakes and landslides in China. Work started with the GMES Bureau of the The International Charter for Space and EC to address the future governance scheme Major Disasters had been invoked 43 times of GMES. ESA also started the preparation of in 2007, which is almost twice as much as the Programme Proposal of the Segment 2 in the previous year. Earth observation data of the GSC. This will be submitted to the ESA of the ERS and Envisat missions have been Ministerial Council in November 2008. used to provide products such as updated location/classification/event extent maps The Sentinel-1 satellite development began for rescue operations and post disaster in early 2007 and the contract was signed management. The elapsed year was also in June at the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget. marked by an increase of membership The kick-off of Sentinel-2 and -3 satellite through the adherence of the China National development contracts took place in October Space Administration (CNSA) in May. and both contracts are planned to be signed early 2008. The launch of Sentinel-1 is Global Monitoring for planned for 2011, and Sentinel-2 and -3 for 2012. Environment and Security The two Phase 0 parallel studies for (GMES) Sentinel-4/5 were kicked-off in May 2007 GMES is the most complex and ambitious and the mid-term review took place in Earth Observation programme to date, with December. Since the Sentinel-4 and -5 the goal to deliver operational information missions will be implemented as dedicated services for environment and security from payload on the Meteosat Third Generation 2008 onwards. It is an EU-led initiative with (MTG) and post-Eumetsat Polar System (EPS) ESA being responsible for implementing the satellites respectively, the studies will be space component. harmonised with the definition activities of MTG and post-EPS. Phase 2 of Segment 1 of the GMES Space Component (GSC) programme was The GMES Payload Data Ground Segment approved by ESA Member States in August architecture was consolidated, and the with an oversubscription. development of the Data Access Integration Layer was begun. This system will implement A Grant Agreement between the EC and the necessary interfaces to ensure ESA on data access was signed in December, interoperability within the GMES contributing ensuring coordinated and timely supply of missions. Data access discussions with EO data for the pre-operational phase of GMES contributing missions continued in On 24 August 2007, Envisat captured the billowing smoke from fires raging on the southern Peloponnese peninsula GMES from 2008 to 2010. The preparation preparation of the data access contracts. of Greece of the EC-ESA agreement covering the EC

18 19 Annual Report 2007

→ EARTH OBSERVATION

2007 was marked by many severe events around the globe, such contribution to the other activities of the as heavy flooding in Asia and the United Kingdom, widespread GSC was under finalisation. The consortia in charge of the first GMES fast-track and fires in the Mediterranean region in summer and in California in pilot services were selected by the EC in the October, volcanic eruptions in Colombia, oil spills in the North Sea course of the year, with ESA support for the evaluation of the proposals. and Chile or earthquakes and landslides in China. Work started with the GMES Bureau of the The International Charter for Space and EC to address the future governance scheme Major Disasters had been invoked 43 times of GMES. ESA also started the preparation of in 2007, which is almost twice as much as the Programme Proposal of the Segment 2 in the previous year. Earth observation data of the GSC. This will be submitted to the ESA of the ERS and Envisat missions have been Ministerial Council in November 2008. used to provide products such as updated location/classification/event extent maps The Sentinel-1 satellite development began for rescue operations and post disaster in early 2007 and the contract was signed management. The elapsed year was also in June at the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget. marked by an increase of membership The kick-off of Sentinel-2 and -3 satellite through the adherence of the China National development contracts took place in October Space Administration (CNSA) in May. and both contracts are planned to be signed early 2008. The launch of Sentinel-1 is Global Monitoring for planned for 2011, and Sentinel-2 and -3 for 2012. Environment and Security The two Phase 0 parallel studies for (GMES) Sentinel-4/5 were kicked-off in May 2007 GMES is the most complex and ambitious and the mid-term review took place in Earth Observation programme to date, with December. Since the Sentinel-4 and -5 the goal to deliver operational information missions will be implemented as dedicated services for environment and security from payload on the Meteosat Third Generation 2008 onwards. It is an EU-led initiative with (MTG) and post-Eumetsat Polar System (EPS) ESA being responsible for implementing the satellites respectively, the studies will be space component. harmonised with the definition activities of MTG and post-EPS. Phase 2 of Segment 1 of the GMES Space Component (GSC) programme was The GMES Payload Data Ground Segment approved by ESA Member States in August architecture was consolidated, and the with an oversubscription. development of the Data Access Integration Layer was begun. This system will implement A Grant Agreement between the EC and the necessary interfaces to ensure ESA on data access was signed in December, interoperability within the GMES contributing ensuring coordinated and timely supply of missions. Data access discussions with EO data for the pre-operational phase of GMES contributing missions continued in On 24 August 2007, Envisat captured the billowing smoke from fires raging on the southern Peloponnese peninsula GMES from 2008 to 2010. The preparation preparation of the data access contracts. of Greece of the EC-ESA agreement covering the EC

18 19 Annual Report 2007

Missions in operation Meteorological missions Missions in preparation

Envisat and ERS-2 Meteosat Second Generation MetOp Envisat successfully completed its Meteosat satellites have been providing The three MetOp satellites developed Earth Explorers nominal five-year lifetime on 28 February. a reliable stream of data since the launch by ESA constitute the space segment of Operations are expected to last until 2010, of the first Meteosat in 1977, significantly the Eumetsat Polar System. Eumetsat GOCE when the onboard hydrazine will be almost improving weather forecasting. Meteosat is responsible for the ground segment The Gravity Field and Steady State Ocean consumed. However, to prevent data gaps Second Generation (MSG) will be operated development and system operations. Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission is the between Envisat and next-generation until at least 2018 under the responsibility MetOp-A, Europe’s first polar-orbiting first of the ‘Earth Explorer’ Core Missions satellites, an extension phase is under of Eumetsat and deliver 20 times more meteorological satellite, was launched on planned as part of ESA’s Earth Observation discussion for operating the mission until information – twice as fast and with higher 19 October 2006 and declared operational Envelope Programme. It is designed to 2013. One of the many outstanding science ground resolution – than their forerunners. after six months of commissioning provide unique models of Earth’s gravity results during 2007 was the observation on 15 May 2007, starting a new era of field and of the geoid, on a global scale and of the lowest Arctic sea-ice extent by the MSG-1 (Meteosat-8) completed its fifth year meteorology and climatology. Data from with unprecedented accuracy and spatial Envisat ASAR instrument in September, of operations. The satellite and instrument 11 instruments are now available to users resolution. a major fingerprint of climate change. performance remains of excellent quality. operationally, offering unprecedented The satellite continued providing stable MSG-2 (Meteosat-9) completed its second accuracy and resolution of different During 2007, the satellite was integrated Mosaic of Envisat ASAR data from the Arctic Ocean in performance, with all ten instruments year in orbit. Meteosat-9 is Eumetsat’s variables such as temperature and humidity, and functionally tested in industry September 2007 delivering high-quality data to a large user nominal operational satellite at 0° wind speed, ozone and measurements of before shipment to ESTEC for the final community. More than 2000 scientific longitude, with Meteosat-8 as its back-up. trace gases. Apart from the failure of the system-level test campaign in August. projects worldwide are meanwhile using Satellite and instrument performance was HRPT (High Rate Picture Transmission), From August through the end of the year GOCE in the Large Space Simulator at ESTEC data from the Envisat mission. excellent. MSG-3 and MSG-4 are in storage under investigation, the satellite showed it underwent all environmental tests, for launch in 2011 and 2013. excellent performance. including a 15-day and 24-hour Thermal In April, the Envisat Symposium attracted Vacuum/Thermal Balance test in ESTEC’s over 1000 participants. Major results related Large Space Simulator. All environmental to climate change were presented, e.g. the tests were successfully completed and first global measurements of greenhouse the satellite was being made ready for the gases by Envisat Sciamachy demonstrating launch campaign. On the ground segment the fast-growing concentration of carbon side, all facilities were accepted and dioxide and the seasonal variation of subject to overall validation tests. methane concentration. Another example is the quantification of the increased velocity SMOS of the large glaciers in Greenland and The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Antarctica as measured by ERS and Envisat (SMOS) mission will observe two key SAR instruments. variables of the Earth system, namely the soil moisture content over land surfaces After 12 years of operations, ERS-2 is a robust and the amount of salt dissolved in the and reliable satellite, which benefited from ocean. SMOS is a cooperative project an upgraded spacecraft and payload ground between ESA, CNES (France) and CDTI segments, in particular with a fast planning Meteosat MSG-4 Artist impression of MetOp-A in orbit (AEOS Medialab) (Spain). and delivery of SAR data, an important asset for some GMES services. In the first half of 2007, the payload flight model passed smoothly its environmental The harmonisation of the operations test programme at the ESTEC facilities. between ERS and Envisat progressed In June it was delivered to Thales Alenia towards a ‘single mission’ concept. A Space in Cannes, to be merged with the tandem campaign between ERS-2 and SMOS-dedicated PROTEUS platform. For Envisat took place during four months the ground segment, the flight operations at end of 2007. This campaign exploited related facilities have been delivered and the 30 minutes time difference between installed at ESTEC and ESAC. the two satellites for SAR interferometry and provided innovative results. Several measures to preserve ERS-2 satellite lifetime were implemented, meaning that ERS-2 could support operations until 2011.

20 21 Annual Report 2007

Missions in operation Meteorological missions Missions in preparation

Envisat and ERS-2 Meteosat Second Generation MetOp Envisat successfully completed its Meteosat satellites have been providing The three MetOp satellites developed Earth Explorers nominal five-year lifetime on 28 February. a reliable stream of data since the launch by ESA constitute the space segment of Operations are expected to last until 2010, of the first Meteosat in 1977, significantly the Eumetsat Polar System. Eumetsat GOCE when the onboard hydrazine will be almost improving weather forecasting. Meteosat is responsible for the ground segment The Gravity Field and Steady State Ocean consumed. However, to prevent data gaps Second Generation (MSG) will be operated development and system operations. Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission is the between Envisat and next-generation until at least 2018 under the responsibility MetOp-A, Europe’s first polar-orbiting first of the ‘Earth Explorer’ Core Missions satellites, an extension phase is under of Eumetsat and deliver 20 times more meteorological satellite, was launched on planned as part of ESA’s Earth Observation discussion for operating the mission until information – twice as fast and with higher 19 October 2006 and declared operational Envelope Programme. It is designed to 2013. One of the many outstanding science ground resolution – than their forerunners. after six months of commissioning provide unique models of Earth’s gravity results during 2007 was the observation on 15 May 2007, starting a new era of field and of the geoid, on a global scale and of the lowest Arctic sea-ice extent by the MSG-1 (Meteosat-8) completed its fifth year meteorology and climatology. Data from with unprecedented accuracy and spatial Envisat ASAR instrument in September, of operations. The satellite and instrument 11 instruments are now available to users resolution. a major fingerprint of climate change. performance remains of excellent quality. operationally, offering unprecedented The satellite continued providing stable MSG-2 (Meteosat-9) completed its second accuracy and resolution of different During 2007, the satellite was integrated Mosaic of Envisat ASAR data from the Arctic Ocean in performance, with all ten instruments year in orbit. Meteosat-9 is Eumetsat’s variables such as temperature and humidity, and functionally tested in industry September 2007 delivering high-quality data to a large user nominal operational satellite at 0° wind speed, ozone and measurements of before shipment to ESTEC for the final community. More than 2000 scientific longitude, with Meteosat-8 as its back-up. trace gases. Apart from the failure of the system-level test campaign in August. projects worldwide are meanwhile using Satellite and instrument performance was HRPT (High Rate Picture Transmission), From August through the end of the year GOCE in the Large Space Simulator at ESTEC data from the Envisat mission. excellent. MSG-3 and MSG-4 are in storage under investigation, the satellite showed it underwent all environmental tests, for launch in 2011 and 2013. excellent performance. including a 15-day and 24-hour Thermal In April, the Envisat Symposium attracted Vacuum/Thermal Balance test in ESTEC’s over 1000 participants. Major results related Large Space Simulator. All environmental to climate change were presented, e.g. the tests were successfully completed and first global measurements of greenhouse the satellite was being made ready for the gases by Envisat Sciamachy demonstrating launch campaign. On the ground segment the fast-growing concentration of carbon side, all facilities were accepted and dioxide and the seasonal variation of subject to overall validation tests. methane concentration. Another example is the quantification of the increased velocity SMOS of the large glaciers in Greenland and The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Antarctica as measured by ERS and Envisat (SMOS) mission will observe two key SAR instruments. variables of the Earth system, namely the soil moisture content over land surfaces After 12 years of operations, ERS-2 is a robust and the amount of salt dissolved in the and reliable satellite, which benefited from ocean. SMOS is a cooperative project an upgraded spacecraft and payload ground between ESA, CNES (France) and CDTI segments, in particular with a fast planning Meteosat MSG-4 Artist impression of MetOp-A in orbit (AEOS Medialab) (Spain). and delivery of SAR data, an important asset for some GMES services. In the first half of 2007, the payload flight model passed smoothly its environmental The harmonisation of the operations test programme at the ESTEC facilities. between ERS and Envisat progressed In June it was delivered to Thales Alenia towards a ‘single mission’ concept. A Space in Cannes, to be merged with the tandem campaign between ERS-2 and SMOS-dedicated PROTEUS platform. For Envisat took place during four months the ground segment, the flight operations at end of 2007. This campaign exploited related facilities have been delivered and the 30 minutes time difference between installed at ESTEC and ESAC. the two satellites for SAR interferometry and provided innovative results. Several measures to preserve ERS-2 satellite lifetime were implemented, meaning that ERS-2 could support operations until 2011.

20 21 Annual Report 2007

Meteorological missions

Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Cooperation ADM-Aeolus Swarm The Phase A studies started in February and Strong international cooperation has The ADM-Aeolus mission will provide the Swarm will provide the best survey ever passed the milestone of the Preliminary taken place through the Tiger project in first ever measurements of wind profiles of the geomagnetic field and its temporal Concept Review in autumn. The baseline, Africa, Dragon with China and, on a smaller from space. These data are expected to evolution and is expected to lead to new established in agreement with Eumetsat, scope, Bear with Russia. The Tiger project substantially advance numerical weather insights into the Earth system by improving includes a series of four satellites devoted to focuses on the use of Earth observation in prediction. our understanding of Earth’s interior and its imaging (MTG-I, first launch in 2015) and a water resource management and has been effect on ‘geospace’, the vast region around series of two satellites devoted to sounding able to attract funding from the African The construction of the flight model Earth where electrodynamics processes are (MTG-S, first launch in 2017) from the Development Bank. The Dragon project platform was completed, and the first tests influenced by Earth’s magnetic field. geostationary orbit. The MTG-S satellites are is focusing on science and application in a sequence of platform-level system tests expected to carry also the same payload as development exploiting mainly data from were performed successfully. Functional The definition phase of the satellite and the Sentinel-4 mission. Envisat and ERS missions over China. It has and optical tests have demonstrated its instruments was completed early 2007. been decided to initiate a second phase an excellent performance of the Aladin The Phase C/D of the satellite was initiated. Post-EPS of this cooperation. Bear concentrates on instrument units. Qualification of the high- Detailed analysis were conducted under After additional rounds of user and expert ESA’s Director of Earth Observation, Volker Liebig, and application development in Russia. A large power ultraviolet laser, a technological first the leadership of the prime contractor and consultations to refine the user and mission Eumetsat Director General, Lars Prahm, exchange letters on number of international education and cooperation and coordination of respective Meteosat Third in Europe, proved to be a challenge, but ESA in order to define the scenario for the requirements under the lead of Eumetsat, Generation programmes in December 2007 outreach activities have been undertaken, intense engineering work by the industrial injection into orbit of three satellites to the Invitation to Tender for the Phase 0 both in Europe and worldwide. consortium allowed qualification testing ensure a safe mission while minimising the system studies of Post-EPS was issued in Service development, of the first flight model to commence in propellant mass. The conceptual phase of mid-2007. The proposals received were international cooperation and CEOS/GEOSS December. The first flight campaign of the the ground segment is near completion. evaluated and a system study is due in 2008. ESA has for the last two years chaired the Aladin Airborne Demonstrator took place in The compatibility of different launchers was education Strategic Implementation Team of the November. studied. Earthnet Committee on Earth Observation Satellites The Earthnet programme has continued since EOMD (CEOS), and in that capacity led the CryoSat EarthCARE almost 30 years to ESA’s Earth observation 2007 saw the conclusion of two major formulation of the ‘CEOS Implementation The CryoSat mission will determine EarthCARE, developed in cooperation the activities and assures long-term sustainability initiatives to grow European industry Plan for Space-based observations for fluctuations in the ice cover of the polar Japanese space agency JAXA, will collect beyond normal programmatic funding capabilities in offering EO-based services GEOSS’. This included the identification regions. These measurements will be essential data for numerical modelling periods. Through Earthnet, ESA is managing through ESA’s EO Market Development of short as well as long-term targets invaluable in characterising ice-sheet mass of the atmosphere and for global studies Earth observation data from almost 30 programme (EOMD). The first set of activities and preparation of plans for future balance and changes in sea ice, and will of the divergence of radiative energy, the different instruments and missions. explored the prospects for EO in Renewable implementation beyond 2007. ESA has also contribute to the understanding of Arctic aerosol-cloud-radiation interaction, the Energy sectors. The second set of activities been instrumental in identifying priority and global climate change. vertical distribution of water and ice and ESA is acting as the ALOS European Data Node assessed the value of EO services within climate actions in this context. their transport by clouds, the vertical (ADEN) for the Japanese ALOS mission and, the corporate sustainable development This was the second of the three-year cloud field overlap or cloud-precipitation throughout the year, successfully opened the reporting of large multinational companies; International Polar Year development programme for CryoSat-2, interactions. 2007 was dedicated to data distribution to science (Category-1) and an issue at the heart of current business ESA was working throughout the year on an and, considering the scope of the changes intensive activities for the pre-development commercial/operational (Category-2) users. practises. The year concluded in a major extensive Earth observation data collection included in the new satellite, the progress of EarthCARE and the preparation of the briefing and consultation held at ESRIN in activity to support the International Polar has been very satisfactory. The satellite Phase B/C/D/E1 procurement which will Five new data sets for science use were October and attended by over 70 companies Year. Artist impression of CryoSat-2 structure was delivered and populated with occur in the first half of 2008. prepared: the DMC 2007 European coverage; to shape the next five years of support that various items of equipment. By the end of Image 2006 (with SPOT-4, SPOT-5 and ESA can provide in growing the European EO the year, only a few items remained to be Seventh Earth Explorer mission IRS-P6 data) with two full European data sets; service industry. delivered, including the main instrument, The mission requirements and the technical further access to the Ikonos archive, as well as the SIRAL, expected in February 2008. The assessment of the six candidate missions an extension of the Landsat data access. The Data User Element (DUE) full set of ground test equipment was built are the subject of the Phase 0 studies of the Third Party Mission agreement with Korea The Envisat Symposium in April featured up and verified, and an updated version seventh Earth Explorer mission. The Phase 0 regarding KOMPSAT-2 could also be finalised a dedicated session on EO support for of the onboard software was delivered. system studies were started in May/June and was signed to open access to this mission international environmental conventions. In All of the ground segment systems which 2007 and reached their mid-term reviews at for science users. parallel to the progress achieved in all DUE had been hibernated during 2006 were the end of 2007. The results will be used in activities, several major workshops were brought up to date with the new satellite early 2009 for the selection of the missions New Third Party Missions (TPM) accepted held to prepare the DUE activities in 2008; configuration, to start the complex set to be studied at Phase A level. in 2007 include Cosmo-Skymed, OMI and examples are Globcolour/Medspiration user of interface tests required before the Quickbird. Overall, the high number of workshop in November and the Geohazard overall ground segment can be declared TPM science users in 2007 confirmed a very Week with more than 250 participants from operational. positive trend: At the end of the year, more 35 countries. All DUE projects relevant to than 600 projects were using TPM data in global/climate changes were presented at their projects, in synergy with ESA-owned the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali Earth observation missions. in December.

22 23 Annual Report 2007

Meteorological missions

Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Cooperation ADM-Aeolus Swarm The Phase A studies started in February and Strong international cooperation has The ADM-Aeolus mission will provide the Swarm will provide the best survey ever passed the milestone of the Preliminary taken place through the Tiger project in first ever measurements of wind profiles of the geomagnetic field and its temporal Concept Review in autumn. The baseline, Africa, Dragon with China and, on a smaller from space. These data are expected to evolution and is expected to lead to new established in agreement with Eumetsat, scope, Bear with Russia. The Tiger project substantially advance numerical weather insights into the Earth system by improving includes a series of four satellites devoted to focuses on the use of Earth observation in prediction. our understanding of Earth’s interior and its imaging (MTG-I, first launch in 2015) and a water resource management and has been effect on ‘geospace’, the vast region around series of two satellites devoted to sounding able to attract funding from the African The construction of the flight model Earth where electrodynamics processes are (MTG-S, first launch in 2017) from the Development Bank. The Dragon project platform was completed, and the first tests influenced by Earth’s magnetic field. geostationary orbit. The MTG-S satellites are is focusing on science and application in a sequence of platform-level system tests expected to carry also the same payload as development exploiting mainly data from were performed successfully. Functional The definition phase of the satellite and the Sentinel-4 mission. Envisat and ERS missions over China. It has and optical tests have demonstrated its instruments was completed early 2007. been decided to initiate a second phase an excellent performance of the Aladin The Phase C/D of the satellite was initiated. Post-EPS of this cooperation. Bear concentrates on instrument units. Qualification of the high- Detailed analysis were conducted under After additional rounds of user and expert ESA’s Director of Earth Observation, Volker Liebig, and application development in Russia. A large power ultraviolet laser, a technological first the leadership of the prime contractor and consultations to refine the user and mission Eumetsat Director General, Lars Prahm, exchange letters on number of international education and cooperation and coordination of respective Meteosat Third in Europe, proved to be a challenge, but ESA in order to define the scenario for the requirements under the lead of Eumetsat, Generation programmes in December 2007 outreach activities have been undertaken, intense engineering work by the industrial injection into orbit of three satellites to the Invitation to Tender for the Phase 0 both in Europe and worldwide. consortium allowed qualification testing ensure a safe mission while minimising the system studies of Post-EPS was issued in Service development, of the first flight model to commence in propellant mass. The conceptual phase of mid-2007. The proposals received were international cooperation and CEOS/GEOSS December. The first flight campaign of the the ground segment is near completion. evaluated and a system study is due in 2008. ESA has for the last two years chaired the Aladin Airborne Demonstrator took place in The compatibility of different launchers was education Strategic Implementation Team of the November. studied. Earthnet Committee on Earth Observation Satellites The Earthnet programme has continued since EOMD (CEOS), and in that capacity led the CryoSat EarthCARE almost 30 years to ESA’s Earth observation 2007 saw the conclusion of two major formulation of the ‘CEOS Implementation The CryoSat mission will determine EarthCARE, developed in cooperation the activities and assures long-term sustainability initiatives to grow European industry Plan for Space-based observations for fluctuations in the ice cover of the polar Japanese space agency JAXA, will collect beyond normal programmatic funding capabilities in offering EO-based services GEOSS’. This included the identification regions. These measurements will be essential data for numerical modelling periods. Through Earthnet, ESA is managing through ESA’s EO Market Development of short as well as long-term targets invaluable in characterising ice-sheet mass of the atmosphere and for global studies Earth observation data from almost 30 programme (EOMD). The first set of activities and preparation of plans for future balance and changes in sea ice, and will of the divergence of radiative energy, the different instruments and missions. explored the prospects for EO in Renewable implementation beyond 2007. ESA has also contribute to the understanding of Arctic aerosol-cloud-radiation interaction, the Energy sectors. The second set of activities been instrumental in identifying priority and global climate change. vertical distribution of water and ice and ESA is acting as the ALOS European Data Node assessed the value of EO services within climate actions in this context. their transport by clouds, the vertical (ADEN) for the Japanese ALOS mission and, the corporate sustainable development This was the second of the three-year cloud field overlap or cloud-precipitation throughout the year, successfully opened the reporting of large multinational companies; International Polar Year development programme for CryoSat-2, interactions. 2007 was dedicated to data distribution to science (Category-1) and an issue at the heart of current business ESA was working throughout the year on an and, considering the scope of the changes intensive activities for the pre-development commercial/operational (Category-2) users. practises. The year concluded in a major extensive Earth observation data collection included in the new satellite, the progress of EarthCARE and the preparation of the briefing and consultation held at ESRIN in activity to support the International Polar has been very satisfactory. The satellite Phase B/C/D/E1 procurement which will Five new data sets for science use were October and attended by over 70 companies Year. Artist impression of CryoSat-2 structure was delivered and populated with occur in the first half of 2008. prepared: the DMC 2007 European coverage; to shape the next five years of support that various items of equipment. By the end of Image 2006 (with SPOT-4, SPOT-5 and ESA can provide in growing the European EO the year, only a few items remained to be Seventh Earth Explorer mission IRS-P6 data) with two full European data sets; service industry. delivered, including the main instrument, The mission requirements and the technical further access to the Ikonos archive, as well as the SIRAL, expected in February 2008. The assessment of the six candidate missions an extension of the Landsat data access. The Data User Element (DUE) full set of ground test equipment was built are the subject of the Phase 0 studies of the Third Party Mission agreement with Korea The Envisat Symposium in April featured up and verified, and an updated version seventh Earth Explorer mission. The Phase 0 regarding KOMPSAT-2 could also be finalised a dedicated session on EO support for of the onboard software was delivered. system studies were started in May/June and was signed to open access to this mission international environmental conventions. In All of the ground segment systems which 2007 and reached their mid-term reviews at for science users. parallel to the progress achieved in all DUE had been hibernated during 2006 were the end of 2007. The results will be used in activities, several major workshops were brought up to date with the new satellite early 2009 for the selection of the missions New Third Party Missions (TPM) accepted held to prepare the DUE activities in 2008; configuration, to start the complex set to be studied at Phase A level. in 2007 include Cosmo-Skymed, OMI and examples are Globcolour/Medspiration user of interface tests required before the Quickbird. Overall, the high number of workshop in November and the Geohazard overall ground segment can be declared TPM science users in 2007 confirmed a very Week with more than 250 participants from operational. positive trend: At the end of the year, more 35 countries. All DUE projects relevant to than 600 projects were using TPM data in global/climate changes were presented at their projects, in synergy with ESA-owned the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali Earth observation missions. in December.

22 23 Annual Report 2007

→ TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION

Telecommunications Telecommunications is by far the most mature aspect of the telecommunications, from development space industry. It is a highly competitive market which requires of new equipment and systems and to full missions, services and user applications for constant research and development to ensure that European the benefit of society. industry stays at the leading edge of technology. ESA Telecommunications had a busy 2007 with successes and progress in particular for Within the Directorate of Telecommunications two of the newer programmes: the Large and Navigation, the Telecommunications Platform Programme and the Small GEO Department helps drive forward Programme. technological development in Europe and maintain European industrial capability The Large Platform Programme within the different segments of the includes Alphabus, a new generic commercial telecommunications market: telecommunications platform around which fixed satellite services, broadcasting satellite a new family of communications satellites services (TV, radio, data), mobile satellite can be built. These will offer significantly services, broadband internet access and more power and associated payload broadcasting to mobiles. capacity than existing European platforms. The contract for Alphasat, which will be the The Advanced Research on first satellite to use Alphabus, was signed Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) between ESA and Inmarsat in November Programme currently runs more than 330 2007 for a launch by 2011/12. projects involving all aspects of satellite

Left: Artist’s impression of Alphasat configured for the Inmarsat XL mission

Right: The Alphasat contract signature ceremony on 23 November 2007. Left to right: Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, Pascale Sourisse, CEO Thales Alenia Space, Giuseppe Viriglio, ESA Director of Telecommunications and Navigation, Eugene Jilg, CTO Inmarsat, Christian Pietrowski, Astrium Vice President Telecom Satellites, Bernard Mathieu, CNES Head of Radio Communications Programmes

24 25 Annual Report 2007

→ TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION

Telecommunications Telecommunications is by far the most mature aspect of the telecommunications, from development space industry. It is a highly competitive market which requires of new equipment and systems and to full missions, services and user applications for constant research and development to ensure that European the benefit of society. industry stays at the leading edge of technology. ESA Telecommunications had a busy 2007 with successes and progress in particular for Within the Directorate of Telecommunications two of the newer programmes: the Large and Navigation, the Telecommunications Platform Programme and the Small GEO Department helps drive forward Programme. technological development in Europe and maintain European industrial capability The Large Platform Programme within the different segments of the includes Alphabus, a new generic commercial telecommunications market: telecommunications platform around which fixed satellite services, broadcasting satellite a new family of communications satellites services (TV, radio, data), mobile satellite can be built. These will offer significantly services, broadband internet access and more power and associated payload broadcasting to mobiles. capacity than existing European platforms. The contract for Alphasat, which will be the The Advanced Research on first satellite to use Alphabus, was signed Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) between ESA and Inmarsat in November Programme currently runs more than 330 2007 for a launch by 2011/12. projects involving all aspects of satellite

Left: Artist’s impression of Alphasat configured for the Inmarsat XL mission

Right: The Alphasat contract signature ceremony on 23 November 2007. Left to right: Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, Pascale Sourisse, CEO Thales Alenia Space, Giuseppe Viriglio, ESA Director of Telecommunications and Navigation, Eugene Jilg, CTO Inmarsat, Christian Pietrowski, Astrium Vice President Telecom Satellites, Bernard Mathieu, CNES Head of Radio Communications Programmes

24 25 Annual Report 2007

GIOVE-B in ESA’s test facility at ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands Navigation In June 2007, ESA Telecommunications This was a key year for satellite navigation with the In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase launched a new programme, called Iris, to Galileo IOV development progressed with develop satellite communications for air consolidation of EGNOS and GIOVE satellites (the first Galileo the first production of flight and ground traffic management (exchanges between satellites), and at the same time the reorientation of the overall elements, and the preparation of the pilots and flight controllers, complementing Critical Design Reviews of the various existing and future air traffic control programmatic approach by the European Commission and ESA, major segments of the programme. In systems). This new programme will be ESA’s both partners of these programmes. parallel, ESA and industry implemented an contribution to the Single European Sky Air industrial reorganisation for the IOV phase, Traffic Management Research programme assigning ESA the role of the overall system (SESAR). GIOVE-A and procurement responsibility during the The GIOVE-A satellite operations and remaining part of the IOV phase. Artemis signal transmission continued smoothly The Artemis telecommunications satellite, during 2007. GIOVE-A transmissions and EGNOS launched in 2001, has continued operations, telemetry proved to be extremely valuable The signal-in-space (SIS) availability with the spacecraft still in good health and in experimentation and preparation for continued to progress, reaching an excellent providing operational data relay services to Galileo deployment. In March, a workshop level of performance in terms of stability the user communities. was held at ESTEC to present the GIOVE-A and continuity. In parallel with routine signal-in-space Interface Control Document operations, the development of an improved A new scheme has been put in place and to report on prototyping activities and and certifiable system release V2.0.4 and for the exploitation of the Redu ground experiment results. operations qualification activities took place. Radio-based navigation beacons were first used in the ESA is also developing technologies for a station in Belgium, to develop the activities The system is now ready for operational 1920s and international navigation standards were smaller platform, Small GEO, with a planned at the station in partnership with the Despite reaching the end of its nominal exploitation and will be handed over to the established in 1947. But in 50 years, satellite navigation has transformed air travel. The European Commission’s 2004 launch by 2011. The spacecraft is designed on-site operator for its own commercial two-year life, the performance of GIOVE-A selected operator in 2008. Single European Sky legislation set the political frame for to enable satellites carrying payloads of less applications. The objective is to confirm the in October, all subsystems were healthy and actions in Europe to unlock viable growth in air transport than 300 kg mass and 3 kW power. role of the station as centre of excellence no observable degradations were detected. GNSS Evolution in Europe for in-orbit testing activities for GIOVE-A operations were then extended for A new programme on Global Navigation Another important project under operational and commercial communication a period of 12 months until the end of 2008. Satellite Systems (GNSS) started in 2007: the development is HYLAS (Highly Flexible satellites. European GNSS Evolution Programme. This Satellite), designed to offer internet access GIOVE-B programme is devoted to the preparation of directly to final users. The characteristics of The GIOVE-B recovery plan was successfully the future of GNSS infrastructures, including this system and the new technology that implemented with industry, leading to system analysis and technology research, ESA has developed will allow a more efficient the final tests and integration of the and will also accompany the introduction use of the satellite resources and therefore satellite at ESTEC. The satellite completed of GNSS operational systems. Activities a much more economical provision of these environmental tests at ESTEC and is ready in the initial assessment of new system services to the users. to be launched in early 2008. architectures, technology developments, and the definition of the EGNOS evolution platform, have started.

26 27 Annual Report 2007

GIOVE-B in ESA’s test facility at ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands Navigation In June 2007, ESA Telecommunications This was a key year for satellite navigation with the In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase launched a new programme, called Iris, to Galileo IOV development progressed with develop satellite communications for air consolidation of EGNOS and GIOVE satellites (the first Galileo the first production of flight and ground traffic management (exchanges between satellites), and at the same time the reorientation of the overall elements, and the preparation of the pilots and flight controllers, complementing Critical Design Reviews of the various existing and future air traffic control programmatic approach by the European Commission and ESA, major segments of the programme. In systems). This new programme will be ESA’s both partners of these programmes. parallel, ESA and industry implemented an contribution to the Single European Sky Air industrial reorganisation for the IOV phase, Traffic Management Research programme assigning ESA the role of the overall system (SESAR). GIOVE-A and procurement responsibility during the The GIOVE-A satellite operations and remaining part of the IOV phase. Artemis signal transmission continued smoothly The Artemis telecommunications satellite, during 2007. GIOVE-A transmissions and EGNOS launched in 2001, has continued operations, telemetry proved to be extremely valuable The signal-in-space (SIS) availability with the spacecraft still in good health and in experimentation and preparation for continued to progress, reaching an excellent providing operational data relay services to Galileo deployment. In March, a workshop level of performance in terms of stability the user communities. was held at ESTEC to present the GIOVE-A and continuity. In parallel with routine signal-in-space Interface Control Document operations, the development of an improved A new scheme has been put in place and to report on prototyping activities and and certifiable system release V2.0.4 and for the exploitation of the Redu ground experiment results. operations qualification activities took place. Radio-based navigation beacons were first used in the ESA is also developing technologies for a station in Belgium, to develop the activities The system is now ready for operational 1920s and international navigation standards were smaller platform, Small GEO, with a planned at the station in partnership with the Despite reaching the end of its nominal exploitation and will be handed over to the established in 1947. But in 50 years, satellite navigation has transformed air travel. The European Commission’s 2004 launch by 2011. The spacecraft is designed on-site operator for its own commercial two-year life, the performance of GIOVE-A selected operator in 2008. Single European Sky legislation set the political frame for to enable satellites carrying payloads of less applications. The objective is to confirm the in October, all subsystems were healthy and actions in Europe to unlock viable growth in air transport than 300 kg mass and 3 kW power. role of the station as centre of excellence no observable degradations were detected. GNSS Evolution in Europe for in-orbit testing activities for GIOVE-A operations were then extended for A new programme on Global Navigation Another important project under operational and commercial communication a period of 12 months until the end of 2008. Satellite Systems (GNSS) started in 2007: the development is HYLAS (Highly Flexible satellites. European GNSS Evolution Programme. This Satellite), designed to offer internet access GIOVE-B programme is devoted to the preparation of directly to final users. The characteristics of The GIOVE-B recovery plan was successfully the future of GNSS infrastructures, including this system and the new technology that implemented with industry, leading to system analysis and technology research, ESA has developed will allow a more efficient the final tests and integration of the and will also accompany the introduction use of the satellite resources and therefore satellite at ESTEC. The satellite completed of GNSS operational systems. Activities a much more economical provision of these environmental tests at ESTEC and is ready in the initial assessment of new system services to the users. to be launched in early 2008. architectures, technology developments, and the definition of the EGNOS evolution platform, have started.

26 27 Annual Report 2007

→ LAUNCHERS

Launchers activities in Europe reached important milestones in Ariane 2007. Six Ariane-5 launches took place, confirming the reliability With six successful launches, Ariane-5 fulfils the 2007 target for Arianespace and of this European launcher. Among those, L538 set a record for Europe’s Spaceport, closer to the planned payload mass. rate of seven to eight missions per year. The first launch of 2007 took place on in March, Vega and Soyuz at CSG also achieved when an Ariane-5 ECA successfully placed major development milestones with the two telecommunication satellites, firing tests performed on the Zefiro-23 Skynet 5A and Insat 4B, into geostationary and P80 engines, as well as for the Vega transfer orbits (GTO). Two months later, ground segment and the inauguration of on 4 May 2007, flight L536 successfully the Soyuz launch pad construction site in delivered Astra IL and Galaxy 17 into their Sinnamary in February. respective orbits.

Preparation for the future was another Four other Ariane-5 launches followed: on focus of activity in 2007. In the Future 14 August, two telecommunication satellites Launcher Preparatory Programme, several (Spaceway 3 and BSAT-3a) were delivered activities were begun and are giving nominally on Flight L537 by an Ariane-5 important results for the definition of ECA equipped with welded boosters, one of future launchers. Experimental activities which was recovered at sea. were also performed and the Expander Demonstrator test campaign resulted in The following mission was an Ariane-5 more than 3350 seconds of testing with GS (L526) on 5 October which orbited two seven re-ignitions. telecommunication satellites, Intelsat II and Optus D2, and successfully performed a All in all, the importance of the European re-ignition experiment of the Aestus engine. launcher sector has been further confirmed On 14 November, an Ariane-5 ECA (L538) in 2007. Even after the Ministerial Council successfully placed Skynet 5B and of 2005, countries have decided to Star One CI into GTO. With a total payload increase the resources devoted to it by mass of 9527 kg (including payload adapters additional contributions to ESA Launcher and dispensers), this mission set a new Programmes. record for Ariane-5 ECA.

Launch L530 on 21 December ended a busy year with its mission to place RASCOM-QAF1, the first pan-African telecommunications satellite, and Horizons-2 into GTO.

The first Ariane launch of 2007, flight V175 (ESA/CNES/Arianespace Service Optique CSG)

28 29 Annual Report 2007

→ LAUNCHERS

Launchers activities in Europe reached important milestones in Ariane 2007. Six Ariane-5 launches took place, confirming the reliability With six successful launches, Ariane-5 fulfils the 2007 target for Arianespace and of this European launcher. Among those, L538 set a record for Europe’s Spaceport, closer to the planned payload mass. rate of seven to eight missions per year. The first launch of 2007 took place on in March, Vega and Soyuz at CSG also achieved when an Ariane-5 ECA successfully placed major development milestones with the two telecommunication satellites, firing tests performed on the Zefiro-23 Skynet 5A and Insat 4B, into geostationary and P80 engines, as well as for the Vega transfer orbits (GTO). Two months later, ground segment and the inauguration of on 4 May 2007, flight L536 successfully the Soyuz launch pad construction site in delivered Astra IL and Galaxy 17 into their Sinnamary in February. respective orbits.

Preparation for the future was another Four other Ariane-5 launches followed: on focus of activity in 2007. In the Future 14 August, two telecommunication satellites Launcher Preparatory Programme, several (Spaceway 3 and BSAT-3a) were delivered activities were begun and are giving nominally on Flight L537 by an Ariane-5 important results for the definition of ECA equipped with welded boosters, one of future launchers. Experimental activities which was recovered at sea. were also performed and the Expander Demonstrator test campaign resulted in The following mission was an Ariane-5 more than 3350 seconds of testing with GS (L526) on 5 October which orbited two seven re-ignitions. telecommunication satellites, Intelsat II and Optus D2, and successfully performed a All in all, the importance of the European re-ignition experiment of the Aestus engine. launcher sector has been further confirmed On 14 November, an Ariane-5 ECA (L538) in 2007. Even after the Ministerial Council successfully placed Skynet 5B and of 2005, countries have decided to Star One CI into GTO. With a total payload increase the resources devoted to it by mass of 9527 kg (including payload adapters additional contributions to ESA Launcher and dispensers), this mission set a new Programmes. record for Ariane-5 ECA.

Launch L530 on 21 December ended a busy year with its mission to place RASCOM-QAF1, the first pan-African telecommunications satellite, and Horizons-2 into GTO.

The first Ariane launch of 2007, flight V175 (ESA/CNES/Arianespace Service Optique CSG)

28 29 Annual Report 2007

Qualification activities on Ariane-5 ES for The upgrade of the ESC-A Separation System, Vega Soyuz at CSG Future Launcher Preparatory The Expander Demonstrator engine test ATV were brought to the final phase in as well as the new onboard computer (OBC) On 28 March, the second firing test of the The Soyuz launch pad construction site in Programme campaign resumed; several tests with 2007. The exploitation of the reignition ARTA activities for 2007–10, were contracted Zefiro-9 motor took place in Sardinia while, Sinnamary was officially inaugurated on In June, two key contracts were signed: reignition (the first time in Europe for a experiment performed of the Ariane-5 GS to industry through work orders within in December, the P80 Demonstration Model 26 February. The ceremony took place in one for the definition of the launcher cryogenic engine) and including closed-loop L526/V 178 mission confirmed nominal five main frame contracts with European firing test was successfully performed presence of many French authorities and system concepts for the European Next regulation were carried out. The engines behaviour. This also consolidated the industry, CNES and DLR, which have all been on the BEAP test bench in Kourou. Initial representatives of all the European and Generation Launcher, and the other for the logged up to more than 3400 seconds hundreds of reignition ground tests negotiated and signed. analysis confirms that the measurements Russian organisations contributing to the development of a European Intermediate of accumulated firing time. Engineering undertaken to secure the ATV Jules Verne are fully in line with predictions. This project. A commemorative plaque was Experimental Vehicle (IXV). The relevant activities, as well as component testing, mission and its three Aestus ignition The Santa Maria (Azores) tracking and motor was representative of the flight unveiled and a stone from the Soyuz pad in activities have been progressing were running in parallel and the status of requirements. telemetry station was qualified in 2007 configuration and, once the data recorded Baikonur was installed on the European site. significantly in 2007. technical activities was assessed during and immediately started the network are analysed and the engine has undergone an Expander Demonstration mid-term Ariane development activities, such as qualification activities with CNES/CSG post-test inspection, this firing test will The Sinnamary landscape considerably IXV industrial activities were running review in November. The Concept Selection Ariane-5 ECA in PA2 configuration, for the ATV Jules Verne launch tracking. complete qualification of the P80. changed in these 12 months: launch pad, smoothly For the Phase B1 activities, the Meeting of Building Block concept/Next progressed nominally. Both the new Vehicle The New Zealand site at Awarua was fully launch control centre and infrastructure System Requirements Review data package Generation Launcher was held in November. Equipment Bay and Horizontal Separation qualified in November and the transportable In July, the contract for the development buildings were close to completion, ready was delivered in December. Work on Phase System are almost fmalised with the station from OTB (South Africa) with the and qualification of the roll and attitude for receiving Russian equipment in 2008. B2/C1 of IXV for main-stage propulsion was completion of mechanical and functional Ariane telemetry kit was installed; they were control subsystem was signed. In December, Working teams met on site in November to begun, in particular activities for a wind- tests. also ready for the ATV mission. the Modal Characterisation Test for Vega, discuss and coordinate their activities. tunnel test campaign for the consolidation to obtain the launch vehicle’s modal of the final aerodynamic shape and the The qualification of the launcher for the The Ariane-5 Mid-life Evolution parameters, was completed. With the On the launcher side, the Launch System kick-off of the Preliminary Requirements Herschel/Planck mission continued on track. Configuration Preparation Studies were assembly of the mobile gantry main Critical Design Review began in March Review. All activities on the Payload Adaptor System signed in August. structure at Kourou, an important and 2007, further to the acceptance by Russian are planned to be concluded in 2008. visible milestone was achieved in the authorities of the export documentation. This ground segment development. is a major milestone in the programme and will be followed by Soyuz Ground Segment Critical Design Review in March 2008. One of the welded boosters recovered at sea from Ariane-5 ECA flight L537

The changing scenery at the Soyuz launch site, Fish-eye view of the Vega launch gantry and flame trench Sinnamary, near Kourou in Kourou

30 31 Annual Report 2007

Qualification activities on Ariane-5 ES for The upgrade of the ESC-A Separation System, Vega Soyuz at CSG Future Launcher Preparatory The Expander Demonstrator engine test ATV were brought to the final phase in as well as the new onboard computer (OBC) On 28 March, the second firing test of the The Soyuz launch pad construction site in Programme campaign resumed; several tests with 2007. The exploitation of the reignition ARTA activities for 2007–10, were contracted Zefiro-9 motor took place in Sardinia while, Sinnamary was officially inaugurated on In June, two key contracts were signed: reignition (the first time in Europe for a experiment performed of the Ariane-5 GS to industry through work orders within in December, the P80 Demonstration Model 26 February. The ceremony took place in one for the definition of the launcher cryogenic engine) and including closed-loop L526/V 178 mission confirmed nominal five main frame contracts with European firing test was successfully performed presence of many French authorities and system concepts for the European Next regulation were carried out. The engines behaviour. This also consolidated the industry, CNES and DLR, which have all been on the BEAP test bench in Kourou. Initial representatives of all the European and Generation Launcher, and the other for the logged up to more than 3400 seconds hundreds of reignition ground tests negotiated and signed. analysis confirms that the measurements Russian organisations contributing to the development of a European Intermediate of accumulated firing time. Engineering undertaken to secure the ATV Jules Verne are fully in line with predictions. This project. A commemorative plaque was Experimental Vehicle (IXV). The relevant activities, as well as component testing, mission and its three Aestus ignition The Santa Maria (Azores) tracking and motor was representative of the flight unveiled and a stone from the Soyuz pad in activities have been progressing were running in parallel and the status of requirements. telemetry station was qualified in 2007 configuration and, once the data recorded Baikonur was installed on the European site. significantly in 2007. technical activities was assessed during and immediately started the network are analysed and the engine has undergone an Expander Demonstration mid-term Ariane development activities, such as qualification activities with CNES/CSG post-test inspection, this firing test will The Sinnamary landscape considerably IXV industrial activities were running review in November. The Concept Selection Ariane-5 ECA in PA2 configuration, for the ATV Jules Verne launch tracking. complete qualification of the P80. changed in these 12 months: launch pad, smoothly For the Phase B1 activities, the Meeting of Building Block concept/Next progressed nominally. Both the new Vehicle The New Zealand site at Awarua was fully launch control centre and infrastructure System Requirements Review data package Generation Launcher was held in November. Equipment Bay and Horizontal Separation qualified in November and the transportable In July, the contract for the development buildings were close to completion, ready was delivered in December. Work on Phase System are almost fmalised with the station from OTB (South Africa) with the and qualification of the roll and attitude for receiving Russian equipment in 2008. B2/C1 of IXV for main-stage propulsion was completion of mechanical and functional Ariane telemetry kit was installed; they were control subsystem was signed. In December, Working teams met on site in November to begun, in particular activities for a wind- tests. also ready for the ATV mission. the Modal Characterisation Test for Vega, discuss and coordinate their activities. tunnel test campaign for the consolidation to obtain the launch vehicle’s modal of the final aerodynamic shape and the The qualification of the launcher for the The Ariane-5 Mid-life Evolution parameters, was completed. With the On the launcher side, the Launch System kick-off of the Preliminary Requirements Herschel/Planck mission continued on track. Configuration Preparation Studies were assembly of the mobile gantry main Critical Design Review began in March Review. All activities on the Payload Adaptor System signed in August. structure at Kourou, an important and 2007, further to the acceptance by Russian are planned to be concluded in 2008. visible milestone was achieved in the authorities of the export documentation. This ground segment development. is a major milestone in the programme and will be followed by Soyuz Ground Segment Critical Design Review in March 2008. One of the welded boosters recovered at sea from Ariane-5 ECA flight L537

The changing scenery at the Soyuz launch site, Fish-eye view of the Vega launch gantry and flame trench Sinnamary, near Kourou in Kourou

30 31 Annual Report 2007

→ HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, MICROGRAVITY AND EXPLORATION

2007 has been a landmark year for ESA and the International segment resulting in an apparent crash of the Space Station with the long-awaited installation of Node-2 control computers galvanised engineering teams at ESTEC and Astrium Bremen to ‘Harmony’; the installation of the European laboratory Columbus provide immediate support to RSC-Energia into the Space Shuttle Atlantis (ready for launch in February and NASA. Together with the Astrium/ESA team, RSC-Energia quickly concluded that 2008) and the final preparations for the launch of the ATV the problem was related to corrosion in a Jules Verne. key Service Module avionics box which was replaced by a spare transported on the next Progress flight. The computers suffered no damage and, after some command circuitry reconfiguration on the Russian Segment, operated nominally and continue to do so.

On 8 August, Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-118/13A.1, was launched carrying the Spacehab Single Cargo Module, starboard truss segment S5 and External Stowage Platform 3 (ESP3). Four EVAs took place during the mission to install the S5 truss element to the starboard side of the platform’s backbone; replace a failed Control Momentum Gyroscope (CMG) used to control the station’s orientation and also to install the ESP3 on Truss P3.

On 23 October, Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-120/10A, transported Italian-built Node-2, Harmony, along with ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli on the ‘Esperia’ mission, an ASI flight opportunity. The 15-day mission to the ISS to connect Harmony was the Paolo Nespoli floats inside Harmony Node-2 (NASA) first expansion of the living and working space on the station since 2001. There were four EVAs executed during the mission. On 8 June, Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-117/13A, The first EVA, on 26 October, was to launched to the ISS for a 12 day mission during install Harmony in its temporary position, which two new solar arrays were deployed to connected to Node-1, in order to retrieve the starboard side of the station’s backbone the S-Band Antenna Support Assembly and the remaining P6 array was retracted (SASA) and disconnect the P6/Z1 fluid lines. back into its box in readiness for On 27 October, Nespoli and Expedition 16 Paolo Nespoli walks to the NASA transporter van on launch relocation to its final position later in the year. Commander Peggy Whitson were the first day for the STS–120 Space Shuttle mission An unexpected problem in the ISS Russian astronauts to enter Harmony.

32 33 Annual Report 2007

→ HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, MICROGRAVITY AND EXPLORATION

2007 has been a landmark year for ESA and the International segment resulting in an apparent crash of the Space Station with the long-awaited installation of Node-2 control computers galvanised engineering teams at ESTEC and Astrium Bremen to ‘Harmony’; the installation of the European laboratory Columbus provide immediate support to RSC-Energia into the Space Shuttle Atlantis (ready for launch in February and NASA. Together with the Astrium/ESA team, RSC-Energia quickly concluded that 2008) and the final preparations for the launch of the ATV the problem was related to corrosion in a Jules Verne. key Service Module avionics box which was replaced by a spare transported on the next Progress flight. The computers suffered no damage and, after some command circuitry reconfiguration on the Russian Segment, operated nominally and continue to do so.

On 8 August, Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-118/13A.1, was launched carrying the Spacehab Single Cargo Module, starboard truss segment S5 and External Stowage Platform 3 (ESP3). Four EVAs took place during the mission to install the S5 truss element to the starboard side of the platform’s backbone; replace a failed Control Momentum Gyroscope (CMG) used to control the station’s orientation and also to install the ESP3 on Truss P3.

On 23 October, Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-120/10A, transported Italian-built Node-2, Harmony, along with ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli on the ‘Esperia’ mission, an ASI flight opportunity. The 15-day mission to the ISS to connect Harmony was the Paolo Nespoli floats inside Harmony Node-2 (NASA) first expansion of the living and working space on the station since 2001. There were four EVAs executed during the mission. On 8 June, Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-117/13A, The first EVA, on 26 October, was to launched to the ISS for a 12 day mission during install Harmony in its temporary position, which two new solar arrays were deployed to connected to Node-1, in order to retrieve the starboard side of the station’s backbone the S-Band Antenna Support Assembly and the remaining P6 array was retracted (SASA) and disconnect the P6/Z1 fluid lines. back into its box in readiness for On 27 October, Nespoli and Expedition 16 Paolo Nespoli walks to the NASA transporter van on launch relocation to its final position later in the year. Commander Peggy Whitson were the first day for the STS–120 Space Shuttle mission An unexpected problem in the ISS Russian astronauts to enter Harmony.

32 33 Annual Report 2007

After a series of successful EVAs, Columbus deployment of the 4B SAW was aborted The payload canister containing the when damage was noticed after 25 of the 32 Columbus module, with its five payload bays had been extended. This damage was a racks and the external payload carrier potential delay for the planned installation (ICC-Lite) carrying the EuTEF and SOLAR of the Columbus laboratory in December payload suites, was transported to Launch and, possibly, also for the Japanese Kibo Pad 39A where, on 10 November, Shuttle laboratory. Without the array, and with the Atlantis arrived. Columbus and ICC-Lite possibility of further damage, it was not were loaded into the cargo bay of Atlantis, likely that the station could produce enough ready for the journey to the ISS. Columbus power to supply the planned extended and its payload complement remained in configuration. As repair of the 4B array the Payload Changeout Room at the launch Automated Transfer Vehicle became the primary objective of the next pad during the delay due to the external (ATV) The pressurised payload unit and the EVA, the ISS astronauts devised a way of tank rework. ATV Jules Verne left ESTEC on 13 July for the avionics/propulsion unit, the two major repairing the wing. This mission showed the transatlantic trip to the Europe’s Spaceport pieces of the ATV, were carefully ‘mated’ real benefits of having a human presence Inaugurated in 2004 and situated at DLR in at Kourou, French Guiana, on 1 August 2007. for the last time in the final launch on the ISS. Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, the Columbus It was planned to be launched by an configuration on 15 December in the Control Centre (COL-CC) will control and Ariane-5 from Kourou in early 2008. Spaceport’s giant integration hall. Nespoli, in addition to challenging system conduct the flight operations of Columbus An experimental re-ignition of the Ariane-5 tasks, performed a joint ASI/ESA science once it is attached to the ISS. The centre will At the end of November, the ATV was given ‘Aestus’ engine took place in October and programme including human physiology also house the first permanent European its wings when the integration of the Solar was a success. The experiment was done and biology experiments along with astronaut communicator. The centre is Generation System was completed. The ATV’s to validate operational conditions (mainly educational activities. During his stay on operated by DLR under contract from ESA tanks were filled with drinking water for the temperatures and pressures) and procedures the ISS Nespoli was called by the Italian and Astrium. COL-CC is manned 24 hours a ISS astronauts. This is the municipal water of (propellant settling in tanks) of the launcher President, Giorgio Napolitano, who spoke day by European controllers on the ground, Turin, Italy, that has been treated according upper stage, which will be applied during for about fifteen minutes to both Nespoli who will be responsible for managing the to Russian standards. Dry cargo was also the ATV orbital injection mission. and Shuttle mission commander, Pam crew-occupied Columbus module and is installed in the pressurised compartment Melroy, congratulating them on the success ready to start full operational duty. of the ATV and the compartment closed up ATV Control Centre (CC) operations of the mission. ready for launch. qualification continued on track for the launch in early 2008. Two more After a busy 15 days, Joint Integrated STS-120 returned Simulations, to Earth landing involving the safely at KSC. The Russian Control remaining ISS Centre, NASA crewmembers then Mission Control undertook the and COL-CC were necessary EVAs to successfully move Pressurized carried out and a Mating Adaptor-2 major simulation from the front of exercise was the US laboratory conducted at the Peggy Whitson and Nespoli Destiny to the Harmony node thus clearing ATV Jules Verne travels by barge from ESTEC to Rotterdam, end of November. about to enter Harmony the way for Harmony’s relocation to its and from there to Kourou Node-2 (NASA) This exercise, called ‘Rendezvous Week’, permanent home and ready to accept the was a full simulation at ATV-CC of the docking of Columbus, and later Japan’s Kibo demonstration part of the mission. It also Experiment Module, in 2008. exercised the ISS Programme Mission Management Team in Houston and Shuttle managers postponed planned Moscow in making decisions on whether or launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-122/1E, not the demonstration objectives had been in December because of false readings from Space Shuttle Atlantis carrying Columbus poised for launch (NASA) Columbus loaded into the cargo-bay of Atlantis (NASA) achieved and, on that basis, giving the the sensor system that monitors the liquid go-ahead for the next mission phase. hydrogen section of the external tank. NASA This was an extremely important exercise engineers worked tirelessly to solve the and its successful completion has problem and the work was completed so significantly increased the confidence of the that Atlantis and ESA’s Columbus Laboratory ATV-CC operations teams as well as the ISS was scheduled for launch in early 2008. Programme management.

34 35 Annual Report 2007

After a series of successful EVAs, Columbus deployment of the 4B SAW was aborted The payload canister containing the when damage was noticed after 25 of the 32 Columbus module, with its five payload bays had been extended. This damage was a racks and the external payload carrier potential delay for the planned installation (ICC-Lite) carrying the EuTEF and SOLAR of the Columbus laboratory in December payload suites, was transported to Launch and, possibly, also for the Japanese Kibo Pad 39A where, on 10 November, Shuttle laboratory. Without the array, and with the Atlantis arrived. Columbus and ICC-Lite possibility of further damage, it was not were loaded into the cargo bay of Atlantis, likely that the station could produce enough ready for the journey to the ISS. Columbus power to supply the planned extended and its payload complement remained in configuration. As repair of the 4B array the Payload Changeout Room at the launch Automated Transfer Vehicle became the primary objective of the next pad during the delay due to the external (ATV) The pressurised payload unit and the EVA, the ISS astronauts devised a way of tank rework. ATV Jules Verne left ESTEC on 13 July for the avionics/propulsion unit, the two major repairing the wing. This mission showed the transatlantic trip to the Europe’s Spaceport pieces of the ATV, were carefully ‘mated’ real benefits of having a human presence Inaugurated in 2004 and situated at DLR in at Kourou, French Guiana, on 1 August 2007. for the last time in the final launch on the ISS. Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, the Columbus It was planned to be launched by an configuration on 15 December in the Control Centre (COL-CC) will control and Ariane-5 from Kourou in early 2008. Spaceport’s giant integration hall. Nespoli, in addition to challenging system conduct the flight operations of Columbus An experimental re-ignition of the Ariane-5 tasks, performed a joint ASI/ESA science once it is attached to the ISS. The centre will At the end of November, the ATV was given ‘Aestus’ engine took place in October and programme including human physiology also house the first permanent European its wings when the integration of the Solar was a success. The experiment was done and biology experiments along with astronaut communicator. The centre is Generation System was completed. The ATV’s to validate operational conditions (mainly educational activities. During his stay on operated by DLR under contract from ESA tanks were filled with drinking water for the temperatures and pressures) and procedures the ISS Nespoli was called by the Italian and Astrium. COL-CC is manned 24 hours a ISS astronauts. This is the municipal water of (propellant settling in tanks) of the launcher President, Giorgio Napolitano, who spoke day by European controllers on the ground, Turin, Italy, that has been treated according upper stage, which will be applied during for about fifteen minutes to both Nespoli who will be responsible for managing the to Russian standards. Dry cargo was also the ATV orbital injection mission. and Shuttle mission commander, Pam crew-occupied Columbus module and is installed in the pressurised compartment Melroy, congratulating them on the success ready to start full operational duty. of the ATV and the compartment closed up ATV Control Centre (CC) operations of the mission. ready for launch. qualification continued on track for the launch in early 2008. Two more After a busy 15 days, Joint Integrated STS-120 returned Simulations, to Earth landing involving the safely at KSC. The Russian Control remaining ISS Centre, NASA crewmembers then Mission Control undertook the and COL-CC were necessary EVAs to successfully move Pressurized carried out and a Mating Adaptor-2 major simulation from the front of exercise was the US laboratory conducted at the Peggy Whitson and Nespoli Destiny to the Harmony node thus clearing ATV Jules Verne travels by barge from ESTEC to Rotterdam, end of November. about to enter Harmony the way for Harmony’s relocation to its and from there to Kourou Node-2 (NASA) This exercise, called ‘Rendezvous Week’, permanent home and ready to accept the was a full simulation at ATV-CC of the docking of Columbus, and later Japan’s Kibo demonstration part of the mission. It also Experiment Module, in 2008. exercised the ISS Programme Mission Management Team in Houston and Shuttle managers postponed planned Moscow in making decisions on whether or launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-122/1E, not the demonstration objectives had been in December because of false readings from Space Shuttle Atlantis carrying Columbus poised for launch (NASA) Columbus loaded into the cargo-bay of Atlantis (NASA) achieved and, on that basis, giving the the sensor system that monitors the liquid go-ahead for the next mission phase. hydrogen section of the external tank. NASA This was an extremely important exercise engineers worked tirelessly to solve the and its successful completion has problem and the work was completed so significantly increased the confidence of the that Atlantis and ESA’s Columbus Laboratory ATV-CC operations teams as well as the ISS was scheduled for launch in early 2008. Programme management.

34 35 Annual Report 2007

Other flight elements from Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and in November, the contract was submitted to Node-3 has been advanced in the Assembly on the ISS for another ESA experiment. Canada, as well as some further Russian ZARM for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. Sequence and is currently scheduled to In addition, he performed pre/post- experiments. The mission operations launch October 2009 (with the Cupola flight experiments Neocytolysis and were mainly conducted from the Swedish Following the call for Mars-500 candidates, attached) following delivery of Node-3 to Chromosome-2. Space Corporation’s (SSC) Esrange Space announced at the Paris Air Show, NASA in February 2009. Centre with support from ESA’s Moscow Le Bourget, more than 5600 applications During Expedition 15, Russian cosmonauts control room and another ground station, were received. The study will look at the in the Russian ISS segment performed an in Canada, to enhance the telemetry psychological effects of long-duration space Utilisation experimental programme for ESA with coverage. travel on mental well-being, capabilities N-USOC, having successfully commissioned radiation measurements by the ASI- and mission-critical task performance. The the European Modular Cultivation System sponsored Altcriss unit and equipped the The mission was highly successful overall. first analysis of all applicants has reduced (EMCS) in the US Destiny laboratory on the human mannequin Matroshka with new On the morning of 26 September the the number to 216 who will now undergo ISS, also successfully completed NASA’s dosimeter packages. The statistics on the Foton-M3 spacecraft landed safely, in an further written medical examinations ‘TROPI’ and ESA’s ‘GRAVI-1’ experiments. human physiology experiments Immuno uninhabited area 150 km south of the in order to select the crews for the one The Multigen-1 (multi-generation plant (immunology), CardioCog-2 (cardiology) town of Kustanay in Kazakhstan, after or two precursor studies of 105 days and growth in space) experiment, launched on and EDOS (osteoporosis) could be orbiting Earth for 12 days. The payloads the final full 500-day isolation study. This STS-118/13.1A to the ISS on 8 August 2007, expanded again. and samples were handed to the scientists programme is scheduled to begin in Russia continued for a nominal duration of 75 days at ESTEC within three days of landing. in 2008. after it was started on 24 August in the During the crew exchange at the beginning The preliminary fundamental and applied EMCS. The plants will be returned on the of Increment 16, launched on Soyuz TMA-11 research results look excellent and allow STS-122/1E flight for detailed analysis. on 10 October, the spaceflight participant major advancements in material sciences Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor successfully and fluid physics, The Analysing performed human physiology experiments protein crystal Interferometer for for ESA (Eye Tracking, Lower Back Pain, MOP growth, biology, Ambient Air (ANITA) and EDOS). exobiology, flight experiment, biological life an ESA-developed The Bio-3 science package with the cell support systems technology biology experiments AT-Space, Biokin and and advanced demonstrator for Pkinase have been launched in a KUBIK two-phase loops. monitoring the incubator on board of Soyuz TMA-11, operated A debriefing with quality of the air by the Russian Expedition 16 crew and industry and inside manned downloaded with the returning Expedition scientists is planned space vehicles, is 15 crew on Soyuz. ESA’s Increment 16 for March 2008. now in operation experimental programme, with Russian on the ISS. ANITA is cosmonaut Malenchenko, comprises 4 long- ESA’s A300 Parabolic able to detect about term experiments in human physiology Flight programme 32 trace gases. Space (ETD and Immuno) and radiation research was resumed Shuttle Endeavour (Matroshka and Altcriss). with the 46th carried ANITA to the campaign after ISS in the Spacehab In addition to being onboard EVA implementation Module on flight coordinator in the ISS Node-2 assembly of a safety process STS-118/13A.1 mission, Paolo Nespoli conducted science consolidation Arabidopsis plant from the launched on 9 August 2007. ANITA was research for ESA and ASI. He carried out The Soyuz launcher carrying during 13/15 November, with 11 technology Foton-M3 at Baikonur EMCS Multigen-1 installed in EXPRESS rack 4, located two ESA experiments (Chromosome-2 and Foton-M3 lifts off from development experiments and experiment Baikonur in Destiny and having fulfilled its Neocytolysis) and three ASI experiments investigations in the fields of physical experimental programme is now classed as (HPA, FRTL 5 and SPORE). Neocytolysis and and life sciences. The 47th campaign was an ISS system element with an extended HPA were experiments in the field of human held just one month later in which 13 operational phase on-orbit. physiology and FRTL 5 and SPORE were experiments were carried out. biology experiments. At the beginning of Increment 15, launched Three drop-tower campaigns were on Soyuz TMA-10 on 7 April, commercial The Foton-M3 spacecraft was launched with performed in October at ZARM in Bremen, spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi more than 600 kg of scientific payload, Germany. In November, a drop campaign performed a set of flight experiments for aboard a Soyuz-U launcher, from Baikonur on ‘Interactions in Cosmic and Atmospheric ESA to enhance the biomedical statistics. Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on 14 September. Particle Systems (ICAPS)’ took place, but due He completed daily an ESA survey as part The Foton-M3 mission carried 43 scientific to technical problems only six drops were of the lower-back pain research. He also and technological payloads supplied by made, the remainder will be done 2008. Also detected and recorded microbes found ESA, with some cooperative contributions

36 37 Annual Report 2007

Other flight elements from Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and in November, the contract was submitted to Node-3 has been advanced in the Assembly on the ISS for another ESA experiment. Canada, as well as some further Russian ZARM for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. Sequence and is currently scheduled to In addition, he performed pre/post- experiments. The mission operations launch October 2009 (with the Cupola flight experiments Neocytolysis and were mainly conducted from the Swedish Following the call for Mars-500 candidates, attached) following delivery of Node-3 to Chromosome-2. Space Corporation’s (SSC) Esrange Space announced at the Paris Air Show, NASA in February 2009. Centre with support from ESA’s Moscow Le Bourget, more than 5600 applications During Expedition 15, Russian cosmonauts control room and another ground station, were received. The study will look at the in the Russian ISS segment performed an in Canada, to enhance the telemetry psychological effects of long-duration space Utilisation experimental programme for ESA with coverage. travel on mental well-being, capabilities N-USOC, having successfully commissioned radiation measurements by the ASI- and mission-critical task performance. The the European Modular Cultivation System sponsored Altcriss unit and equipped the The mission was highly successful overall. first analysis of all applicants has reduced (EMCS) in the US Destiny laboratory on the human mannequin Matroshka with new On the morning of 26 September the the number to 216 who will now undergo ISS, also successfully completed NASA’s dosimeter packages. The statistics on the Foton-M3 spacecraft landed safely, in an further written medical examinations ‘TROPI’ and ESA’s ‘GRAVI-1’ experiments. human physiology experiments Immuno uninhabited area 150 km south of the in order to select the crews for the one The Multigen-1 (multi-generation plant (immunology), CardioCog-2 (cardiology) town of Kustanay in Kazakhstan, after or two precursor studies of 105 days and growth in space) experiment, launched on and EDOS (osteoporosis) could be orbiting Earth for 12 days. The payloads the final full 500-day isolation study. This STS-118/13.1A to the ISS on 8 August 2007, expanded again. and samples were handed to the scientists programme is scheduled to begin in Russia continued for a nominal duration of 75 days at ESTEC within three days of landing. in 2008. after it was started on 24 August in the During the crew exchange at the beginning The preliminary fundamental and applied EMCS. The plants will be returned on the of Increment 16, launched on Soyuz TMA-11 research results look excellent and allow STS-122/1E flight for detailed analysis. on 10 October, the spaceflight participant major advancements in material sciences Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor successfully and fluid physics, The Analysing performed human physiology experiments protein crystal Interferometer for for ESA (Eye Tracking, Lower Back Pain, MOP growth, biology, Ambient Air (ANITA) and EDOS). exobiology, flight experiment, biological life an ESA-developed The Bio-3 science package with the cell support systems technology biology experiments AT-Space, Biokin and and advanced demonstrator for Pkinase have been launched in a KUBIK two-phase loops. monitoring the incubator on board of Soyuz TMA-11, operated A debriefing with quality of the air by the Russian Expedition 16 crew and industry and inside manned downloaded with the returning Expedition scientists is planned space vehicles, is 15 crew on Soyuz. ESA’s Increment 16 for March 2008. now in operation experimental programme, with Russian on the ISS. ANITA is cosmonaut Malenchenko, comprises 4 long- ESA’s A300 Parabolic able to detect about term experiments in human physiology Flight programme 32 trace gases. Space (ETD and Immuno) and radiation research was resumed Shuttle Endeavour (Matroshka and Altcriss). with the 46th carried ANITA to the campaign after ISS in the Spacehab In addition to being onboard EVA implementation Module on flight coordinator in the ISS Node-2 assembly of a safety process STS-118/13A.1 mission, Paolo Nespoli conducted science consolidation Arabidopsis plant from the launched on 9 August 2007. ANITA was research for ESA and ASI. He carried out The Soyuz launcher carrying during 13/15 November, with 11 technology Foton-M3 at Baikonur EMCS Multigen-1 installed in EXPRESS rack 4, located two ESA experiments (Chromosome-2 and Foton-M3 lifts off from development experiments and experiment Baikonur in Destiny and having fulfilled its Neocytolysis) and three ASI experiments investigations in the fields of physical experimental programme is now classed as (HPA, FRTL 5 and SPORE). Neocytolysis and and life sciences. The 47th campaign was an ISS system element with an extended HPA were experiments in the field of human held just one month later in which 13 operational phase on-orbit. physiology and FRTL 5 and SPORE were experiments were carried out. biology experiments. At the beginning of Increment 15, launched Three drop-tower campaigns were on Soyuz TMA-10 on 7 April, commercial The Foton-M3 spacecraft was launched with performed in October at ZARM in Bremen, spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi more than 600 kg of scientific payload, Germany. In November, a drop campaign performed a set of flight experiments for aboard a Soyuz-U launcher, from Baikonur on ‘Interactions in Cosmic and Atmospheric ESA to enhance the biomedical statistics. Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on 14 September. Particle Systems (ICAPS)’ took place, but due He completed daily an ESA survey as part The Foton-M3 mission carried 43 scientific to technical problems only six drops were of the lower-back pain research. He also and technological payloads supplied by made, the remainder will be done 2008. Also detected and recorded microbes found ESA, with some cooperative contributions

36 37 Annual Report 2007

Core activities Exploration The Aurora Core activities continued on the Exploration, Science and Technology exploration technology development and Advisory Group (ESTAG). ESTAG made a preparation of future robotic missions. recommendation in September 2007, to ExoMars Phase B2 of ARES was concluded with a pursue two specific missions for the Phase A The ExoMars project completed important The Phase B1 bridging activities have final review. Further activities related to industrial studies: milestones, including a transition to a consolidated the design of the system and ARES are being prepared and discussions bridging phase in anticipation of a start continued to push forward technology are being held with International Partners • a Mars orbiter mission demonstrating of Phase B2 in 2008 and the approval by developments in other critical areas to find a suitable location for an ARES flight rendezvous in Mars orbit and the Programme Board and IPC to issue such as the Airbag technology. The experiment on the ISS. The SpaceHaven aerobraking combined with network a Request for Quotation to the prime Airbag Breadboard testing facilities were Habitation study was also completed. The science objectives; contractor for the implementation phases. verified and several important tests were Eurobot WET model successfully passed an • a lunar lander mission demonstrating Furthermore, the baseline mission has been successfully completed using the ‘vented’ underwater test campaign at EAC’s Neutral soft/precision landing with hazard considerably enhanced scientifically by the airbags which have become the baseline Buoyancy Facility between 1 June and 5 July. avoidance and focusing on in situ addition of numerous instruments in the technology for the heavier Enhanced Ground development activities continue science with surface mobility. Rover and Lander Payloads. The Enhanced ExoMars Mission. with the IBDM in the frame of the Aurora ExoMars Mission surpasses the original preparatory phase and a new strategic ESTAG also discussed preparatory activities mission concept in terms of launch mass The full implementation proposal from study, aiming at the definition of ground and planning for the MSR mission and made and total instruments to be flown to Mars. industry which was submitted in response and flight demonstration options, has been a recommendation on potential areas of The total launch mass is on the order of to the Request for Quotation issued in July started. interest for Europe and priority. The status 5 tonnes while the Descent Module mass at 2007 has been formally evaluated. of MSR preparatory and NEXT activities was entry is about 1.2 tonnes. Four Mars Sample Return (MSR) ‘Precursor’ presented to the Programme Board on mission studies were begun in mid-April 17 September 2007. The Programme Board, The Rover Module has progressed during and the Mars Sample Return Phase A2 after a report from the Advisory Committee the year with detailed designs of Design Review was held 26/27 April. The on Human Spaceflight, Microgravity sub-systems and breadboards of the results of these studies constitute the basis and Exploration (ACHME) Chairman, locomotion design and other critical for further MSR preparatory activities and also unanimously endorsed the ESTAG technologies such as the Drill and Sample provided the basis for the NEXT mission recommendations relating to NEXT mission Preparation and Distribution System. definition. Conceived as an intermediate Phase A studies, to be funded by ESA’s mission after ExoMars and before MSR, the General Studies Programme. Next Exploration Science and Technology (NEXT) mission will enlarge the technology basis for a potential European participation to the international MSR mission while providing an opportunity for scientific investigations.

Following a call for ideas jointly issued with ESA’s Science Directorate in March 2007, Artist impression of the ExoMars Rover (AOES Medialab) ExoMars Drill breadboard a total of 79 proposals for the Artist impression of the NEXT mission were received from scientific In the frame of the International Mars Mars Sample Return orbiter and research institutions as well as from Exploration Working Group (IMEWG), European industry. The proposals were a dedicated MSR working group was subject to a formal review by an internal established. Its kick-off meeting took evaluation board, which down selected place on 21 September in Rome, with the seven candidates for further scrutiny by participation of ESA, NASA and European

38 39 Annual Report 2007

Core activities Exploration The Aurora Core activities continued on the Exploration, Science and Technology exploration technology development and Advisory Group (ESTAG). ESTAG made a preparation of future robotic missions. recommendation in September 2007, to ExoMars Phase B2 of ARES was concluded with a pursue two specific missions for the Phase A The ExoMars project completed important The Phase B1 bridging activities have final review. Further activities related to industrial studies: milestones, including a transition to a consolidated the design of the system and ARES are being prepared and discussions bridging phase in anticipation of a start continued to push forward technology are being held with International Partners • a Mars orbiter mission demonstrating of Phase B2 in 2008 and the approval by developments in other critical areas to find a suitable location for an ARES flight rendezvous in Mars orbit and the Programme Board and IPC to issue such as the Airbag technology. The experiment on the ISS. The SpaceHaven aerobraking combined with network a Request for Quotation to the prime Airbag Breadboard testing facilities were Habitation study was also completed. The science objectives; contractor for the implementation phases. verified and several important tests were Eurobot WET model successfully passed an • a lunar lander mission demonstrating Furthermore, the baseline mission has been successfully completed using the ‘vented’ underwater test campaign at EAC’s Neutral soft/precision landing with hazard considerably enhanced scientifically by the airbags which have become the baseline Buoyancy Facility between 1 June and 5 July. avoidance and focusing on in situ addition of numerous instruments in the technology for the heavier Enhanced Ground development activities continue science with surface mobility. Rover and Lander Payloads. The Enhanced ExoMars Mission. with the IBDM in the frame of the Aurora ExoMars Mission surpasses the original preparatory phase and a new strategic ESTAG also discussed preparatory activities mission concept in terms of launch mass The full implementation proposal from study, aiming at the definition of ground and planning for the MSR mission and made and total instruments to be flown to Mars. industry which was submitted in response and flight demonstration options, has been a recommendation on potential areas of The total launch mass is on the order of to the Request for Quotation issued in July started. interest for Europe and priority. The status 5 tonnes while the Descent Module mass at 2007 has been formally evaluated. of MSR preparatory and NEXT activities was entry is about 1.2 tonnes. Four Mars Sample Return (MSR) ‘Precursor’ presented to the Programme Board on mission studies were begun in mid-April 17 September 2007. The Programme Board, The Rover Module has progressed during and the Mars Sample Return Phase A2 after a report from the Advisory Committee the year with detailed designs of Design Review was held 26/27 April. The on Human Spaceflight, Microgravity sub-systems and breadboards of the results of these studies constitute the basis and Exploration (ACHME) Chairman, locomotion design and other critical for further MSR preparatory activities and also unanimously endorsed the ESTAG technologies such as the Drill and Sample provided the basis for the NEXT mission recommendations relating to NEXT mission Preparation and Distribution System. definition. Conceived as an intermediate Phase A studies, to be funded by ESA’s mission after ExoMars and before MSR, the General Studies Programme. Next Exploration Science and Technology (NEXT) mission will enlarge the technology basis for a potential European participation to the international MSR mission while providing an opportunity for scientific investigations.

Following a call for ideas jointly issued with ESA’s Science Directorate in March 2007, Artist impression of the ExoMars Rover (AOES Medialab) ExoMars Drill breadboard a total of 79 proposals for the Artist impression of the NEXT mission were received from scientific In the frame of the International Mars Mars Sample Return orbiter and research institutions as well as from Exploration Working Group (IMEWG), European industry. The proposals were a dedicated MSR working group was subject to a formal review by an internal established. Its kick-off meeting took evaluation board, which down selected place on 21 September in Rome, with the seven candidates for further scrutiny by participation of ESA, NASA and European

38 39 Annual Report 2007

national agencies. The status of definition CSTS of MSR was reviewed and a work plan In September, European and Russian defined aiming at a commonly agreed industry started to focus on the definition For the Shuttle STS-122/1E flight, the crew members received the complete ATV mission concept by early 2008. of the Crew Space Transportation System EAC training instructors implemented training, including rendezvous and docking, (CSTS) requirements for low lunar orbit and more than 1000 hours of crew and flight ATV attached phase training and finally ATV In the field of planetary protection, low Earth orbit missions. Industry is also controller training. In addition more than undocking and departure training. activities continue on a number of different evaluating a number of vehicle concepts and 60 simulations were held to get 70 Expedition 17 training went on in parallel aspects: bio-burden control in spacecraft will assess them, in due course, in line with COL-CC and FRC flight controllers and was almost completed at the end of test facilities, development of alternative guidelines given by Roscosmos and ESA. successfully trained and certified for 2007 with only two final training events low temperature sterilisation methods, the real-time operations during 1E and left for 2008. In August, the EAC training extension of dry heat sterilisation methods European Astronaut Centre Increment 16. campaign for Expedition 18 started with to higher temperature, and definition Columbus systems and ESA payloads and of functional requirements for a sample (EAC) In 2007, a total of 25 Shuttle and ISS will continue into 2008. biological containment facility. On NASA’s Early 2007 was marked by the post-flight astronauts and cosmonauts were trained invitation, participation in the Phoenix activities of astronauts Thomas Reiter at EAC. Most of them visited EAC for several Preparing for the next flights of European (Mars Lander) pre-launch Planetary and Christer Fuglesang. Despite his long- different training slots spread over the year. astronauts means also developing ways Protection verification assay campaign on duration flight, Reiter returned to Earth The ESA-provided crew training for 1E and to monitor and support them. A number 13–15 July at KSC has been supported. in excellent health. He was supported by Expedition 16 was carried out for a total of projects, such as the Flywheel Exercise the EAC’s health and countermeasures of 12 prime and back-up crew members, Device, the Oxygen Uptake Measurement The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) programme, which included in-flight including ESA astronauts Schlegel, Eyharts and the Portable Pulmonary Function Mars Special Regions Colloquium was activities monitoring and the use of and De Winne. System, are looking at using ISS science organised and conducted in Rome on on-orbit hardware and health-related equipment to benefit crew health. Based 18–20 September 2007. procedures. The post-flight review of the Columbus system training dealt with on European hardware, they will provide, two missions was held at ESTEC in February. Columbus activation and checkout, at low cost, a significant increase of Several initiatives were taken to consolidate On 26 March, as part of a busy programme commissioning and also included the monitoring and assessment capabilities. the European framework for exploration of events, Reiter delivered a speech to the normal training for system operations. ESA in 2007. A workshop was held in January EU Heads of State and Government in payload training comprised the activation, in Edinburgh to review the status of the Berlin. Fuglesang’s post-flight activities checkout and commissioning for all for scenario and architecture work, discuss the included post-flight rehabilitation and ESA payloads inside Columbus as well as drivers for different stakeholder groups and events in Sweden and Rome, for the training for the start of the ESA experiment have a status of the exploration initiatives celebration of the 50th anniversary of the programme inside Columbus. Expedition 16 of European nations and other international European Treaties, along with a crew trip to partners. A workshop on Space Exploration, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in jointly organised by ESA and ESF, took place the USA. in May in Athens. Draft recommendations on the European scientific interests in space On 19 June, President of the Italian space exploration were developed, confirming a agency (ASI), Giovanni Bignami, and ESA strong interest in Mars exploration but also Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity acknowledging the interest in exploration and Exploration, Daniel Sacotte, signed the of the Moon and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). ESA/ASI agreement for the participation of Paolo Nespoli as crew member on the In May, the long-term European Strategy STS-120 mission using the ASI MPLM flight for Space was presented at the Sky in opportunity. In July, ESA and ASI announced Space Group meeting of the European the name of the mission as ‘Esperia’, Parliament in Strasbourg. The third ESA/ASI the ancient Greek name for the Italian Workshop on International Cooperation peninsula. Nespoli was busy throughout and Sustainable Space Exploration took the year taking part in many training place in Spineto, Italy, in May/June, with simulations in preparation for the mission. over 70 participants from 16 space agencies and organisations worldwide, to discuss In February, astronaut Léopold Eyharts and refine principles for an Exploration was officially named as ISS crew member Coordination Group. This was further for the first ESA increment coinciding with consolidated by the International Space the Columbus launch and commissioning. Coordination Group (ISECG) in Berlin in The confirmation of this assignment was November. During this meeting, the Terms following an already well-advanced training of Reference for ISECG was made official, which continued for the rest of the year. the purpose of which is to work collectively Flying on STS-122 together with fellow ESA towards the further development and astronaut Hans Schlegel, Eyharts will return implementation of the Global Exploration on STS-123. Strategy. Léopold Eyharts and Hans Schlegel were named to fly on the Columbus commissioning mission Schlegel in training at EAC

40 41 Annual Report 2007

national agencies. The status of definition CSTS of MSR was reviewed and a work plan In September, European and Russian defined aiming at a commonly agreed industry started to focus on the definition For the Shuttle STS-122/1E flight, the crew members received the complete ATV mission concept by early 2008. of the Crew Space Transportation System EAC training instructors implemented training, including rendezvous and docking, (CSTS) requirements for low lunar orbit and more than 1000 hours of crew and flight ATV attached phase training and finally ATV In the field of planetary protection, low Earth orbit missions. Industry is also controller training. In addition more than undocking and departure training. activities continue on a number of different evaluating a number of vehicle concepts and 60 simulations were held to get 70 Expedition 17 training went on in parallel aspects: bio-burden control in spacecraft will assess them, in due course, in line with COL-CC and FRC flight controllers and was almost completed at the end of test facilities, development of alternative guidelines given by Roscosmos and ESA. successfully trained and certified for 2007 with only two final training events low temperature sterilisation methods, the real-time operations during 1E and left for 2008. In August, the EAC training extension of dry heat sterilisation methods European Astronaut Centre Increment 16. campaign for Expedition 18 started with to higher temperature, and definition Columbus systems and ESA payloads and of functional requirements for a sample (EAC) In 2007, a total of 25 Shuttle and ISS will continue into 2008. biological containment facility. On NASA’s Early 2007 was marked by the post-flight astronauts and cosmonauts were trained invitation, participation in the Phoenix activities of astronauts Thomas Reiter at EAC. Most of them visited EAC for several Preparing for the next flights of European (Mars Lander) pre-launch Planetary and Christer Fuglesang. Despite his long- different training slots spread over the year. astronauts means also developing ways Protection verification assay campaign on duration flight, Reiter returned to Earth The ESA-provided crew training for 1E and to monitor and support them. A number 13–15 July at KSC has been supported. in excellent health. He was supported by Expedition 16 was carried out for a total of projects, such as the Flywheel Exercise the EAC’s health and countermeasures of 12 prime and back-up crew members, Device, the Oxygen Uptake Measurement The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) programme, which included in-flight including ESA astronauts Schlegel, Eyharts and the Portable Pulmonary Function Mars Special Regions Colloquium was activities monitoring and the use of and De Winne. System, are looking at using ISS science organised and conducted in Rome on on-orbit hardware and health-related equipment to benefit crew health. Based 18–20 September 2007. procedures. The post-flight review of the Columbus system training dealt with on European hardware, they will provide, two missions was held at ESTEC in February. Columbus activation and checkout, at low cost, a significant increase of Several initiatives were taken to consolidate On 26 March, as part of a busy programme commissioning and also included the monitoring and assessment capabilities. the European framework for exploration of events, Reiter delivered a speech to the normal training for system operations. ESA in 2007. A workshop was held in January EU Heads of State and Government in payload training comprised the activation, in Edinburgh to review the status of the Berlin. Fuglesang’s post-flight activities checkout and commissioning for all for scenario and architecture work, discuss the included post-flight rehabilitation and ESA payloads inside Columbus as well as drivers for different stakeholder groups and events in Sweden and Rome, for the training for the start of the ESA experiment have a status of the exploration initiatives celebration of the 50th anniversary of the programme inside Columbus. Expedition 16 of European nations and other international European Treaties, along with a crew trip to partners. A workshop on Space Exploration, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in jointly organised by ESA and ESF, took place the USA. in May in Athens. Draft recommendations on the European scientific interests in space On 19 June, President of the Italian space exploration were developed, confirming a agency (ASI), Giovanni Bignami, and ESA strong interest in Mars exploration but also Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity acknowledging the interest in exploration and Exploration, Daniel Sacotte, signed the of the Moon and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). ESA/ASI agreement for the participation of Paolo Nespoli as crew member on the In May, the long-term European Strategy STS-120 mission using the ASI MPLM flight for Space was presented at the Sky in opportunity. In July, ESA and ASI announced Space Group meeting of the European the name of the mission as ‘Esperia’, Parliament in Strasbourg. The third ESA/ASI the ancient Greek name for the Italian Workshop on International Cooperation peninsula. Nespoli was busy throughout and Sustainable Space Exploration took the year taking part in many training place in Spineto, Italy, in May/June, with simulations in preparation for the mission. over 70 participants from 16 space agencies and organisations worldwide, to discuss In February, astronaut Léopold Eyharts and refine principles for an Exploration was officially named as ISS crew member Coordination Group. This was further for the first ESA increment coinciding with consolidated by the International Space the Columbus launch and commissioning. Coordination Group (ISECG) in Berlin in The confirmation of this assignment was November. During this meeting, the Terms following an already well-advanced training of Reference for ISECG was made official, which continued for the rest of the year. the purpose of which is to work collectively Flying on STS-122 together with fellow ESA towards the further development and astronaut Hans Schlegel, Eyharts will return implementation of the Global Exploration on STS-123. Strategy. Léopold Eyharts and Hans Schlegel were named to fly on the Columbus commissioning mission Schlegel in training at EAC

40 41 Annual Report 2007

→ TECHNICAL AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

In 50 years of space, developments in electrical, mechanical Electrical Engineering and system engineering, have made giant progress thanks to The technology of attitude control sensors has evolved dramatically since the advanced technology, software design tools, advanced methods beginnings of space exploration. Latest and simulation models. developments include systems with active pixel-based star trackers, microelectrical Moving away from the ‘pioneer’ approach, and mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes the space sector has become more and, in the future, sensors on a microchip. standardised and cost-driven. It was one of Likewise, the development of trajectory the challenges of ESA’s system, electrical analysis tools means that we can now and mechanical engineering capacity, not perform independent launcher performance only to follow technology developments, analysis, including safety constraints. but also more importantly to drive the technology developments necessary to The challenges of the BepiColombo mission implement ambitious European space show the progress in power technology. The missions together with European space development of a very high temperature industry and research centres. resistant substrate (carbon fibre honeycomb panels) for the solar generator These examples illustrate some on the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) developments and their impact on demonstrated that it could withstand the technology used in space. operating temperature of 250°C during the mission life, and for limited periods temperature peaks up to 320°C, thereby enabling the mission. European multi- Example of Vega trajectory simulation showing the junction solar cells would also operate on splashdown points of the different stages these panels at these temperatures.

GOCE in the Large Space Simulator at ESTEC

42 43 Annual Report 2007

→ TECHNICAL AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

In 50 years of space, developments in electrical, mechanical Electrical Engineering and system engineering, have made giant progress thanks to The technology of attitude control sensors has evolved dramatically since the advanced technology, software design tools, advanced methods beginnings of space exploration. Latest and simulation models. developments include systems with active pixel-based star trackers, microelectrical Moving away from the ‘pioneer’ approach, and mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes the space sector has become more and, in the future, sensors on a microchip. standardised and cost-driven. It was one of Likewise, the development of trajectory the challenges of ESA’s system, electrical analysis tools means that we can now and mechanical engineering capacity, not perform independent launcher performance only to follow technology developments, analysis, including safety constraints. but also more importantly to drive the technology developments necessary to The challenges of the BepiColombo mission implement ambitious European space show the progress in power technology. The missions together with European space development of a very high temperature industry and research centres. resistant substrate (carbon fibre honeycomb panels) for the solar generator These examples illustrate some on the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) developments and their impact on demonstrated that it could withstand the technology used in space. operating temperature of 250°C during the mission life, and for limited periods temperature peaks up to 320°C, thereby enabling the mission. European multi- Example of Vega trajectory simulation showing the junction solar cells would also operate on splashdown points of the different stages these panels at these temperatures.

GOCE in the Large Space Simulator at ESTEC

42 43 Annual Report 2007

For the Planck mission, innovative Such an approach drove the definition Mechanical Engineering The procurement of the payload for the tests based on radar cross-section of R&D activities, which leads to generic The TEPLO flight demonstration experiment European Experimental Re-entry Test measurements have been conducted architectures and a set of coherent building consisting of a high-performance heat pipe Bed (EXPERT) project progressed with the enabling the Planck Radio Frequency blocks. On-board services are being defined and a loop heat pipe, was conducted during completion of the scientific payload Critical Qualification Model (RFQM) test campaign. under the auspices of the Consultative 56 hours of operation on the Foton-M3 Design Review. Design tool improvements The test, conducted together with industry, Committee for Space Data Systems in order spacecraft. were being implemented for dust erosion, provided information on the antenna to rationalise on-board communication, carbon dioxide aero-chemistry, and pattern and beam pointing. The results irrespective of specific on-board command The Analysing Interferometer for Ambient radiation ablation coupling to address achieved match extremely well with and control interfaces, digital links or even Air (ANITA) cabin air quality monitoring flight Aurora exploration issues. antenna simulations performed in quasi- complex networks. The main idea is to experiment was launched on Space Shuttle real time. Now the simulation models can foster the re-use of hardware and software Endeavour, STS-118. After installation into High-speed air-breathing propulsion, high- be used efficiently to predict the behaviour while keeping a balance between needs and Express Rack 4, ANITA performed continuous temperature materials, and hypersonic of the Planck telescope under cryogenic engineered solutions. air sampling. The data were analysed, after vehicle concepts were being pursued conditions. downloading, and have already provided in the ongoing projects LAPCAT (Long- Major progress has been made in valuable results demonstrating European Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software communication technology, from the few capabilities in this area. Technologies) and ATTLAS (Aerodynamic and has been used for a variety of simulation kilobits of data of the first Apollo lunar Thermal Load Interactions with Lightweight tasks related to the movement of charged missions to the latest developments, such In response to the demand for larger and Advanced Materials for High Speed Flight), particles in electric fields, allowing the as High Order Modulation Schemes that lighter spacecraft structures, three different funded by the EC in FP6 and FP7. simulation of natural and manmade process at very high data rates (1 Gbps) blocks of inflatable structures were plasmas around a spacecraft. with bandwidth performance at the deployed during a CNES parabolic flight In optics, highlights included the development limit of Shannon’s theorem for telemetry on the ‘zero-G’ Airbus A300. These were: of microlasers for laser altimetry on future Because the avionics subsystem of a applications (stated in 1948 by Claude an inflatable tube folded in a concertina planetary orbiters, such as BepiColombo, the satellite corresponds on average to 60% Shannon, this theorem gives an upper bound pattern, a z-folded membrane deployed realisation of optical frequency synthesisers of its total cost, special emphasis is being on the maximum amount of error-free and stretched by an inflatable tube and an for optical space-borne frequency metrology, put on reducing these costs even when digital data that can be transmitted over a inflatable torus stretching a membrane. The the in-orbit demonstration of a fibre-optic mission profiles become increasingly communication link of a specified bandwidth tests demonstrated their deployment in sensor system on Proba-2, the development complex. Therefore, an end-to-end and top- in the presence of the noise interference). the absence of gravity, and the suitability of of x-ray forming mirror modules based on down approach was adopted with a tight such concepts for future missions. silicon pore optics for the Cosmic Vision XEUS involvement of data, control, software and Navigation technology, currently based on mission, and the in-orbit commissioning of operations systems communities. GPS, but soon on Galileo, has enhanced all The aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic the German laser communication terminals space mission activities in low Earth orbit, database was established for the IXV flight on TerraSAR-X) with the help of the Optical including rendezvous and docking. demonstrator, and is contributing to the Ground Station in Tenerife. consolidation of the on-board scientific flight instrumentation.

Planck RFQM Focal Plane Unit with 320 GHz RF Test Artist impression of IXV Horn simulation

44 45 Annual Report 2007

For the Planck mission, innovative Such an approach drove the definition Mechanical Engineering The procurement of the payload for the tests based on radar cross-section of R&D activities, which leads to generic The TEPLO flight demonstration experiment European Experimental Re-entry Test measurements have been conducted architectures and a set of coherent building consisting of a high-performance heat pipe Bed (EXPERT) project progressed with the enabling the Planck Radio Frequency blocks. On-board services are being defined and a loop heat pipe, was conducted during completion of the scientific payload Critical Qualification Model (RFQM) test campaign. under the auspices of the Consultative 56 hours of operation on the Foton-M3 Design Review. Design tool improvements The test, conducted together with industry, Committee for Space Data Systems in order spacecraft. were being implemented for dust erosion, provided information on the antenna to rationalise on-board communication, carbon dioxide aero-chemistry, and pattern and beam pointing. The results irrespective of specific on-board command The Analysing Interferometer for Ambient radiation ablation coupling to address achieved match extremely well with and control interfaces, digital links or even Air (ANITA) cabin air quality monitoring flight Aurora exploration issues. antenna simulations performed in quasi- complex networks. The main idea is to experiment was launched on Space Shuttle real time. Now the simulation models can foster the re-use of hardware and software Endeavour, STS-118. After installation into High-speed air-breathing propulsion, high- be used efficiently to predict the behaviour while keeping a balance between needs and Express Rack 4, ANITA performed continuous temperature materials, and hypersonic of the Planck telescope under cryogenic engineered solutions. air sampling. The data were analysed, after vehicle concepts were being pursued conditions. downloading, and have already provided in the ongoing projects LAPCAT (Long- Major progress has been made in valuable results demonstrating European Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software communication technology, from the few capabilities in this area. Technologies) and ATTLAS (Aerodynamic and has been used for a variety of simulation kilobits of data of the first Apollo lunar Thermal Load Interactions with Lightweight tasks related to the movement of charged missions to the latest developments, such In response to the demand for larger and Advanced Materials for High Speed Flight), particles in electric fields, allowing the as High Order Modulation Schemes that lighter spacecraft structures, three different funded by the EC in FP6 and FP7. simulation of natural and manmade process at very high data rates (1 Gbps) blocks of inflatable structures were plasmas around a spacecraft. with bandwidth performance at the deployed during a CNES parabolic flight In optics, highlights included the development limit of Shannon’s theorem for telemetry on the ‘zero-G’ Airbus A300. These were: of microlasers for laser altimetry on future Because the avionics subsystem of a applications (stated in 1948 by Claude an inflatable tube folded in a concertina planetary orbiters, such as BepiColombo, the satellite corresponds on average to 60% Shannon, this theorem gives an upper bound pattern, a z-folded membrane deployed realisation of optical frequency synthesisers of its total cost, special emphasis is being on the maximum amount of error-free and stretched by an inflatable tube and an for optical space-borne frequency metrology, put on reducing these costs even when digital data that can be transmitted over a inflatable torus stretching a membrane. The the in-orbit demonstration of a fibre-optic mission profiles become increasingly communication link of a specified bandwidth tests demonstrated their deployment in sensor system on Proba-2, the development complex. Therefore, an end-to-end and top- in the presence of the noise interference). the absence of gravity, and the suitability of of x-ray forming mirror modules based on down approach was adopted with a tight such concepts for future missions. silicon pore optics for the Cosmic Vision XEUS involvement of data, control, software and Navigation technology, currently based on mission, and the in-orbit commissioning of operations systems communities. GPS, but soon on Galileo, has enhanced all The aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic the German laser communication terminals space mission activities in low Earth orbit, database was established for the IXV flight on TerraSAR-X) with the help of the Optical including rendezvous and docking. demonstrator, and is contributing to the Ground Station in Tenerife. consolidation of the on-board scientific flight instrumentation.

Planck RFQM Focal Plane Unit with 320 GHz RF Test Artist impression of IXV Horn simulation

44 45 Annual Report 2007 GIOVE-B in the large Maxwell EMC test facility at ESTEC

ESTEC Test Centre Several large spacecraft and numerous The GOCE protoflight model underwent a smaller items passed through the ESTEC Test similar test campaign the second half of Centre in 2007, making use of the latest test 2007. Following the thermal tests at Thales and verification facilities. The operations of Alenia Space in Rome, the GIOVE-B satellite the ESTEC Test Centre facilities entrusted to arrived at ESTEC in September to complete the European Test Services b.v. (ETS) have the test campaign with vibration, acoustic been extended for the next seven years. and EMC tests before launch in 2008.

The ATV Jules Verne completed its Numerous verification activities were being integration and verification activities. The performed in the Test Centre clean rooms spacecraft containers were shipped to in support of the satellite system tests. Kourou in June with twenty additional sea Many small test campaigns were carried containers with equipment for the launch out with satellite equipment, instruments, The QUAD shaker installation campaign. The Herschel thermal vacuum antennas and solar arrays for ESA projects at ESTEC test was performed with Structural Model 2, and external customers making good use of and the Young Engineers Satellite 2 (YES-2) the small vibration facility, shock bench and underwent mass property measurements. EMC Maxwell chamber. The QUAD shaker, a Transient vibration tests were conducted vertical vibration facility, was commissioned for Airbus A380 luggage pallet using the to cover spacecraft requirements, increase HYDRA hydraulic shaker. operations efficiency and reduce risk when switching between vertical and horizontal The SMOS Payload Module protoflight vibration configurations. model underwent mass property measurements, thermal vacuum and SMOS Payload Module in ESTEC Mechanical Engineering the Large Space Simulator thermal balance tests, acoustic test and Laboratories at ESTEC electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test in The Large Diameter The new Life and Physical Science the first half of the year. Centrifuge at ESTEC Instrumentation Laboratory began operating in January and was used for the Foton-M3 Science Verification Test in February and flight preparation in September. In between these events, the Large Diameter Centrifuge for hypergravity experiments was installed and accepted. The capability of the Optics and Opto- Electronics Laboratory was augmented for laser-diode testing, and initiatives were taken to establish a planetary surface emulation facility at ESTEC to allow effective, reproducible and all-time/all- weather tests on planetary probes.

Product Assurance and Safety In 50 years, space technology has become ever smaller and more powerful. The department played a key role in establishing strategic dossiers for European development of innovative EEE products using deep sub- micrometre and wide gap band technology. These breakthrough technologies will reduce significantly mass and power with a performance equal to or greater than global competitors.

46 47 Annual Report 2007 GIOVE-B in the large Maxwell EMC test facility at ESTEC

ESTEC Test Centre Several large spacecraft and numerous The GOCE protoflight model underwent a smaller items passed through the ESTEC Test similar test campaign the second half of Centre in 2007, making use of the latest test 2007. Following the thermal tests at Thales and verification facilities. The operations of Alenia Space in Rome, the GIOVE-B satellite the ESTEC Test Centre facilities entrusted to arrived at ESTEC in September to complete the European Test Services b.v. (ETS) have the test campaign with vibration, acoustic been extended for the next seven years. and EMC tests before launch in 2008.

The ATV Jules Verne completed its Numerous verification activities were being integration and verification activities. The performed in the Test Centre clean rooms spacecraft containers were shipped to in support of the satellite system tests. Kourou in June with twenty additional sea Many small test campaigns were carried containers with equipment for the launch out with satellite equipment, instruments, The QUAD shaker installation campaign. The Herschel thermal vacuum antennas and solar arrays for ESA projects at ESTEC test was performed with Structural Model 2, and external customers making good use of and the Young Engineers Satellite 2 (YES-2) the small vibration facility, shock bench and underwent mass property measurements. EMC Maxwell chamber. The QUAD shaker, a Transient vibration tests were conducted vertical vibration facility, was commissioned for Airbus A380 luggage pallet using the to cover spacecraft requirements, increase HYDRA hydraulic shaker. operations efficiency and reduce risk when switching between vertical and horizontal The SMOS Payload Module protoflight vibration configurations. model underwent mass property measurements, thermal vacuum and SMOS Payload Module in ESTEC Mechanical Engineering the Large Space Simulator thermal balance tests, acoustic test and Laboratories at ESTEC electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test in The Large Diameter The new Life and Physical Science the first half of the year. Centrifuge at ESTEC Instrumentation Laboratory began operating in January and was used for the Foton-M3 Science Verification Test in February and flight preparation in September. In between these events, the Large Diameter Centrifuge for hypergravity experiments was installed and accepted. The capability of the Optics and Opto- Electronics Laboratory was augmented for laser-diode testing, and initiatives were taken to establish a planetary surface emulation facility at ESTEC to allow effective, reproducible and all-time/all- weather tests on planetary probes.

Product Assurance and Safety In 50 years, space technology has become ever smaller and more powerful. The department played a key role in establishing strategic dossiers for European development of innovative EEE products using deep sub- micrometre and wide gap band technology. These breakthrough technologies will reduce significantly mass and power with a performance equal to or greater than global competitors.

46 47 Annual Report 2007

A very exhaustive dossier with similar New competence is being obtained to benefits has been prepared for micro- meet the stringent planetary protection nano technology (MNT). MNT applies requirements of ExoMars and evaluating Systems, Software and miniaturisation of components and materials and EEE component compatibility Technology materials combining among others, with sterilisation processes. Environmental In 50 years of spaceflight, software has electrical, mechanical and optical functions. simulation facilities have been adapted to become a major part of space systems. This field of technology is very broad, meet the high solar radiation and associated Software development automation is priorities for space application have now temperature effects that are characteristic a major topic of research. The use of been set and the trend to reduce mass and of inner Solar System missions such as Commercial Off-the-Shelf products power for the next generation of space BepiColombo. The Directorate has taken a and the implications on the validation hardware will continue in future. lead role in establishing a corporate tool for were addressed. ESA nearly completed The yearly work plans for the Technology non-conformance tracking, which is now the ASSERT project of the European Research and General Support Technology Cooperation between partners is a tradition widely distributed within ESA programmes. Commission. Programmes (TRP and GSTP) were completed. in the space community. Nevertheless The department also heavily supported The harmonisation process continued and Europe has gained a significant market the safety process for ATV safe reentry, The result is an automated software the European Space Technology Master Plan share in 50 years of commercial space representing a completely new type of production process supported by tools, 2007 was issued. Applying the established applications. Competition is fierce and mission support activity within ESA. and allowing the proof by design. Research end-to-end process, the European Space improving non-dependence of the European addressed also the integrated (hardware/ Technology Requirements (ESTER) was

supply chain for space hardware remains software) development of avionics, updated and plans of work were defined for a key objective of the department. A Standardisation, Cooperation including the establishment of reference the TRP 2008–10 and other programmes. second phase of the European Component & Quality Management architectures, borrowing from areas such as The process was under the supervision of Initiative (ECI) has been prepared to bridge European space standardisation started aeronautics, and considering issues such as a newly created Directors’ Subcommittee the continued supply of space-qualified many years ago in the ‘PSS’ series of time and space partitioning for segregation for Technology. The TRP included horizontal Electrical, Electronic and Electro-mechanical standards issued for ESA programmes. This of functions according to criticality. The actions addressing multi-disciplinary issues (EEE) components until the full deployment has become a cooperative effort of ESA, end objective is to develop more reliable such as ‘microsystems and micro-nano of the NewPro technology programme. As a national space agencies and European systems in shorter time at lower cost. technologies’. result of export restrictions the department industry associations, called the European The relation system software deserved also embarked on rapid European Cooperation for Space Standardisation attention. A first release of the Virtual Technology transfer was pursued and development of space-grade material used (ECSS), and intended for the European Spacecraft Reference Facility was installed an approach to technology ‘spin-in’ was in solar array and travelling wave tube space community. The department provides at ESTEC. Research included external established. Concerning ‘spin-off’, the applications. secretariat and executive functions for studies supported by work in the ESA business incubation initiative supported ECSS and the European Space Component laboratories so as to allow safe transition to more than 50 start-up businesses in the Coordination (ESCC), which has seen a implementation. ESTEC incubator alone since its creation. In Support to ESA Space similar transfer from ESA to a combined this respect it is expected that the first closing Programmes effort of the European space community. Proba-1 completed six years of operations of an ESA-sponsored technology fund should Project support has been the fundamental serving the Earth observation community. happen in early 2008. The establishment activity over the past years, having product In 2007 newly established methods and Comparing it with Sputnik, a satellite of of NewPro continued in interaction with assurance and safety managers integrated processes were tested in the revised ECSS about the same mass, Proba-1 is a proof of partners and following the analysis of user into all running programmes with full organisational structure. The organisation the huge progress in space technology. requirements and available means. back-up of the department’s expert was steadily working towards the revision divisions and laboratory capabilities. In and completion of the ECSS standards, to The European Technology Exposure Facility 2007 the department at ESTEC moved into have next year a coherent set of generic (EuTEF) was integrated in the Columbus a new state-of-the-art building, providing requirements for space projects. A significant laboratory. The development of Proba-2 improved accommodation of the existing step forward was the approval of a new approached completion. After Phase A of laboratory capabilities. Q-60 standard for EEE components by both the Proba-3 mission for the demonstration ECSS and ESCC. The standard adopts three of formation-flying technologies, a bridging different procurement requirement sets for phase was started with the new industrial programme selection on the basis of budget, team. A strategy for in-orbit demonstration risk and schedule. The EEE policy reflects was proposed. the trend to diversify between low-risk operational programmes up to high-risk System and cost engineering support was in-orbit demonstrator missions. At ESA level, provided to all programmes. It included policy documents and a preliminary set of large concurrent engineering effort in ESA’s requirements have been established for Concurrent Design Facility (CDF), not only Planetary Protection and Space Debris to for concept studies but also for later project support ESA programmes. phases and for anomaly investigations. The new CDF was commissioned in the A formal agreement on cooperation between new engineering laboratories building. ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration The industrialisation of the CDF models is Agency (JAXA) in the field of EEE components ongoing and the number of partners using High Temperature High Intensity Space Simulation Testing for BepiColombo was signed by Jean-Jacques Dordain and JAXA concurrent engineering based on the CDF left: facility, right (top: sample, bottom: sample temperatures) Chairman Keiji Tachikawa on 19 June 2007. continued growing. European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF)

48 49 Annual Report 2007

A very exhaustive dossier with similar New competence is being obtained to benefits has been prepared for micro- meet the stringent planetary protection nano technology (MNT). MNT applies requirements of ExoMars and evaluating Systems, Software and miniaturisation of components and materials and EEE component compatibility Technology materials combining among others, with sterilisation processes. Environmental In 50 years of spaceflight, software has electrical, mechanical and optical functions. simulation facilities have been adapted to become a major part of space systems. This field of technology is very broad, meet the high solar radiation and associated Software development automation is priorities for space application have now temperature effects that are characteristic a major topic of research. The use of been set and the trend to reduce mass and of inner Solar System missions such as Commercial Off-the-Shelf products power for the next generation of space BepiColombo. The Directorate has taken a and the implications on the validation hardware will continue in future. lead role in establishing a corporate tool for were addressed. ESA nearly completed The yearly work plans for the Technology non-conformance tracking, which is now the ASSERT project of the European Research and General Support Technology Cooperation between partners is a tradition widely distributed within ESA programmes. Commission. Programmes (TRP and GSTP) were completed. in the space community. Nevertheless The department also heavily supported The harmonisation process continued and Europe has gained a significant market the safety process for ATV safe reentry, The result is an automated software the European Space Technology Master Plan share in 50 years of commercial space representing a completely new type of production process supported by tools, 2007 was issued. Applying the established applications. Competition is fierce and mission support activity within ESA. and allowing the proof by design. Research end-to-end process, the European Space improving non-dependence of the European addressed also the integrated (hardware/ Technology Requirements (ESTER) was

supply chain for space hardware remains software) development of avionics, updated and plans of work were defined for a key objective of the department. A Standardisation, Cooperation including the establishment of reference the TRP 2008–10 and other programmes. second phase of the European Component & Quality Management architectures, borrowing from areas such as The process was under the supervision of Initiative (ECI) has been prepared to bridge European space standardisation started aeronautics, and considering issues such as a newly created Directors’ Subcommittee the continued supply of space-qualified many years ago in the ‘PSS’ series of time and space partitioning for segregation for Technology. The TRP included horizontal Electrical, Electronic and Electro-mechanical standards issued for ESA programmes. This of functions according to criticality. The actions addressing multi-disciplinary issues (EEE) components until the full deployment has become a cooperative effort of ESA, end objective is to develop more reliable such as ‘microsystems and micro-nano of the NewPro technology programme. As a national space agencies and European systems in shorter time at lower cost. technologies’. result of export restrictions the department industry associations, called the European The relation system software deserved also embarked on rapid European Cooperation for Space Standardisation attention. A first release of the Virtual Technology transfer was pursued and development of space-grade material used (ECSS), and intended for the European Spacecraft Reference Facility was installed an approach to technology ‘spin-in’ was in solar array and travelling wave tube space community. The department provides at ESTEC. Research included external established. Concerning ‘spin-off’, the applications. secretariat and executive functions for studies supported by work in the ESA business incubation initiative supported ECSS and the European Space Component laboratories so as to allow safe transition to more than 50 start-up businesses in the Coordination (ESCC), which has seen a implementation. ESTEC incubator alone since its creation. In Support to ESA Space similar transfer from ESA to a combined this respect it is expected that the first closing Programmes effort of the European space community. Proba-1 completed six years of operations of an ESA-sponsored technology fund should Project support has been the fundamental serving the Earth observation community. happen in early 2008. The establishment activity over the past years, having product In 2007 newly established methods and Comparing it with Sputnik, a satellite of of NewPro continued in interaction with assurance and safety managers integrated processes were tested in the revised ECSS about the same mass, Proba-1 is a proof of partners and following the analysis of user into all running programmes with full organisational structure. The organisation the huge progress in space technology. requirements and available means. back-up of the department’s expert was steadily working towards the revision divisions and laboratory capabilities. In and completion of the ECSS standards, to The European Technology Exposure Facility 2007 the department at ESTEC moved into have next year a coherent set of generic (EuTEF) was integrated in the Columbus a new state-of-the-art building, providing requirements for space projects. A significant laboratory. The development of Proba-2 improved accommodation of the existing step forward was the approval of a new approached completion. After Phase A of laboratory capabilities. Q-60 standard for EEE components by both the Proba-3 mission for the demonstration ECSS and ESCC. The standard adopts three of formation-flying technologies, a bridging different procurement requirement sets for phase was started with the new industrial programme selection on the basis of budget, team. A strategy for in-orbit demonstration risk and schedule. The EEE policy reflects was proposed. the trend to diversify between low-risk operational programmes up to high-risk System and cost engineering support was in-orbit demonstrator missions. At ESA level, provided to all programmes. It included policy documents and a preliminary set of large concurrent engineering effort in ESA’s requirements have been established for Concurrent Design Facility (CDF), not only Planetary Protection and Space Debris to for concept studies but also for later project support ESA programmes. phases and for anomaly investigations. The new CDF was commissioned in the A formal agreement on cooperation between new engineering laboratories building. ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration The industrialisation of the CDF models is Agency (JAXA) in the field of EEE components ongoing and the number of partners using High Temperature High Intensity Space Simulation Testing for BepiColombo was signed by Jean-Jacques Dordain and JAXA concurrent engineering based on the CDF left: facility, right (top: sample, bottom: sample temperatures) Chairman Keiji Tachikawa on 19 June 2007. continued growing. European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF)

48 49 Annual Report 2007

→ OPERATIONS

Forty years ago, in September 1967, the European Space The Cluster fleet is in its seventh year in Operations Centre was formally inaugurated to provide satellite orbit, with the four spacecraft currently flying in a multi-scale constellation with control for the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO). two spacecraft within 40 km of each other. By May 1968, it was already conducting operations of ESRO-2B. The science return for both XMM-Newton and Integral remains excellent, and merging Today, ESOC is Europe’s mission operations and ground systems of the two operations teams allowed engineering hub, with eleven ESA satellites in operation, mission significant cost savings. control facilities, computer networks and eight ESTRACK ground ERS-2 started into its twelfth year, and stations worldwide, including two 35 m deep-space antennas. Envisat marked its fifth year in orbit. To allow SAR interferometry with Envisat, the ERS-2 orbit was changed, and for GMES trial The anniversary was celebrated at the services the fast replanning was reduced Darmstadtium congress centre with to six hours from arrival of a request to ‘A Journey into Space’, a spectacular command uplink. Proba-1 is in good health multimedia show of space, exploration and and continues to deliver pictures from its imagination presenting highlights from ESA high-resolution spectrometer and camera. missions. The 1400 guests, including ESOC’s Artemis supports data and optical relay long-standing partners from space agencies, services, and Ka-band data relay tests took governments, industry, academia and, of place for ATV support. course, ESOC staff, were taken on a ‘journey’ deep into the Universe. The event also pointed towards the future: an agreement was signed by Germany’s State Secretary Dr Joachim Wuermeling and ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain, allowing a 20% enlargement of the current ESOC site, which has reached capacity limits.

Mission operations Rosetta’s highlights were the two planetary swingbys. On 25 February, Rosetta passed Mars at a distance of only 250 km. A second Earth swing-by on 13 November at 5300 km over the South Pacific Ocean was performed with outstanding accuracy of better than 0.1%. Venus Express is in good Mars as seen by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera at a distance of health after successfully completing the 240 000 km nominal mission of two Venusian days, Mars Express science operations continued Paolo Ferri, Flight Operations Director at ESOC, celebrates into a fourth year and Ulysses marked its receiving the signal from Rosetta that its flyby of Mars went smoothly on 25 February 2007 (AP images/Daniel Roland) 17th anniversary.

50 51 Annual Report 2007

→ OPERATIONS

Forty years ago, in September 1967, the European Space The Cluster fleet is in its seventh year in Operations Centre was formally inaugurated to provide satellite orbit, with the four spacecraft currently flying in a multi-scale constellation with control for the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO). two spacecraft within 40 km of each other. By May 1968, it was already conducting operations of ESRO-2B. The science return for both XMM-Newton and Integral remains excellent, and merging Today, ESOC is Europe’s mission operations and ground systems of the two operations teams allowed engineering hub, with eleven ESA satellites in operation, mission significant cost savings. control facilities, computer networks and eight ESTRACK ground ERS-2 started into its twelfth year, and stations worldwide, including two 35 m deep-space antennas. Envisat marked its fifth year in orbit. To allow SAR interferometry with Envisat, the ERS-2 orbit was changed, and for GMES trial The anniversary was celebrated at the services the fast replanning was reduced Darmstadtium congress centre with to six hours from arrival of a request to ‘A Journey into Space’, a spectacular command uplink. Proba-1 is in good health multimedia show of space, exploration and and continues to deliver pictures from its imagination presenting highlights from ESA high-resolution spectrometer and camera. missions. The 1400 guests, including ESOC’s Artemis supports data and optical relay long-standing partners from space agencies, services, and Ka-band data relay tests took governments, industry, academia and, of place for ATV support. course, ESOC staff, were taken on a ‘journey’ deep into the Universe. The event also pointed towards the future: an agreement was signed by Germany’s State Secretary Dr Joachim Wuermeling and ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain, allowing a 20% enlargement of the current ESOC site, which has reached capacity limits.

Mission operations Rosetta’s highlights were the two planetary swingbys. On 25 February, Rosetta passed Mars at a distance of only 250 km. A second Earth swing-by on 13 November at 5300 km over the South Pacific Ocean was performed with outstanding accuracy of better than 0.1%. Venus Express is in good Mars as seen by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera at a distance of health after successfully completing the 240 000 km nominal mission of two Venusian days, Mars Express science operations continued Paolo Ferri, Flight Operations Director at ESOC, celebrates into a fourth year and Ulysses marked its receiving the signal from Rosetta that its flyby of Mars went smoothly on 25 February 2007 (AP images/Daniel Roland) 17th anniversary.

50 51 Annual Report 2007 Launch of NASA’s Phoenix mission to Mars (NASA)

Missions in preparation The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) maiden flight, and the subsequent missions, will be operated and controlled by the ATV Control Centre (CC), located at the CNES Toulouse Space Centre. For operations preparation, the operations products required to conduct the ATV mission have been developed and the Joint Operations Readiness Review was completed. Formal simulation and training campaigns were International cooperation Mission operations completed, for the planned launch in 2008. Following signature of the ESA/NASA infrastructure network and operations cross-support The ESA tracking station network The Columbus ground segment agreement, Launch and Early Orbit Phase (ESTRACK), remotely controlled from development was completed and the (LEOP) support was provided to NASA Dawn ESOC with a high degree of automation, preparation of operations including the and Phoenix missions. Mars Express was provided reliable support to both ESA and training of the operations teams finished. used as data relay for their Mars rovers as external customers, in particular through Certification of flight readiness for the part of a test campaign to support landing the Kiruna high- latitude and the Cebreros Columbus assembly mission STS-122/1E of the Phoenix mission. Also ESA’s six and New Norcia 35 m stations. Stations was obtained at the ISS Stage Operations months of Delta-DOR support for precise at Kourou, Maspalomas and Perth were Readiness Review in November 2007. navigation and tracking demonstrates this upgraded to support X-Band launches and cross-support capability. critical mission phases. For Redu, a new Ground segment and mission operations service provider was selected and the site definition activities are under way for November 2007 saw a historic cooperation was opened for commercial exploitation. BepiColombo and Solar Orbiter. The between ESA and the China National Space The new ESA Santa Maria station (Azores) Herschel/Planck overall ground segment Agency, for the first time ESA tracking was completed and provides Ariane/ATV and interfaces to the science ground stations transmitted telecommands to a launcher tracking services. segment were almost completed, and key Chinese satellite, Chang’E-1. ESA was also The 5.5m antenna at Santa ground segment development activities for invited by the Russian space agency to Maria Station in the Azores LISA Pathfinder and Gaia were initiated. partner in the organisation of the seventh international symposium on ‘Reducing The GOCE flight operations segment the Costs of Spacecraft Ground Systems has completed testing and is ready for and Operations’ in Moscow. Scientific data the simulations campaign. CryoSat-2, return support to JAXA’s Akari satellite from ADM-Aeolus, Swarm and GMES Sentinels Kiruna was terminated as planned after preparation activities proceeded as planned. 21 months of successful operation. For the latter, a high-level operations concept was defined based on re-use of facilities developed for Earth Explorer Network of Centres missions. Joint ESA/CNES/DLR studies were initiated, covering the areas of Intelligent Telemetry, Mission analysis and operations expertise Formation-flying Operations and Space has been provided during Phase B1 of the Exploration Operations Architecture. ExoMars project, encompassing support to the System Requirements Review and the Baseline Configuration Review. The Third party activities Operations and Infrastructure Directorate Support to external customers was split was increasingly involved in the definition among 13 customers and 20 projects and of In-Orbit Demonstrator missions, in included Ground Station, Navigation and particular Proba-3, and work has been LEOP support. Negotiations with Eumetsat expanded on innovative ground segment for the LEOP support of MSG-3 and -4 were technologies. concluded.

52 53 Annual Report 2007 Launch of NASA’s Phoenix mission to Mars (NASA)

Missions in preparation The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) maiden flight, and the subsequent missions, will be operated and controlled by the ATV Control Centre (CC), located at the CNES Toulouse Space Centre. For operations preparation, the operations products required to conduct the ATV mission have been developed and the Joint Operations Readiness Review was completed. Formal simulation and training campaigns were International cooperation Mission operations completed, for the planned launch in 2008. Following signature of the ESA/NASA infrastructure network and operations cross-support The ESA tracking station network The Columbus ground segment agreement, Launch and Early Orbit Phase (ESTRACK), remotely controlled from development was completed and the (LEOP) support was provided to NASA Dawn ESOC with a high degree of automation, preparation of operations including the and Phoenix missions. Mars Express was provided reliable support to both ESA and training of the operations teams finished. used as data relay for their Mars rovers as external customers, in particular through Certification of flight readiness for the part of a test campaign to support landing the Kiruna high- latitude and the Cebreros Columbus assembly mission STS-122/1E of the Phoenix mission. Also ESA’s six and New Norcia 35 m stations. Stations was obtained at the ISS Stage Operations months of Delta-DOR support for precise at Kourou, Maspalomas and Perth were Readiness Review in November 2007. navigation and tracking demonstrates this upgraded to support X-Band launches and cross-support capability. critical mission phases. For Redu, a new Ground segment and mission operations service provider was selected and the site definition activities are under way for November 2007 saw a historic cooperation was opened for commercial exploitation. BepiColombo and Solar Orbiter. The between ESA and the China National Space The new ESA Santa Maria station (Azores) Herschel/Planck overall ground segment Agency, for the first time ESA tracking was completed and provides Ariane/ATV and interfaces to the science ground stations transmitted telecommands to a launcher tracking services. segment were almost completed, and key Chinese satellite, Chang’E-1. ESA was also The 5.5m antenna at Santa ground segment development activities for invited by the Russian space agency to Maria Station in the Azores LISA Pathfinder and Gaia were initiated. partner in the organisation of the seventh international symposium on ‘Reducing The GOCE flight operations segment the Costs of Spacecraft Ground Systems has completed testing and is ready for and Operations’ in Moscow. Scientific data the simulations campaign. CryoSat-2, return support to JAXA’s Akari satellite from ADM-Aeolus, Swarm and GMES Sentinels Kiruna was terminated as planned after preparation activities proceeded as planned. 21 months of successful operation. For the latter, a high-level operations concept was defined based on re-use of facilities developed for Earth Explorer Network of Centres missions. Joint ESA/CNES/DLR studies were initiated, covering the areas of Intelligent Telemetry, Mission analysis and operations expertise Formation-flying Operations and Space has been provided during Phase B1 of the Exploration Operations Architecture. ExoMars project, encompassing support to the System Requirements Review and the Baseline Configuration Review. The Third party activities Operations and Infrastructure Directorate Support to external customers was split was increasingly involved in the definition among 13 customers and 20 projects and of In-Orbit Demonstrator missions, in included Ground Station, Navigation and particular Proba-3, and work has been LEOP support. Negotiations with Eumetsat expanded on innovative ground segment for the LEOP support of MSG-3 and -4 were technologies. concluded.

52 53 Annual Report 2007

Ground station technologies Space debris Navigation Corporate informatics and site Development continued in key technological With China’s anti-satellite missile test The Navigation Support Office provided management areas, such as low-noise and high-power (ASAT) and the Russian Breeze upper-stage leading-edge GNSS products with The new IT Overall Service Provider amplification, precise timing, modem explosion, the worst fragmentation events highest accuracy almost in real-time, outsourcing contract was implemented. The and signal coding, ranging and Doppler. in 50 years of spaceflight took place in which are extensively used as a reference transition has been marred by the outgoing Studies demonstrated the possibility of 2007. This resulted in an increase of the for Navigation and Earth Observation supplier’s labour relations difficulties and upgrading Deep Space Stations to recently known on-orbit space debris population projects. Near real-time GPS orbit and clock delays in service implementation by the ITU-approved K-band (25.5–27 GHz), if by 25%, causing up to 30% of all high-risk, corrections were delivered to Eumetsat new provider. Recovery plans have been needed for future missions. Technologies near-miss events of Envisat and ERS-2. from the Ground Support Network of the put in place and ESA has not experienced were presented to more than 260 experts at While the Space Debris Office is monitoring GNSS receiver for atmospheric sounding. any critical service outages. In parallel, a the Fourth ESA International Workshop on the consequences for ESA missions, these The Office also defines the approach to major outsourcing contract for the support Tracking, Telemetry and Command Systems incidents and their consequences have establishing and maintaining the highly to ESA’s Corporate Information Systems for Space Applications at ESOC. clearly underlined the fact that Europe The new E-zone Laboratory precise geodetic reference frame, the basis has been implemented and the service has insufficient facilities in this domain. complex at ESTEC for accurate and stable Galileo positioning. transitioning successfully completed. A new Therefore, Operations and Infrastructure is document management system in support Ground data systems now in charge of preparing a programme of Delegate Bodies has been implemented. ESA’s Ground Operation System (EGOS) proposal for an autonomous European There are plans to extend this platform to encompasses architecture for all data Space Situational Awareness System. cover ESA’s knowledge management needs. subsystems of the ground segment in order to achieve maximum synergy, efficiency A new type of site maintenance contract and interoperability between different has been put in place at ESTEC, with service software elements. It is attracting attention performance targets backed by financial from other operations centres and industry. incentives. The asbestos removal project Besides having completed its transition remained on target. The new E-Zone to Linux, ESA’s operational software (in laboratory complex with state-of-the-art particular SCOS-2000) is in use by ESA technical facilities was completed, as was missions, including the Vega launcher, the new childcare facility. Identification GIOVE-B and other space programmes at of the optimal future use of the ESTEC CSA, DLR, Eutelsat, ASI, SES Astra, Hispasat extension continued, as did studies of the and Arabsat. capacity of services on the main site. At HQ, the changes at the Suffren location and the move of the library were Flight dynamics completed. A new performance-oriented ORATOS NG, the new ESA flight dynamics maintenance contract has been signed software system, is in its concept phase. and the travel contract renegotiated. The Cooperation was discussed with CNES, planning for the evolution of the ESOC which also is considering updating its flight site was consolidated across three areas: dynamics software. The First European asbestos removal, development of the site Workshop on Space Mission Analysis was extension and refurbishment of ageing hosted with participation of the entire facilities. This combined approach will European mission analysis community. lead to a significant modernisation of the infrastructure. The new Halley data centre was inaugurated and the migration of the mission systems was accomplished without Artist impression of satellites and objects currently in orbit around Earth any impact to satellite operations.

54 55 Annual Report 2007

Ground station technologies Space debris Navigation Corporate informatics and site Development continued in key technological With China’s anti-satellite missile test The Navigation Support Office provided management areas, such as low-noise and high-power (ASAT) and the Russian Breeze upper-stage leading-edge GNSS products with The new IT Overall Service Provider amplification, precise timing, modem explosion, the worst fragmentation events highest accuracy almost in real-time, outsourcing contract was implemented. The and signal coding, ranging and Doppler. in 50 years of spaceflight took place in which are extensively used as a reference transition has been marred by the outgoing Studies demonstrated the possibility of 2007. This resulted in an increase of the for Navigation and Earth Observation supplier’s labour relations difficulties and upgrading Deep Space Stations to recently known on-orbit space debris population projects. Near real-time GPS orbit and clock delays in service implementation by the ITU-approved K-band (25.5–27 GHz), if by 25%, causing up to 30% of all high-risk, corrections were delivered to Eumetsat new provider. Recovery plans have been needed for future missions. Technologies near-miss events of Envisat and ERS-2. from the Ground Support Network of the put in place and ESA has not experienced were presented to more than 260 experts at While the Space Debris Office is monitoring GNSS receiver for atmospheric sounding. any critical service outages. In parallel, a the Fourth ESA International Workshop on the consequences for ESA missions, these The Office also defines the approach to major outsourcing contract for the support Tracking, Telemetry and Command Systems incidents and their consequences have establishing and maintaining the highly to ESA’s Corporate Information Systems for Space Applications at ESOC. clearly underlined the fact that Europe The new E-zone Laboratory precise geodetic reference frame, the basis has been implemented and the service has insufficient facilities in this domain. complex at ESTEC for accurate and stable Galileo positioning. transitioning successfully completed. A new Therefore, Operations and Infrastructure is document management system in support Ground data systems now in charge of preparing a programme of Delegate Bodies has been implemented. ESA’s Ground Operation System (EGOS) proposal for an autonomous European There are plans to extend this platform to encompasses architecture for all data Space Situational Awareness System. cover ESA’s knowledge management needs. subsystems of the ground segment in order to achieve maximum synergy, efficiency A new type of site maintenance contract and interoperability between different has been put in place at ESTEC, with service software elements. It is attracting attention performance targets backed by financial from other operations centres and industry. incentives. The asbestos removal project Besides having completed its transition remained on target. The new E-Zone to Linux, ESA’s operational software (in laboratory complex with state-of-the-art particular SCOS-2000) is in use by ESA technical facilities was completed, as was missions, including the Vega launcher, the new childcare facility. Identification GIOVE-B and other space programmes at of the optimal future use of the ESTEC CSA, DLR, Eutelsat, ASI, SES Astra, Hispasat extension continued, as did studies of the and Arabsat. capacity of services on the main site. At HQ, the changes at the Suffren location and the move of the library were Flight dynamics completed. A new performance-oriented ORATOS NG, the new ESA flight dynamics maintenance contract has been signed software system, is in its concept phase. and the travel contract renegotiated. The Cooperation was discussed with CNES, planning for the evolution of the ESOC which also is considering updating its flight site was consolidated across three areas: dynamics software. The First European asbestos removal, development of the site Workshop on Space Mission Analysis was extension and refurbishment of ageing hosted with participation of the entire facilities. This combined approach will European mission analysis community. lead to a significant modernisation of the infrastructure. The new Halley data centre was inaugurated and the migration of the mission systems was accomplished without Artist impression of satellites and objects currently in orbit around Earth any impact to satellite operations.

54 55 Annual Report 2007

→ RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Human Resources

High priority was placed on reviewing the projects and outcomes of last years’ activities, and defining the policy and action lines to meet upcoming challenges. One outcome of this evaluation was to put even more emphasis on the human resources contribution to further develop an ESA managerial culture. A second outcome was to initiate a review of the present career tracks in ESA. professional or academic programmes. This year, the implementation of new HR tools (on-line performance assessment and a corporate training database) has facilitated Notwithstanding these upcoming the implementation and monitoring of challenges, ongoing programmes training plans. continued, and the Human Resources (HR) Department strengthened its role as a The Internal University offered 15 strategic partner for the management of programmes responding to different ESA in all human resources issues. corporate priorities, and introduced in particular new seminars to reinforce ESA’s Human Resources Policy managerial capability, to expand staff The primary mission of the HR Department knowledge about ESA functioning, and to is to allow ESA to benefit from a promote harmonisation of practise and skilled workforce expected to meet its exchange of expertise. programmatic objectives, as well as to offer to staff members motivating As part of a new recruitment and career career propects. HR aims to supporting management policy for senior leaders of the present and future ESA objectives, the organisation, a Leadership Development encompassing the development of Programme was introduced to answer the new competencies, knowledge transfer challenges and needs of this group fully throughout ESA, and supporting an ESA involved in the implementation of Agenda culture in which staff are prepared to take 2011. This programme will be launched in over new tasks and responsibilities. 2008.

Staff training and development External training A wide range of training and development From 1476 applications received for the activities was made available to ESA staff 2007 Young Graduate Trainee (YGT) members in 2007. These include activities programme, 72 graduates were recruited. centrally driven by the Internal University They contributed to the total of 149 YGTs to serve corporate needs and priorities, (corresponding to 82 man-years) in ESA in and those instigated locally in each 2007. YGTs, through their traineeships at ESA establishment for the job needs identified by under the responsibility of respective tutors, Towards Equal Opportunities staff and their managers. Activities ranged gain valuable ‘hands-on’ work experience, and Diversity Management – enriching ESA’s managerial from courses or seminars designed to ESA preparing them for future employment in style and leadership specifications, to the funding of external space industry or research.

56 57 Annual Report 2007

→ RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Human Resources

High priority was placed on reviewing the projects and outcomes of last years’ activities, and defining the policy and action lines to meet upcoming challenges. One outcome of this evaluation was to put even more emphasis on the human resources contribution to further develop an ESA managerial culture. A second outcome was to initiate a review of the present career tracks in ESA. professional or academic programmes. This year, the implementation of new HR tools (on-line performance assessment and a corporate training database) has facilitated Notwithstanding these upcoming the implementation and monitoring of challenges, ongoing programmes training plans. continued, and the Human Resources (HR) Department strengthened its role as a The Internal University offered 15 strategic partner for the management of programmes responding to different ESA in all human resources issues. corporate priorities, and introduced in particular new seminars to reinforce ESA’s Human Resources Policy managerial capability, to expand staff The primary mission of the HR Department knowledge about ESA functioning, and to is to allow ESA to benefit from a promote harmonisation of practise and skilled workforce expected to meet its exchange of expertise. programmatic objectives, as well as to offer to staff members motivating As part of a new recruitment and career career propects. HR aims to supporting management policy for senior leaders of the present and future ESA objectives, the organisation, a Leadership Development encompassing the development of Programme was introduced to answer the new competencies, knowledge transfer challenges and needs of this group fully throughout ESA, and supporting an ESA involved in the implementation of Agenda culture in which staff are prepared to take 2011. This programme will be launched in over new tasks and responsibilities. 2008.

Staff training and development External training A wide range of training and development From 1476 applications received for the activities was made available to ESA staff 2007 Young Graduate Trainee (YGT) members in 2007. These include activities programme, 72 graduates were recruited. centrally driven by the Internal University They contributed to the total of 149 YGTs to serve corporate needs and priorities, (corresponding to 82 man-years) in ESA in and those instigated locally in each 2007. YGTs, through their traineeships at ESA establishment for the job needs identified by under the responsibility of respective tutors, Towards Equal Opportunities staff and their managers. Activities ranged gain valuable ‘hands-on’ work experience, and Diversity Management – enriching ESA’s managerial from courses or seminars designed to ESA preparing them for future employment in style and leadership specifications, to the funding of external space industry or research.

56 57

Annual Report 2007

The Internal Research Fellow Programme Coordination Statistics provided 55 Postdoctoral Research The Coordinating Committee on Fellows (totalling 41 man-years) with the Remuneration (CCR) reviewed regulations Pensions opportunity to carry out research in a variety concerning its functioning. Changes to the At the end of 2007, there were 1068 pension of disciplines, related to space science, working of the ‘Concertation Group’ were recipients, compared with 1011 in 2006. applications or technology under the approved by the AFC in September. The supervision of ESA scientists and engineers. CCR also started an in-depth review of the Staff expatriation allowance, the rules of which At the end of 2007, ESA had 1976 staff in The Spanish and Portuguese Trainees were previously adopted in 1996. This post, compared with 1905 in 2006. Programmes, offering practical experience review is expected to be completed in 2008. in space applications to young graduates ESA Staffing per 31 December 2007 in bilateral agreements with these two Childcare facilities countries, continued their activities during The children facilities programme is now 2007. Nine Portuguese trainees started in place at establishments, providing their training at ESA during the year. The high-quality service on hand. The childcare selection of Spanish trainees was delayed, centre at ESTEC is due for inauguration. At Hors A L B C Total Staff and 16 selected candidates will start in HQ, specific arrangements for childcare Classe 2008. have been made. These facilities are highly appreciated by staff. i) Member States Towards Equal Opportunities and Austria 31 2 33 Diversity Management (EOD) Health promotion Belgium 1 76 9 86 The end of 2007 marked a new phase ESA takes care of health and well-being Denmark 26 1 27 in equal opportunities at ESA. All of the in the workplace. Different health Finland 15 4 19 instruments defined in the 2002 Action Plan promotion campaigns were organised and, France 3 366 10 95 7 481 were implemented, and indicators show following a Health and Well-being day at Germany 2 312 4 61 379 a real and encouraging increase in female HQ, similar events were organised for all Greece 7 7 representation at the A-grade level; overall establishments. Ireland 14 8 22 from 8% to 15 % (2001-07), but also a clear Italy 2 313 32 1 348 improvement in managerial positions (A5- Workforce management The Netherlands 1 59 34 94 A6), up from 2.1% to 10.2% (2001-07). These The objective of the Workforce Norway 21 2 23 figures give evidence that the ‘glass ceiling’ Management Project is to allow ESA Portugal 14 3 17 is not inevitable at ESA if it maintains the management for a better planning of the Spain 138 8 146 proactive approach adopted some years ago. future workload and to provide the Agency Sweden 41 4 45 with the workforce (in terms of manpower Switzerland 26 3 29 Therefore, the EOD Follow-Up Committee and competencies) needed to carry out its United Kingdom 1 156 3 33 193 decided, while going ahead with existing activities. The project shall implement an actions, to further examine how to develop end-to-end workforce management process Sub-total 10 1615 17 299 8 1949 the policy to diversity management: at ESA and provide the necessary tools to diversity is inherent at ESA, collecting 17 ensure long-term forecasting and mid-term ii) Non-Member States different nationalities. The question now planning of workload and workforce needs, Canada 25 2 27 is how to make the best of it, to better an optimisation of the distribution of mobilise it through inclusion and to enrich manpower resources and a monitoring of Sub-total 25 2 27 ESA’s managerial style and leadership. its actual utilisation during the year. Total 10 1640 17 301 8 1976 Prevention of harassment The project continued with the approval A policy to prevent both moral and sexual of the overall policy framework by the harassment at work was implemented in Director General and Directors’ Committee Staff in post (Permanent and Advance Recruitment) 2007. Three procedural steps (confidential in November and the preparation of a counselling, mediation and statutory phase) workshop to collect requirements for Staff in post at end of year: (NB = Headcount) are in place to make sure that the rights of a future workforce management from End of month figures both the alleged victim and alleged harasser all Directorates. This workshop will be are effectively respected. Effectiveness and conducted in 2008. In view of a future cost January 2007 1899 confidentiality are key in this new policy. accounting system, first steps were taken to February 2007 1895 develop a time-sheet information system. March 2007 1904 April 2007 1913 Review of HR processes May 2007 1921 The review of HR-related processes carried June 2007 1925 on, with about 70% of the processes July 2007 1931 being mapped so far. About 50 HR August 2007 1937 processes were being reviewed with the September 2007 1955 active participation of HR experts in all October 2007 1965 establishments. November 2007 1969 December 2007 1976

58 59

Annual Report 2007

The Internal Research Fellow Programme Coordination Statistics provided 55 Postdoctoral Research The Coordinating Committee on Fellows (totalling 41 man-years) with the Remuneration (CCR) reviewed regulations Pensions opportunity to carry out research in a variety concerning its functioning. Changes to the At the end of 2007, there were 1068 pension of disciplines, related to space science, working of the ‘Concertation Group’ were recipients, compared with 1011 in 2006. applications or technology under the approved by the AFC in September. The supervision of ESA scientists and engineers. CCR also started an in-depth review of the Staff expatriation allowance, the rules of which At the end of 2007, ESA had 1976 staff in The Spanish and Portuguese Trainees were previously adopted in 1996. This post, compared with 1905 in 2006. Programmes, offering practical experience review is expected to be completed in 2008. in space applications to young graduates ESA Staffing per 31 December 2007 in bilateral agreements with these two Childcare facilities countries, continued their activities during The children facilities programme is now 2007. Nine Portuguese trainees started in place at establishments, providing their training at ESA during the year. The high-quality service on hand. The childcare selection of Spanish trainees was delayed, centre at ESTEC is due for inauguration. At Hors A L B C Total Staff and 16 selected candidates will start in HQ, specific arrangements for childcare Classe 2008. have been made. These facilities are highly appreciated by staff. i) Member States Towards Equal Opportunities and Austria 31 2 33 Diversity Management (EOD) Health promotion Belgium 1 76 9 86 The end of 2007 marked a new phase ESA takes care of health and well-being Denmark 26 1 27 in equal opportunities at ESA. All of the in the workplace. Different health Finland 15 4 19 instruments defined in the 2002 Action Plan promotion campaigns were organised and, France 3 366 10 95 7 481 were implemented, and indicators show following a Health and Well-being day at Germany 2 312 4 61 379 a real and encouraging increase in female HQ, similar events were organised for all Greece 7 7 representation at the A-grade level; overall establishments. Ireland 14 8 22 from 8% to 15 % (2001-07), but also a clear Italy 2 313 32 1 348 improvement in managerial positions (A5- Workforce management The Netherlands 1 59 34 94 A6), up from 2.1% to 10.2% (2001-07). These The objective of the Workforce Norway 21 2 23 figures give evidence that the ‘glass ceiling’ Management Project is to allow ESA Portugal 14 3 17 is not inevitable at ESA if it maintains the management for a better planning of the Spain 138 8 146 proactive approach adopted some years ago. future workload and to provide the Agency Sweden 41 4 45 with the workforce (in terms of manpower Switzerland 26 3 29 Therefore, the EOD Follow-Up Committee and competencies) needed to carry out its United Kingdom 1 156 3 33 193 decided, while going ahead with existing activities. The project shall implement an actions, to further examine how to develop end-to-end workforce management process Sub-total 10 1615 17 299 8 1949 the policy to diversity management: at ESA and provide the necessary tools to diversity is inherent at ESA, collecting 17 ensure long-term forecasting and mid-term ii) Non-Member States different nationalities. The question now planning of workload and workforce needs, Canada 25 2 27 is how to make the best of it, to better an optimisation of the distribution of mobilise it through inclusion and to enrich manpower resources and a monitoring of Sub-total 25 2 27 ESA’s managerial style and leadership. its actual utilisation during the year. Total 10 1640 17 301 8 1976 Prevention of harassment The project continued with the approval A policy to prevent both moral and sexual of the overall policy framework by the harassment at work was implemented in Director General and Directors’ Committee Staff in post (Permanent and Advance Recruitment) 2007. Three procedural steps (confidential in November and the preparation of a counselling, mediation and statutory phase) workshop to collect requirements for Staff in post at end of year: (NB = Headcount) are in place to make sure that the rights of a future workforce management from End of month figures both the alleged victim and alleged harasser all Directorates. This workshop will be are effectively respected. Effectiveness and conducted in 2008. In view of a future cost January 2007 1899 confidentiality are key in this new policy. accounting system, first steps were taken to February 2007 1895 develop a time-sheet information system. March 2007 1904 April 2007 1913 Review of HR processes May 2007 1921 The review of HR-related processes carried June 2007 1925 on, with about 70% of the processes July 2007 1931 being mapped so far. About 50 HR August 2007 1937 processes were being reviewed with the September 2007 1955 active participation of HR experts in all October 2007 1965 establishments. November 2007 1969 December 2007 1976

58 59 Annual Report 2007

Finance and Corporate Control The expenditure associated to the General missions (GOCE, ADM-Aeolus, SMOS, CryoSat, Budget increased by 3% in 2007. The main SWARM) accounting for the majority of the Expenditure emphasis was to reinforce the Technological expenditure as well as activities related to ESA’s total expenditure in 2007 amounted to: Research Activities, in preparation of future the Global Monitoring for Environment and • 2562 MEuro in Contract Authority and missions, and the general strengthening Security (GMES) that started in 2007. • 2767 MEuro in Payment Appropriations. of ESA’s technical capabilities, as well as the Phase B activities of the Financial In the Telecommunications area, expenditures Management Reform. amounted to 187 MEuro (7%) in 2007. The main areas were the support of the The development of applications is provided telecommunication technology activities via ESA’s Optional Programmes, to which and industry competitiveness, covered by Participating States declare a voluntary the ARTES 1, 3, 4 and 5 elements, and the subscription. In 2007, the expenditure of development of the large platforms for the Optional Programmes increased by 10% telecommunication satellites in geostationary as compared to 2006. orbit as well as the start of the Alphasat programme within ARTES 8. In 2007, 578 MEuro or 21% of the total ESA budgets were spent on the Launchers Similarly to previous years, around 83% of Programme. The main areas of expenditure ESA’s 2007 budget was spent on contracts in in Launchers are represented by the the Member States for research or project- construction of the Soyuz launch facilities related activities, the running of technical in Kourou, the development of the Vega or operational facilities, and the financing small launcher and the consolidation of the of capital expenditure and industrial Expenditure per programme in 2007 (MEuro) Ariane 5 launcher, as well as the programme development. in support of the European Guaranteed Access to Space (EGAS). Financial Management Reform ESA’s Mandatory Activities represented Expenditure for Human Spaceflight, Following the ESA Council decision in June 27% of the total expenditure (748 MEuro) Microgravity and Exploration Programmes, 2007, the Financial Management Reform in Payment Appropriations whereas 71% which account for 15% of ESA’s total scope and definition phase started in June was spent by Optional Programmes (1966 expenditure, were increased by 24% and will end in March 2008. The objectives MEuro) and 2% by Programmes financed by compared to previous year mainly due to of Phase B are to finalise the future Financial Third Parties (53 MEuro). ELIPS and Aurora ExoMars. Expenditure Management Model of ESA, to design the mainly covered the Development and the ‘TO BE’ processes needed to implement this The core elements of ESA’s Mandatory Exploitation of the International Space new model and to identify the gaps between Activities are the Science Programme, Station as well as ELIPS 1 and 2 activities. such processes and the standard utilisation the Technological Research Programme of SAP. and ESA’s technical and operational The Navigation Programmes represented Expenditure per function in 2007 (MEuro) infrastructure. During 2007, the Science 13% of ESA’s total expenditure in 2007 The Financial Management Model covers Programme’s budget increased by 2.5% covering mainly the implementation of three main areas: the Budget Management (9.9 MEuro), to 405.6 MEuro, reflecting the the Galileo Programme but also the GMSS Model, the Accounting Model and the Cost Level of Resources in force. In 2007, the programme. A total of 305 MEuro have been Management Model. The main features rescheduling of the loan reimbursement spent on Galileo, including the operations of this new model are: the shift from the allowed the implementation of the of GIOVE-A and the development of current annual budget dimension to multi- Gaia mission, Herschel/Planck, JWST, GIOVE-B. year, reflecting the time dimension of ESA’s BepiColombo and LISA Pathfinder. activities, the full implementation of accrual Furthermore, the Science Programme 12% of ESA’s 2007 expenditure was devoted accounting and IPSAS (International Public funded the operations of nine satellites to the Earth Observation Programme, with Sector Accounting Standards) principles and in orbit and contributed to the cost of the development of the family of Explorer the introduction of cost accounting. seven spacecraft in the framework of international cooperation.

60 61 Annual Report 2007

Finance and Corporate Control The expenditure associated to the General missions (GOCE, ADM-Aeolus, SMOS, CryoSat, Budget increased by 3% in 2007. The main SWARM) accounting for the majority of the Expenditure emphasis was to reinforce the Technological expenditure as well as activities related to ESA’s total expenditure in 2007 amounted to: Research Activities, in preparation of future the Global Monitoring for Environment and • 2562 MEuro in Contract Authority and missions, and the general strengthening Security (GMES) that started in 2007. • 2767 MEuro in Payment Appropriations. of ESA’s technical capabilities, as well as the Phase B activities of the Financial In the Telecommunications area, expenditures Management Reform. amounted to 187 MEuro (7%) in 2007. The main areas were the support of the The development of applications is provided telecommunication technology activities via ESA’s Optional Programmes, to which and industry competitiveness, covered by Participating States declare a voluntary the ARTES 1, 3, 4 and 5 elements, and the subscription. In 2007, the expenditure of development of the large platforms for the Optional Programmes increased by 10% telecommunication satellites in geostationary as compared to 2006. orbit as well as the start of the Alphasat programme within ARTES 8. In 2007, 578 MEuro or 21% of the total ESA budgets were spent on the Launchers Similarly to previous years, around 83% of Programme. The main areas of expenditure ESA’s 2007 budget was spent on contracts in in Launchers are represented by the the Member States for research or project- construction of the Soyuz launch facilities related activities, the running of technical in Kourou, the development of the Vega or operational facilities, and the financing small launcher and the consolidation of the of capital expenditure and industrial Expenditure per programme in 2007 (MEuro) Ariane 5 launcher, as well as the programme development. in support of the European Guaranteed Access to Space (EGAS). Financial Management Reform ESA’s Mandatory Activities represented Expenditure for Human Spaceflight, Following the ESA Council decision in June 27% of the total expenditure (748 MEuro) Microgravity and Exploration Programmes, 2007, the Financial Management Reform in Payment Appropriations whereas 71% which account for 15% of ESA’s total scope and definition phase started in June was spent by Optional Programmes (1966 expenditure, were increased by 24% and will end in March 2008. The objectives MEuro) and 2% by Programmes financed by compared to previous year mainly due to of Phase B are to finalise the future Financial Third Parties (53 MEuro). ELIPS and Aurora ExoMars. Expenditure Management Model of ESA, to design the mainly covered the Development and the ‘TO BE’ processes needed to implement this The core elements of ESA’s Mandatory Exploitation of the International Space new model and to identify the gaps between Activities are the Science Programme, Station as well as ELIPS 1 and 2 activities. such processes and the standard utilisation the Technological Research Programme of SAP. and ESA’s technical and operational The Navigation Programmes represented Expenditure per function in 2007 (MEuro) infrastructure. During 2007, the Science 13% of ESA’s total expenditure in 2007 The Financial Management Model covers Programme’s budget increased by 2.5% covering mainly the implementation of three main areas: the Budget Management (9.9 MEuro), to 405.6 MEuro, reflecting the the Galileo Programme but also the GMSS Model, the Accounting Model and the Cost Level of Resources in force. In 2007, the programme. A total of 305 MEuro have been Management Model. The main features rescheduling of the loan reimbursement spent on Galileo, including the operations of this new model are: the shift from the allowed the implementation of the of GIOVE-A and the development of current annual budget dimension to multi- Gaia mission, Herschel/Planck, JWST, GIOVE-B. year, reflecting the time dimension of ESA’s BepiColombo and LISA Pathfinder. activities, the full implementation of accrual Furthermore, the Science Programme 12% of ESA’s 2007 expenditure was devoted accounting and IPSAS (International Public funded the operations of nine satellites to the Earth Observation Programme, with Sector Accounting Standards) principles and in orbit and contributed to the cost of the development of the family of Explorer the introduction of cost accounting. seven spacecraft in the framework of international cooperation.

60 61 Annual Report 2007

Funding of ESA Programmes The ESA Optional Programmes are Industrial Relations and Procurement The ESA Mandatory Activities (including financed by Member and Cooperating the General Budget, the Associated General States contributions and by third parties Industrial Policy Budget and the Science Programme) amongst which the European Union. The is financed by Member States and participating States declare a voluntary This was a crucial year in the preparation of the Interim Review The Sinequanet Project for Small and Cooperating States contributions. The ESA subscription on a multi-annual basis. of the geographical distribution of contracts, to be performed by Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) has been Convention dictates that ESA’s Mandatory completed, and 28 deliverables out of the Programme is to be financed using a The Third Party Programmes are managed the IPC in early 2008 on the basis of end-2007 results, according 30 planned have been delivered. The Period contribution scale based on the national by ESA but totally financed by third parties. to Annex V of the ESA Convention. 1 Report submitted to the EC last year was incomes of the Member States over the In 2007, they represented 2% of ESA activity. rated ‘between very good and excellent’. The last three years for which statistics are The Review is also an indicator of the efficiency last two deliverables were waiting for the available. In October 2005, the ESA Council of the proactive management of return ‘audit certificate’ to be issued for the project adopted a new scale for the period 2006-8. matters, stemming from the FINPOL reform expenditures. The audit process is under way. of June 2005. Considering the results so far obtained, ESA is at some €50 million The SME Policy has been discussed with from the achievement of the lower limit for SMEs associations, and proposals for a way the global return coefficient of 0.94 for all forward embracing an ESA-wide action were Member States, out of a total cumulated made at different levels. A wide SME survey weighted value of contracts of more than was initiated in September, through a study €12 billion. The results are satisfactory, on commissioned to two SME organisations Contributions to Contributions to condition that some issues are solved, for the (AIPAS and ASTOS), and a consultation Mandatory Activities (%) Optional programmes (%) United Kingdom and for small contributors, process was initiated with Member States to where most of the deficits are registered. The identify their expectations from an ESA SME AUSTRIA 2.24 0.95 inter-directorate working group, in charge policy, and possible synergy. BELGIUM 2.74 6.26 of following-up the FINPOL reform, has DENMARK 1.76 0.76 identified a plan of actions which is being put The establishment of a unified industrial FINLAND 1.40 0.59 in place, to correct most of the imbalances organisation representing SMEs in all FRANCE 15.50 31.82 at the time of the Formal Review of the Member States has been achieved, GERMANY 21.85 21.87 geographical distribution of contracts for the encouraging the merger of the existing GREECE 1.57 0.08 period 2005–09. Some modifications of the regional or national associations operating in IRELAND 1.11 0.25 working methods have been identified, in the different member states. This organised ITALY 12.85 14.29 order to increase the efficiency. Adapted IT has been established under the name of LUXEMBOURG 0.21 0.39 tools are also being developed. ‘SME4Space’. A Memorandum of Agreement NETHERLANDS 4.48 2.32 between ESA and SME4Space concerning NORWAY 2.06 1.50 The industrial performance when bidding in cooperation for their mutual benefit was PORTUGAL 1.20 0.28 the ESA environment is under evaluation, in elaborated, and signed by the ESA Director SPAIN 7.33 4.79 order to identify strengths and weaknesses, General and the Chairman of SME4Space. SWEDEN 2.58 1.75 and ways to improve. This is the key factor to SWITZERLAND 3.42 3.49 avoid crises concerning geographical return In the Financial Reform (FINREF), the whole UNITED KINGDOM 17.70 7.28 and ensure that structural measures are Industrial Policy Process was revised and adopted throughout ESA programmes. streamlined, in order to render it more TOTAL MEMBER STATES 100.00 98.67 transparent and beneficial to the ESA An intensive dialogue was been developed system. The work will be instrumental for CANADA 3.64 1.11 with Large System Integrators (LSI), since the definition of the IT tool necessary to CZECH REPUBLIC 0.06 (*) Including contributions they are the key to solve industrial and implement the reform within SAP. HUNGARY 0.06 of National Aviation procurement policy issues. Discussions ROMANIA 0.10 Agencies to ARTES 9 GNSS have covered topics like size of core teams, Industrial Relations Contributions from Member IP (ATMSP) and Cooperating States for competitive approach to payloads and Efforts were pursued, mainly to implement TOTAL COOPERATING STATES 3.64 1.33 (**) Participating non- ESA’s Mandatory Activities member States linked instruments, transfer of competencies to industrial policy measures, to finalise the and for the Optional Pro- to ESA by a co-operating non-LSIs (within mutual benefit), need deployment of ‘Industry Outlook’ – the grammes in 2007. TOTAL ESA 103.64 100.00 agreement to unveil quite early the LSI industrial industry interface for registration to EMITS procurement plans, so that potential – and to prepare for the Ministerial Council subcontractors can get prepared, and so on. 2008.

62 63 Annual Report 2007

Funding of ESA Programmes The ESA Optional Programmes are Industrial Relations and Procurement The ESA Mandatory Activities (including financed by Member and Cooperating the General Budget, the Associated General States contributions and by third parties Industrial Policy Budget and the Science Programme) amongst which the European Union. The is financed by Member States and participating States declare a voluntary This was a crucial year in the preparation of the Interim Review The Sinequanet Project for Small and Cooperating States contributions. The ESA subscription on a multi-annual basis. of the geographical distribution of contracts, to be performed by Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) has been Convention dictates that ESA’s Mandatory completed, and 28 deliverables out of the Programme is to be financed using a The Third Party Programmes are managed the IPC in early 2008 on the basis of end-2007 results, according 30 planned have been delivered. The Period contribution scale based on the national by ESA but totally financed by third parties. to Annex V of the ESA Convention. 1 Report submitted to the EC last year was incomes of the Member States over the In 2007, they represented 2% of ESA activity. rated ‘between very good and excellent’. The last three years for which statistics are The Review is also an indicator of the efficiency last two deliverables were waiting for the available. In October 2005, the ESA Council of the proactive management of return ‘audit certificate’ to be issued for the project adopted a new scale for the period 2006-8. matters, stemming from the FINPOL reform expenditures. The audit process is under way. of June 2005. Considering the results so far obtained, ESA is at some €50 million The SME Policy has been discussed with from the achievement of the lower limit for SMEs associations, and proposals for a way the global return coefficient of 0.94 for all forward embracing an ESA-wide action were Member States, out of a total cumulated made at different levels. A wide SME survey weighted value of contracts of more than was initiated in September, through a study €12 billion. The results are satisfactory, on commissioned to two SME organisations Contributions to Contributions to condition that some issues are solved, for the (AIPAS and ASTOS), and a consultation Mandatory Activities (%) Optional programmes (%) United Kingdom and for small contributors, process was initiated with Member States to where most of the deficits are registered. The identify their expectations from an ESA SME AUSTRIA 2.24 0.95 inter-directorate working group, in charge policy, and possible synergy. BELGIUM 2.74 6.26 of following-up the FINPOL reform, has DENMARK 1.76 0.76 identified a plan of actions which is being put The establishment of a unified industrial FINLAND 1.40 0.59 in place, to correct most of the imbalances organisation representing SMEs in all FRANCE 15.50 31.82 at the time of the Formal Review of the Member States has been achieved, GERMANY 21.85 21.87 geographical distribution of contracts for the encouraging the merger of the existing GREECE 1.57 0.08 period 2005–09. Some modifications of the regional or national associations operating in IRELAND 1.11 0.25 working methods have been identified, in the different member states. This organised ITALY 12.85 14.29 order to increase the efficiency. Adapted IT has been established under the name of LUXEMBOURG 0.21 0.39 tools are also being developed. ‘SME4Space’. A Memorandum of Agreement NETHERLANDS 4.48 2.32 between ESA and SME4Space concerning NORWAY 2.06 1.50 The industrial performance when bidding in cooperation for their mutual benefit was PORTUGAL 1.20 0.28 the ESA environment is under evaluation, in elaborated, and signed by the ESA Director SPAIN 7.33 4.79 order to identify strengths and weaknesses, General and the Chairman of SME4Space. SWEDEN 2.58 1.75 and ways to improve. This is the key factor to SWITZERLAND 3.42 3.49 avoid crises concerning geographical return In the Financial Reform (FINREF), the whole UNITED KINGDOM 17.70 7.28 and ensure that structural measures are Industrial Policy Process was revised and adopted throughout ESA programmes. streamlined, in order to render it more TOTAL MEMBER STATES 100.00 98.67 transparent and beneficial to the ESA An intensive dialogue was been developed system. The work will be instrumental for CANADA 3.64 1.11 with Large System Integrators (LSI), since the definition of the IT tool necessary to CZECH REPUBLIC 0.06 (*) Including contributions they are the key to solve industrial and implement the reform within SAP. HUNGARY 0.06 of National Aviation procurement policy issues. Discussions ROMANIA 0.10 Agencies to ARTES 9 GNSS have covered topics like size of core teams, Industrial Relations Contributions from Member IP (ATMSP) and Cooperating States for competitive approach to payloads and Efforts were pursued, mainly to implement TOTAL COOPERATING STATES 3.64 1.33 (**) Participating non- ESA’s Mandatory Activities member States linked instruments, transfer of competencies to industrial policy measures, to finalise the and for the Optional Pro- to ESA by a co-operating non-LSIs (within mutual benefit), need deployment of ‘Industry Outlook’ – the grammes in 2007. TOTAL ESA 103.64 100.00 agreement to unveil quite early the LSI industrial industry interface for registration to EMITS procurement plans, so that potential – and to prepare for the Ministerial Council subcontractors can get prepared, and so on. 2008.

62 63 Annual Report 2007

In 2007, through a systematic review Procurement Auditing The major pillars subject to evolution are: b) The revision of the content of ESA of technology plans (970 technology A large number of company audits were a) Procurement Policy and Strategy contracts was initiated in late 2007. This procurement actions reviewed), the Industrial performed in 2007, all of which were based • Contracts Regulations evolution is being performed through: Policy measures for non-Large System on the purchasing power dossier framework • Updating of the General Clauses and Integrators and SMEs were applied 210 times. as endorsed by the ESA Council in 2004. b) Contracts evolution Conditions applicable to ESA (space • General Clauses and Conditions related) Contracts (rev.6, part 1 and The standard preferential clause for under- Various audit actions were initiated, most • Corporate Policy related to certain annexes) returned countries has been consistently of which were concluded, with the different aspects of industrial contracts • Establishment of conditions for included in tender activities and implemented legal entities of various LSIs for the renewal • Contracting methods general procurements in a number of cases in support of the of the next set of multi-year agreements. • Corporate Policy related to certain geographical return proactive management c) Implementing aspects aspects of industrial contracts policies. During May 2007, a large international • Internal procedures and documents • Revision of Contracting Methods symposium was organised at ESTEC, called e.g. administrative instructions, Support to the technology harmonisation ‘Developing Trends in Public Procurement TEB Manual, etc. Essential elements guiding the evolution process was provided, identifying future and Auditing’, attracting 260 participants • Communication, training and tools are profitability, allocation of available market size and providing inputs to the representing the major defence and funds, appropriate risk sharing, identification of potential players, of the space sector industries and procurement a) The approach to the revision of the predictability in contract execution, ESA’s reviewed technologies. organisations from various continents. current ‘Contracts Regulations’ was involvement in new types of programmes, The major conclusions were presented proposed to the November 2007 IPC as strengthening of ESA corporate approach The deployment of Industry Outlook was to the IPC in the autumn of 2007. In the response by the Executive to the and a general modernisation of applicable successful, with 930 economic entities addition, national audit agencies have invitation made by the Ministerial Council rules ensuring ‘state-of-the-art’ with properly registered at the end of 2007, been approached to review the options for 2005 to the Director General to propose a comparable business elsewhere. and 910 in the process of finalising increased coordination, considered of major comprehensive roadmap and associated their questionnaire. This constitutes a importance for ESA. action plan related to improvements of the c) A tailored procedure for placing of small significant improvement for ESA’s internal procurement policy. The proposed reform for space procurements (<€250 000) was processes and paves the way for the future Finally, on behalf of the Directorate of adoption will be submitted at the next introduced in April 2006. This procedure deployment of the e-procurement tool. Launchers, more than 60 company audits Ministerial Council in 2008. underwent an internal review in 2007 took place for the EGAS programme. The which will serve as the basis for further A significant effort was devoted to the results were presented to the Launchers In order to simplify the understanding improvements. engagements of studies related to the Programme Board providing the of the new text which will be called European industrial landscape: market delegations with the most updated view ‘Procurement Regulations of the European A first set of lessons learned has been perspectives, maintenance of competences, of the industrial return associated with the Space Agency’, the latter will be divided in produced which were being reviewed. A technology management, European space batch PA production. six major parts, each part corresponding to number of practical measures are being capacities and industry structure. The data the logical flow of a tendering process. taken in the workflows in order to improve collection phase was complete at the end of Procurement Activities the time to contract, in particular in the 2007, covering 180 European space companies. 577 Invitations to Tender (ITTs) were sent to • Part I: General Provisions and technology area. industry in 2007: Principles • 280 in open competition • Part II: Methods of Procurement Harmonisation of contract standards for • 11 in restricted competition • Part III Initiation of Tender small and medium contracts has been • 286 in direct negotiation • Part IV: Tendering Proceedings implemented. • : Part V Award of Contracts ESA also initiated 3562 contract actions: • Part VI: Review In 2007, the placing of frame contracts for • 825 Main Contracts manpower at ESTEC has been completed for • 122 Riders This initiative takes due account of the all Directorates and the schemes are now • 386 Work Orders situation prevailing both internally and running. A review of the schemes in place • 2229 Contract Change Notices externally by: modernising and simplifying will be performed in 2007 with a view to ESA’s procurement process; promoting further harmonise conditions of the frame Procurement Evolution further confidence in this process; and contracts across the ESA. ESA has commenced on a far-reaching allowing for the necessary developments evolution of its procurement policy, rules enabling the future evolution between ESA A number of Announcement of and methods. and EU, while preserving the specific needs Opportunities have been published (GSTP, necessary for ESA to carry out the objectives ITI) and followed by the selection of set under its Convention and Annexes activities for contract implementation. especially in the field of Industrial Policy.

64 65 Annual Report 2007

In 2007, through a systematic review Procurement Auditing The major pillars subject to evolution are: b) The revision of the content of ESA of technology plans (970 technology A large number of company audits were a) Procurement Policy and Strategy contracts was initiated in late 2007. This procurement actions reviewed), the Industrial performed in 2007, all of which were based • Contracts Regulations evolution is being performed through: Policy measures for non-Large System on the purchasing power dossier framework • Updating of the General Clauses and Integrators and SMEs were applied 210 times. as endorsed by the ESA Council in 2004. b) Contracts evolution Conditions applicable to ESA (space • General Clauses and Conditions related) Contracts (rev.6, part 1 and The standard preferential clause for under- Various audit actions were initiated, most • Corporate Policy related to certain annexes) returned countries has been consistently of which were concluded, with the different aspects of industrial contracts • Establishment of conditions for included in tender activities and implemented legal entities of various LSIs for the renewal • Contracting methods general procurements in a number of cases in support of the of the next set of multi-year agreements. • Corporate Policy related to certain geographical return proactive management c) Implementing aspects aspects of industrial contracts policies. During May 2007, a large international • Internal procedures and documents • Revision of Contracting Methods symposium was organised at ESTEC, called e.g. administrative instructions, Support to the technology harmonisation ‘Developing Trends in Public Procurement TEB Manual, etc. Essential elements guiding the evolution process was provided, identifying future and Auditing’, attracting 260 participants • Communication, training and tools are profitability, allocation of available market size and providing inputs to the representing the major defence and funds, appropriate risk sharing, identification of potential players, of the space sector industries and procurement a) The approach to the revision of the predictability in contract execution, ESA’s reviewed technologies. organisations from various continents. current ‘Contracts Regulations’ was involvement in new types of programmes, The major conclusions were presented proposed to the November 2007 IPC as strengthening of ESA corporate approach The deployment of Industry Outlook was to the IPC in the autumn of 2007. In the response by the Executive to the and a general modernisation of applicable successful, with 930 economic entities addition, national audit agencies have invitation made by the Ministerial Council rules ensuring ‘state-of-the-art’ with properly registered at the end of 2007, been approached to review the options for 2005 to the Director General to propose a comparable business elsewhere. and 910 in the process of finalising increased coordination, considered of major comprehensive roadmap and associated their questionnaire. This constitutes a importance for ESA. action plan related to improvements of the c) A tailored procedure for placing of small significant improvement for ESA’s internal procurement policy. The proposed reform for space procurements (<€250 000) was processes and paves the way for the future Finally, on behalf of the Directorate of adoption will be submitted at the next introduced in April 2006. This procedure deployment of the e-procurement tool. Launchers, more than 60 company audits Ministerial Council in 2008. underwent an internal review in 2007 took place for the EGAS programme. The which will serve as the basis for further A significant effort was devoted to the results were presented to the Launchers In order to simplify the understanding improvements. engagements of studies related to the Programme Board providing the of the new text which will be called European industrial landscape: market delegations with the most updated view ‘Procurement Regulations of the European A first set of lessons learned has been perspectives, maintenance of competences, of the industrial return associated with the Space Agency’, the latter will be divided in produced which were being reviewed. A technology management, European space batch PA production. six major parts, each part corresponding to number of practical measures are being capacities and industry structure. The data the logical flow of a tendering process. taken in the workflows in order to improve collection phase was complete at the end of Procurement Activities the time to contract, in particular in the 2007, covering 180 European space companies. 577 Invitations to Tender (ITTs) were sent to • Part I: General Provisions and technology area. industry in 2007: Principles • 280 in open competition • Part II: Methods of Procurement Harmonisation of contract standards for • 11 in restricted competition • Part III Initiation of Tender small and medium contracts has been • 286 in direct negotiation • Part IV: Tendering Proceedings implemented. • : Part V Award of Contracts ESA also initiated 3562 contract actions: • Part VI: Review In 2007, the placing of frame contracts for • 825 Main Contracts manpower at ESTEC has been completed for • 122 Riders This initiative takes due account of the all Directorates and the schemes are now • 386 Work Orders situation prevailing both internally and running. A review of the schemes in place • 2229 Contract Change Notices externally by: modernising and simplifying will be performed in 2007 with a view to ESA’s procurement process; promoting further harmonise conditions of the frame Procurement Evolution further confidence in this process; and contracts across the ESA. ESA has commenced on a far-reaching allowing for the necessary developments evolution of its procurement policy, rules enabling the future evolution between ESA A number of Announcement of and methods. and EU, while preserving the specific needs Opportunities have been published (GSTP, necessary for ESA to carry out the objectives ITI) and followed by the selection of set under its Convention and Annexes activities for contract implementation. especially in the field of Industrial Policy.

64 65 Annual Report 2007

Industrial Activity and Evolution of In Human Spaceflight, Microgravity In Science, the selection of all The total amount invoiced in 2007 was A number of additional projects and Industrial Return and Exploration, a large part of effort subcontractors for the Gaia was concluded €4.6 million. The total amount of work related tenancy agreements for office Industrial activity was maintained at a was devoted to the devising and before the Preliminary Design Review in outstanding at the beginning of 2008 was accommodation and services in the European sound level, with some €1776 million of implementation of the procurement policy December 2007. For BepiColombo, the €29.6 million. Space Incubator were signed. A new scheme contracts committed with the industry for the Phase B2/C/D of ExoMars, including evaluation and selection of the winning has been developed for the future, due to (out of which €1731 million in favour of the carrier, to the preparation and release bid, Astrium (D), and the negotiation of the Other support activities changes in Dutch legislation and will lead to European and Canadian space industry) of the related ITTs to industry, and to the Industrial Management Agreement for the The following undertakings were started or some changes in the contractual setup for during the year. Application programmes evaluation of the industrial offers. collaboration of Astrium and Thales Alenia performed respectively: these agreements in the future. (Telecommunications, Navigation and Earth (I) took place. Observation) accounted for about 25% of Another important part of the effort Activities of smaller size: the total committed value, 36% was related was devoted to activities linked to the In Navigation, the major achievement ESA has performed through ESTEC a to Launchers, 11% to Human Spaceflight, Columbus and ATV launches, the timely ISS was the termination of IOV contract with considerable number of activities in Microgravity and Exploration, 6% to Exploitation Period 3 and the rescoping of ESNIS (D) and the consolidation of the the areas of general technical support, Science, and 4% to Technology, with the the ATV Production Programme. A number IOV contractual framework through a individual consultancies and testing .The remaining 18% to the General Budget and of activities and studies related to the new contractual framework of six direct External Customers Desk handled 58 incentives schemes. Aurora programme were launched. contracts between ESA and the previous IOV enquiries (of which four were carried over Commitments made to Segment contractors, all under the system from previous years) concerning services industry in 2007 per Procurement activities in Earth Observation responsibility of ESA. This approach agreed performed at ESTEC. This resulted in the programme were devoted to the negotiation of the with the EC and authorised by all ESA bodies award of 39 contracts with a total value of Telecommunications Earth Observation GMES Sentinel-1, 2 and 3 contracts, as well puts ESA into a new role with substantially €333 million broken down as follows: Technology 13% 8% 4% as organising and launching, in cooperation enlarged responsibilities and risks. To identify, Science General Budget 6% 17% with the EU, the competitive selection of adequately cover and manage the relevant D/TEC Labs: 46 €327 000 Other Programmes sub-contractors. The procurement action for risks will be the challenge of next year. 1% the EarthCARE Phase B/C/D/E1 contract was Consultancy 1 €60 00 finalised and the contract negotiations were Support to Third Party Activities (ESOC) Navigation completed. In addition to the procurement activities Software/ 4% for our own requirements, ESA continued product license Microgravity The ITT for the Phase B/C/D/E-1 of the to supply support to third parties for their and support 31 €18 000 3% SEOSAT/Ingenio satellite was prepared, requirements. This involved a limited use Human Spaceflight & in cooperation with CDTI, and released to of ESA’s own expertise, facilities, services Exploration 8% Launchers Total: 1776 MEuro industry in December 2007. An ITT was or products. Those third parties were The major client was: 36% released for a Phase 0 study in preparation of very often legal persons established in ABSL (UK) €70 000 ExoMars cell the Post-EPS programme. Finally, negotiations ESA Member States. The expenditures characterisation were conducted in view of consolidating the incurred by ESA were fully charged to Commitments made to industry in 2007 per GOCE and Swarm contract situations. those customers. That kind of support, Other income: Member State therefore, is not to be confused with the The European Test Service (NL), the present In Telecommunications, signature of activities performed under co-operation contractor for management, marketing, the Alphasat Phase C/D contract with agreements which are agreed and signed sales, maintenance and operations of the Inmarsat and the signature of the for dedicated projects and which provide ESTEC Test Facilities, performed a number of Small GEO platform contract with OHB that each cooperating party will perform tests for external customers, for a total of were the main highlights. The Alphasat complementary activities, with or without €1.9 million. This company paid €437 000 to contract negotiations, which have gone exchange of funds and with the opening ESA for rental of additional offices and the over half a year, i.e. ESA negotiating first by ESA of a specific programme and an turnover fee for 2007. with a commercial operator with strong associated budget. interference and dependencies with the Customer Project parallel negotiations with the operator and In 2007 six proposals were prepared: the industrial prime contractor, Astrium • Galileo IOV LEOP to ESNIS CSL LYRA & SWAP Instruments EMC UK, were a unique challenge for the ESA • IOT Consultancy to SES Astra Jacobs Sverdrup AMS-02 Vacuum Case Acoustic Noise negotiation team. The lessons drawn from • Use of the Santa Maria station for the Airbus Additional test of new latch concepts (airbus) it are of direct relevance for the negotiation Ariane-5 tracking to CNES Maser Transport cases low pressure test at ets/estec of the Small GEO contract. The Small GEO • Extension of GSTB V2 to ESNIS Bradford Engineering Vibration test framework Contract contract was negotiated and signed in • Hosting of the VSAT terminal to Eutelsat Astrium ATV Test Campaign 2007, and the selection of subcontractors • Operational service of the orbit and ESRIN Vega LV UCMEC test campaign using Best Practices is expected in 2008. clocks service to Fugro Total: 1776 MEuro EADS SMOS PLM PFM Phase C/D For the selection of Small GEO operator, the approach developed for the Alphasat was Three contracts were awarded. *About €359 million committed with industry during 2007 are not yet included in the return statistics at end 2007, pending reused and proved very efficient. finalisation of the relevant subcontracts or in the case of Galileo IOV to be included in the return statistics on completion of the Galileo IOV programme

66 67 Annual Report 2007

Industrial Activity and Evolution of In Human Spaceflight, Microgravity In Science, the selection of all The total amount invoiced in 2007 was A number of additional projects and Industrial Return and Exploration, a large part of effort subcontractors for the Gaia was concluded €4.6 million. The total amount of work related tenancy agreements for office Industrial activity was maintained at a was devoted to the devising and before the Preliminary Design Review in outstanding at the beginning of 2008 was accommodation and services in the European sound level, with some €1776 million of implementation of the procurement policy December 2007. For BepiColombo, the €29.6 million. Space Incubator were signed. A new scheme contracts committed with the industry for the Phase B2/C/D of ExoMars, including evaluation and selection of the winning has been developed for the future, due to (out of which €1731 million in favour of the carrier, to the preparation and release bid, Astrium (D), and the negotiation of the Other support activities changes in Dutch legislation and will lead to European and Canadian space industry) of the related ITTs to industry, and to the Industrial Management Agreement for the The following undertakings were started or some changes in the contractual setup for during the year. Application programmes evaluation of the industrial offers. collaboration of Astrium and Thales Alenia performed respectively: these agreements in the future. (Telecommunications, Navigation and Earth (I) took place. Observation) accounted for about 25% of Another important part of the effort Activities of smaller size: the total committed value, 36% was related was devoted to activities linked to the In Navigation, the major achievement ESA has performed through ESTEC a to Launchers, 11% to Human Spaceflight, Columbus and ATV launches, the timely ISS was the termination of IOV contract with considerable number of activities in Microgravity and Exploration, 6% to Exploitation Period 3 and the rescoping of ESNIS (D) and the consolidation of the the areas of general technical support, Science, and 4% to Technology, with the the ATV Production Programme. A number IOV contractual framework through a individual consultancies and testing .The remaining 18% to the General Budget and of activities and studies related to the new contractual framework of six direct External Customers Desk handled 58 incentives schemes. Aurora programme were launched. contracts between ESA and the previous IOV enquiries (of which four were carried over Commitments made to Segment contractors, all under the system from previous years) concerning services industry in 2007 per Procurement activities in Earth Observation responsibility of ESA. This approach agreed performed at ESTEC. This resulted in the programme were devoted to the negotiation of the with the EC and authorised by all ESA bodies award of 39 contracts with a total value of Telecommunications Earth Observation GMES Sentinel-1, 2 and 3 contracts, as well puts ESA into a new role with substantially €333 million broken down as follows: Technology 13% 8% 4% as organising and launching, in cooperation enlarged responsibilities and risks. To identify, Science General Budget 6% 17% with the EU, the competitive selection of adequately cover and manage the relevant D/TEC Labs: 46 €327 000 Other Programmes sub-contractors. The procurement action for risks will be the challenge of next year. 1% the EarthCARE Phase B/C/D/E1 contract was Consultancy 1 €60 00 finalised and the contract negotiations were Support to Third Party Activities (ESOC) Navigation completed. In addition to the procurement activities Software/ 4% for our own requirements, ESA continued product license Microgravity The ITT for the Phase B/C/D/E-1 of the to supply support to third parties for their and support 31 €18 000 3% SEOSAT/Ingenio satellite was prepared, requirements. This involved a limited use Human Spaceflight & in cooperation with CDTI, and released to of ESA’s own expertise, facilities, services Exploration 8% Launchers Total: 1776 MEuro industry in December 2007. An ITT was or products. Those third parties were The major client was: 36% released for a Phase 0 study in preparation of very often legal persons established in ABSL (UK) €70 000 ExoMars cell the Post-EPS programme. Finally, negotiations ESA Member States. The expenditures characterisation were conducted in view of consolidating the incurred by ESA were fully charged to Commitments made to industry in 2007 per GOCE and Swarm contract situations. those customers. That kind of support, Other income: Member State therefore, is not to be confused with the The European Test Service (NL), the present In Telecommunications, signature of activities performed under co-operation contractor for management, marketing, the Alphasat Phase C/D contract with agreements which are agreed and signed sales, maintenance and operations of the Inmarsat and the signature of the for dedicated projects and which provide ESTEC Test Facilities, performed a number of Small GEO platform contract with OHB that each cooperating party will perform tests for external customers, for a total of were the main highlights. The Alphasat complementary activities, with or without €1.9 million. This company paid €437 000 to contract negotiations, which have gone exchange of funds and with the opening ESA for rental of additional offices and the over half a year, i.e. ESA negotiating first by ESA of a specific programme and an turnover fee for 2007. with a commercial operator with strong associated budget. interference and dependencies with the Customer Project parallel negotiations with the operator and In 2007 six proposals were prepared: the industrial prime contractor, Astrium • Galileo IOV LEOP to ESNIS CSL LYRA & SWAP Instruments EMC UK, were a unique challenge for the ESA • IOT Consultancy to SES Astra Jacobs Sverdrup AMS-02 Vacuum Case Acoustic Noise negotiation team. The lessons drawn from • Use of the Santa Maria station for the Airbus Additional test of new latch concepts (airbus) it are of direct relevance for the negotiation Ariane-5 tracking to CNES Maser Transport cases low pressure test at ets/estec of the Small GEO contract. The Small GEO • Extension of GSTB V2 to ESNIS Bradford Engineering Vibration test framework Contract contract was negotiated and signed in • Hosting of the VSAT terminal to Eutelsat Astrium ATV Test Campaign 2007, and the selection of subcontractors • Operational service of the orbit and ESRIN Vega LV UCMEC test campaign using Best Practices is expected in 2008. clocks service to Fugro Total: 1776 MEuro EADS SMOS PLM PFM Phase C/D For the selection of Small GEO operator, the approach developed for the Alphasat was Three contracts were awarded. *About €359 million committed with industry during 2007 are not yet included in the return statistics at end 2007, pending reused and proved very efficient. finalisation of the relevant subcontracts or in the case of Galileo IOV to be included in the return statistics on completion of the Galileo IOV programme

66 67 Annual Report 2007

→ LEGAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Legal Affairs and External Relations comprises four departments: On 8 May, representatives of European Legal Affairs, International Relations, Communication and Cooperating States met at ESA headquarters in Paris to establish the PECS Committee Knowledge, and Education. – the Committee for the Plan for European Cooperating States. Director General Jean- Jacques Dordain underlined the importance of this meeting that brought together for the first time the European Cooperating States (ECS) at ESA.

In October, a new web site for the Plan for European Cooperating States (PECS) was launched. The web site (pecs.esa.int) includes information on the countries that have signed ECS agreements with ESA.

Communication and Knowledge 2007 was a year of anniversaries and celebration. ESA supported the events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Austrian space and research agency FFG in Vienna and the 10th anniversary of ‘Cité de l’Espace’ in Toulouse. In celebrating the 50th Representatives of European Cooperating States in Paris in anniversary of the EU’s Treaty of Rome, a May ‘Night of the Astronauts’ event took place in Rome. International Relations On 27 April 2007, Poland became the fourth A Report to ESA Council on Communication ESA European Cooperating State. Pawel Activities, with a separate graphical Poncyljusz, Secretary of State in the Polish supplement, was produced describing the Ministry of Economy, and René Oosterlinck, different actions performed by ESA. This ESA Director of Legal Affairs and External document conveyed the message of an ESA Relations, signed the European Cooperating communication service that is both local and State (ECS) Agreement in Warsaw. Poland global in reach, committed to meeting its was one of the first Eastern European audiences’ needs and quality of production, countries to conclude a Cooperation and is rich in depth and in multilingual Agreement with ESA in the field of the and cultural content. A brief selection of peaceful use of outer space, signed in 1994, highlights is included here, and for more followed by another one in January 2002. detail see Overview of ESA Communication Activities in 2007 (November 2007). The European Astronaut Corps with guest astronauts from Russia and USA at the spectacular ESA Space Show in Paris, part of the ESA/CNES ‘Fête l’espace’

68 69 Annual Report 2007

→ LEGAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Legal Affairs and External Relations comprises four departments: On 8 May, representatives of European Legal Affairs, International Relations, Communication and Cooperating States met at ESA headquarters in Paris to establish the PECS Committee Knowledge, and Education. – the Committee for the Plan for European Cooperating States. Director General Jean- Jacques Dordain underlined the importance of this meeting that brought together for the first time the European Cooperating States (ECS) at ESA.

In October, a new web site for the Plan for European Cooperating States (PECS) was launched. The web site (pecs.esa.int) includes information on the countries that have signed ECS agreements with ESA.

Communication and Knowledge 2007 was a year of anniversaries and celebration. ESA supported the events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Austrian space and research agency FFG in Vienna and the 10th anniversary of ‘Cité de l’Espace’ in Toulouse. In celebrating the 50th Representatives of European Cooperating States in Paris in anniversary of the EU’s Treaty of Rome, a May ‘Night of the Astronauts’ event took place in Rome. International Relations On 27 April 2007, Poland became the fourth A Report to ESA Council on Communication ESA European Cooperating State. Pawel Activities, with a separate graphical Poncyljusz, Secretary of State in the Polish supplement, was produced describing the Ministry of Economy, and René Oosterlinck, different actions performed by ESA. This ESA Director of Legal Affairs and External document conveyed the message of an ESA Relations, signed the European Cooperating communication service that is both local and State (ECS) Agreement in Warsaw. Poland global in reach, committed to meeting its was one of the first Eastern European audiences’ needs and quality of production, countries to conclude a Cooperation and is rich in depth and in multilingual Agreement with ESA in the field of the and cultural content. A brief selection of peaceful use of outer space, signed in 1994, highlights is included here, and for more followed by another one in January 2002. detail see Overview of ESA Communication Activities in 2007 (November 2007). The European Astronaut Corps with guest astronauts from Russia and USA at the spectacular ESA Space Show in Paris, part of the ESA/CNES ‘Fête l’espace’

68 69 Annual Report 2007 A new communication partnership between ESA and Air France will see ESA satellite images of Earth’s surface Education In December, the European Student being flown over displayed automatically on aircraft The Education Office continued to support Moon Orbiter (ESMO) project successfully onboard screens European students and teachers in achieving completed the Feasibility Study phase. ESMO literacy in the space domain through is a mini-satellite mission to be designed, ‘hands-on’ activities, the setting up of developed, built, tested and operated by a European network of Space Resource students with the objectives of preparing the Offices and cooperation with other research next generation of lunar explorers. Some 300 institutes and international space agencies students from 29 universities in 12 countries in education. are participating.

The ESA pavilion at the Paris ESA appears on TV in almost every country Air Show 2007, Le Bourget of Europe, with the Astrolab, Celsius and Esperia missions creating massive interest in Germany, Sweden and Italy. When Thomas Reiter returned from space, a press conference was organised at EAC for more than 80 media contacts. While on the ISS, Paolo Nespoli spoke with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in a joint event with ASI Satellite projects Suborbital experiments ESA’s presence at the ‘Madrid por la Ciencia 2007’ Fair and television channel RAI. featured presentations to media and schools, and visits to The second Young Engineers’ Satellite (YES2) In a collaboration with the Swedish ESAC in Spain were a big success was launched on 14 September 2007 by a National Space Board, an announcement of The ESA Web Portal is a consistent Soyuz launcher from Baikonur, as part of the opportunity was issued in November 2007 communication success, with an average Foton-M3 mission. At the end of the mission, for student experiments to be flown on two of one million visitors per month in 2007. on 25 September, a 31.7 km tether was sounding rockets and one stratospheric All major online media worldwide take lowered towards Earth with a small reentry balloon in the REXUS (Rocket Experiment content from it, because of its successful capsule called ‘Fotino’. Some 450 students for University Students) and BEXUS (Balloon format as an online magazine. There were from over 50 universities had participated in Experiment for University Students) flight more dedicated mission pages, a European the YES2 project. campaigns in 2008 and 2009 from ESRANGE Cooperating States site, and a Space Jubilee in Kiruna, Sweden. section featuring European space pioneers. On 28 May 2007, an agreement was signed between the Directorate of Launchers and Ground station networks There was intense activity in internal the Directorate of Legal Affairs and External The Global Educational Network for Satellite communications. In July, the new ESA Relations to include an educational payload Operations (GENSO) commenced its testing Intranet was launched. As a powerful on the Maiden Flight of the Vega launch phase in November 2007. Initial tests management tool, it reinforces in line with vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana. An demonstrated all of the key elements in Agenda 2011, awareness, motivation and initial announcement of opportunity was the network operating together for the first staff corporate spirit. Coordinated Intranet made to universities in October for the time. When fully operational from 2009, articles and printed literature support launch of up to six Cubesats (1 kg each) into GENSO will involve more than 100 ground communication for important projects such a low Earth orbit. stations, providing improved coverage for as the Financial Management Reform, and all educational satellites in low Earth orbit. foster the ‘One ESA’ concept. The European Student Earth Orbiter GENSO is an international project under (ESEO) project completed the first part the auspices of the International Space of its Preliminary Design phase. ESEO is Education Board (ISEB). The main partners a microsatellite mission to be developed, are NASA and JAXA. built, tested and operated by students in a geostationary transfer orbit.

Jean-Jacques Dordain attends the Moscow Air and Space Show

70 71 Annual Report 2007 A new communication partnership between ESA and Air France will see ESA satellite images of Earth’s surface Education In December, the European Student being flown over displayed automatically on aircraft The Education Office continued to support Moon Orbiter (ESMO) project successfully onboard screens European students and teachers in achieving completed the Feasibility Study phase. ESMO literacy in the space domain through is a mini-satellite mission to be designed, ‘hands-on’ activities, the setting up of developed, built, tested and operated by a European network of Space Resource students with the objectives of preparing the Offices and cooperation with other research next generation of lunar explorers. Some 300 institutes and international space agencies students from 29 universities in 12 countries in education. are participating.

The ESA pavilion at the Paris ESA appears on TV in almost every country Air Show 2007, Le Bourget of Europe, with the Astrolab, Celsius and Esperia missions creating massive interest in Germany, Sweden and Italy. When Thomas Reiter returned from space, a press conference was organised at EAC for more than 80 media contacts. While on the ISS, Paolo Nespoli spoke with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in a joint event with ASI Satellite projects Suborbital experiments ESA’s presence at the ‘Madrid por la Ciencia 2007’ Fair and television channel RAI. featured presentations to media and schools, and visits to The second Young Engineers’ Satellite (YES2) In a collaboration with the Swedish ESAC in Spain were a big success was launched on 14 September 2007 by a National Space Board, an announcement of The ESA Web Portal is a consistent Soyuz launcher from Baikonur, as part of the opportunity was issued in November 2007 communication success, with an average Foton-M3 mission. At the end of the mission, for student experiments to be flown on two of one million visitors per month in 2007. on 25 September, a 31.7 km tether was sounding rockets and one stratospheric All major online media worldwide take lowered towards Earth with a small reentry balloon in the REXUS (Rocket Experiment content from it, because of its successful capsule called ‘Fotino’. Some 450 students for University Students) and BEXUS (Balloon format as an online magazine. There were from over 50 universities had participated in Experiment for University Students) flight more dedicated mission pages, a European the YES2 project. campaigns in 2008 and 2009 from ESRANGE Cooperating States site, and a Space Jubilee in Kiruna, Sweden. section featuring European space pioneers. On 28 May 2007, an agreement was signed between the Directorate of Launchers and Ground station networks There was intense activity in internal the Directorate of Legal Affairs and External The Global Educational Network for Satellite communications. In July, the new ESA Relations to include an educational payload Operations (GENSO) commenced its testing Intranet was launched. As a powerful on the Maiden Flight of the Vega launch phase in November 2007. Initial tests management tool, it reinforces in line with vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana. An demonstrated all of the key elements in Agenda 2011, awareness, motivation and initial announcement of opportunity was the network operating together for the first staff corporate spirit. Coordinated Intranet made to universities in October for the time. When fully operational from 2009, articles and printed literature support launch of up to six Cubesats (1 kg each) into GENSO will involve more than 100 ground communication for important projects such a low Earth orbit. stations, providing improved coverage for as the Financial Management Reform, and all educational satellites in low Earth orbit. foster the ‘One ESA’ concept. The European Student Earth Orbiter GENSO is an international project under (ESEO) project completed the first part the auspices of the International Space of its Preliminary Design phase. ESEO is Education Board (ISEB). The main partners a microsatellite mission to be developed, are NASA and JAXA. built, tested and operated by students in a geostationary transfer orbit.

Jean-Jacques Dordain attends the Moscow Air and Space Show

70 71 Annual Report 2007 Policy and coordination and Agreements signed in 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between Memorandum of Understanding between ESA’s Director General, and on 27 July coordination activities the European Space Agency and the Japan the European Space Agency and the National 2007 by Prof. Dr Mazlan Othman, Director Setting up of the European Space Education Agreement between the European Space Aerospace Exploration Agency concerning Aeronautics and Space Administration General of the National Space Agency of Resource Office (ESERO) network continued. Agency and the European Maritime Safety the BepiColombo Mission signed in Paris on concerning the Laser Interferometer Space Malaysia. The Dutch and the Belgian ESERO offices Agency concerning the Use of Space based 14 April 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, Antenna Mission (LISA Pathfinder) signed (ESA/LEG/332) successfully submitted, in accordance with Earth Observation for Enhancing Maritime ESA’s Director General and in Tokyo on in Paris on 18 June 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques their contracts, their consolidated Study Safety signed in Lisbon on 2 March 2007 29 April 2007 by Dr Keiji Tachikawa, Dordain, ESA’s Director General, and Mr Arrangement between the Centre National and Strategy Reports, and related Action by Mr Volker Liebig, Director of Earth President of JAXA. Michael D. Griffin, NASA Administrator. d’ Etudes Spatiales, the Swiss Space Office Plans. According to the latter, the production Observation Programmes of the European (ESA/LEG/321) (ESA/LEG/327) and the European Space Agency concerning of educational material and the set-up of Space Agency and Mr Willem De Ruiter, the provision of the PREMOS instrument for permanent exhibitions related to space Executive Director of the European Agreement between the European Space Cooperation Agreement on Satellite the PICARD mission, signed in Paris on matters will be implemented in 2008. Maritime Safety Agency. Agency and the European GNSS Supervisory Navigation between the European Space 5 September 2007 by Mr Yannick d’Escatha, (ESA/LEG/316) Authority signed in Paris on 16 May 2007 Agency and the Agency for the Safety of President of CNES, in Bern on 25 September The Spanish ESERO office, at the CosmoCaixa by Mr Giuseppe Viriglio, ESA’s Director of Aerial Navigation in Africa and Madagascar 2007 by M Daniel Fürst, Director of the SSO, science centre in Barcelona, submitted its Arrangement between the European Space Telecommunication and Navigation, and (ASECNA) signed in Paris on 22 June 2007 and in Paris on 11 October 2007 by Mr Jean- consolidated Study Report to be evaluated by Agency and the Government of Canada Mr Pedro Pedreira Executive Director of by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director General. ESA. In the United Kingdom, a research and concerning the Participation of Canada in the European GNSS Supervisory Authority. General, and Mr Youssouf Mahamat, (ESA/LEG/333) consultative study to establish the pattern the European GNSS Evolution Programme (ESA/LEG/322) Director General of ASECNA. of distributed ‘ESERO contact points’ in the signed in Paris on 15 March 2007 by (ESA/LEG/328) Second Supplementary Agreement to the country, has been performed by a Regional Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director Arrangement between the European Agreement between the Government of Development Agency. The UK National General, and Mr Hughes Gilbert, Director Space Agency and the Government of Agreement between the Republic of Estonia the Federal Republic of Germany and the Science Learning Centre submitted a proposal General, Policy, Planning and External New Zealand on the setting up and use and the European Space Agency concerning European Space Research organisation for an ESERO office in the United Kingdom. Relation for the Government of Canada, of telemetry and tracking facilities for space cooperation for peaceful purposes concerning the European Space Operations acting through and represented by the the purpose of the Agency’s launcher signed in Tallinn (Estonia) on 20 June 2007 Centre signed in Darmstadt on 18 December International cooperation Canadian Space Agency. programmes and activities signed in Paris by Mr René Oosterlinck, ESA’s Director of 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s The Education Office continued, through (ESA/LEG/317) on 29 March 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Legal Affairs and External Relations, and Director General, and Dr Joachim Wuermeling, the International Education and Strategy Dordain, ESA’s Director General, and Mr Juhan Parts, Minister of Economic Affairs Staatssekretär of the Governement of the Board, its international cooperation with Agreement between the European Space Mrs Sarah Dennis, Ambassador of and Communication. Federal Republic of Germany. NASA, CNES, JAXA and CSA. Agency and the National Aeronautics New Zealand in France. (ESA/LEG/329) (ESA/LEG/334) and Space Administration concerning the (ESA/LEG/323) After the support given to the ‘Science Network and Operations Cross-Support Arrangement between the European Space Implementing Arrangement between the on Stage’ festivals in the past, new signed in Washington on 21 March 2007 Multilateral Agreement concerning the Agency and the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana European Space Agency and Australia’s educational initiatives are being analysed by Mr Pieter Gaele Winters, Director of Provision of the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (ASI) regarding the participation of the DEST concerning the installation of an ESA in the context of the EIROFORUM working Operations and Infrastructure of the Payload for the BepiColombo Mission ESA Astronaut of Italian nationality Paolo Ariane Telemetry Kit at the University of group. Among others, a plan for support European Space Agency, and Mr William signed in Paris on 24 May 2007 by Nespoli as a crew member of the US Space South Australia’s facilities for the tracking of for the Science in School journal was being H. Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator Prof. David Southwood for ESA, Shuttle STS-120 mission to the International the ESA Jules Verne ATV mission, validated produced. for Space Operations for the National Ms Simonetta di Pippo for ASI, Space Station signed in Paris (Bourget) on by an exchange of letters by Mr Jean- Aeronautics and Space Administration of Mr Richard Bonneville for CNES, 19 June 2007 by Mr Daniel Sacotte, ESA’s Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director General Support to the International Space the United States of America. Mr Thomas Galinski for DLR, Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Ms Lisa Paul, Head of the Department University was complemented by the (ESA/LEG/318) Prof. Keith Mason for STFC and Dr Kari Tilli and Exploration Programmes, and of Education, Science and Training of the provision of laboratory equipment and for TEKES. Prof. Giovanni Fabrizio Bignami, President of Government of Australia (DEST). hardware for the set-up of a concurrent Plan for European Cooperating State (ESA/LEG/324) the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana. (ESA/LEG/335) design facility. (PECS) Charter between the European (ESA/LEG/330) Space Agency and the Government of Agreement between the European Space Romania signed in Vienna on 14 February Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agreement between the Centro para el 2007 by Mr Chris De Cooker ESA’s Head of Agency concerning the Cooperation in the Desarrollo Tecnologico Industrial (CDTI) and the International Relations Department Field of Space Components signed in Paris the European Space Agency concerning the and Mr Marius-Ioan Piso President of the on 19 June 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, assistance to the implementation phase Romanian Space Agency. ESA’s Director General, and of a Spanish National Earth Observation (ESA/LEG/319) Dr Keiji Tachikawa, President of JAXA. satellite and its Ground Segment signed in (ESA/LEG/325) Paris on 20 July 2007 and in Madrid on European Cooperating State (ECS) 30 July 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, Agreement between the Government of the Memorandum of Understanding ESA’s Director General, and Mr Maurici Republic of Poland and the European Space between the European Space Agency Lucena, Director General of CDTI. Agency signed in Warsaw on 27 April 2007 and the National Aeronautics and Space (ESA/LEG/331) by Mr René Oosterlinck, ESA’s Director of Administration concerning the James Webb Legal Affairs and External Relations and Space Telescope signed in Paris on 18 June Arrangement between the European Space Mr Pawel Poncyljusz, State Secretary, 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Agency and Malaysia’s National Space Ministry of Economy. Director General and Mr Michael D. Griffin, Agency (Angkasa) on the execution of a (ESA/LEG/320) NASA Administrator. joint experimental programme during (ESA/LEG/326) the flight of a Malaysian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) signed on 19 July 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain,

72 73 Annual Report 2007 Policy and coordination and Agreements signed in 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between Memorandum of Understanding between ESA’s Director General, and on 27 July coordination activities the European Space Agency and the Japan the European Space Agency and the National 2007 by Prof. Dr Mazlan Othman, Director Setting up of the European Space Education Agreement between the European Space Aerospace Exploration Agency concerning Aeronautics and Space Administration General of the National Space Agency of Resource Office (ESERO) network continued. Agency and the European Maritime Safety the BepiColombo Mission signed in Paris on concerning the Laser Interferometer Space Malaysia. The Dutch and the Belgian ESERO offices Agency concerning the Use of Space based 14 April 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, Antenna Mission (LISA Pathfinder) signed (ESA/LEG/332) successfully submitted, in accordance with Earth Observation for Enhancing Maritime ESA’s Director General and in Tokyo on in Paris on 18 June 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques their contracts, their consolidated Study Safety signed in Lisbon on 2 March 2007 29 April 2007 by Dr Keiji Tachikawa, Dordain, ESA’s Director General, and Mr Arrangement between the Centre National and Strategy Reports, and related Action by Mr Volker Liebig, Director of Earth President of JAXA. Michael D. Griffin, NASA Administrator. d’ Etudes Spatiales, the Swiss Space Office Plans. According to the latter, the production Observation Programmes of the European (ESA/LEG/321) (ESA/LEG/327) and the European Space Agency concerning of educational material and the set-up of Space Agency and Mr Willem De Ruiter, the provision of the PREMOS instrument for permanent exhibitions related to space Executive Director of the European Agreement between the European Space Cooperation Agreement on Satellite the PICARD mission, signed in Paris on matters will be implemented in 2008. Maritime Safety Agency. Agency and the European GNSS Supervisory Navigation between the European Space 5 September 2007 by Mr Yannick d’Escatha, (ESA/LEG/316) Authority signed in Paris on 16 May 2007 Agency and the Agency for the Safety of President of CNES, in Bern on 25 September The Spanish ESERO office, at the CosmoCaixa by Mr Giuseppe Viriglio, ESA’s Director of Aerial Navigation in Africa and Madagascar 2007 by M Daniel Fürst, Director of the SSO, science centre in Barcelona, submitted its Arrangement between the European Space Telecommunication and Navigation, and (ASECNA) signed in Paris on 22 June 2007 and in Paris on 11 October 2007 by Mr Jean- consolidated Study Report to be evaluated by Agency and the Government of Canada Mr Pedro Pedreira Executive Director of by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director General. ESA. In the United Kingdom, a research and concerning the Participation of Canada in the European GNSS Supervisory Authority. General, and Mr Youssouf Mahamat, (ESA/LEG/333) consultative study to establish the pattern the European GNSS Evolution Programme (ESA/LEG/322) Director General of ASECNA. of distributed ‘ESERO contact points’ in the signed in Paris on 15 March 2007 by (ESA/LEG/328) Second Supplementary Agreement to the country, has been performed by a Regional Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director Arrangement between the European Agreement between the Government of Development Agency. The UK National General, and Mr Hughes Gilbert, Director Space Agency and the Government of Agreement between the Republic of Estonia the Federal Republic of Germany and the Science Learning Centre submitted a proposal General, Policy, Planning and External New Zealand on the setting up and use and the European Space Agency concerning European Space Research organisation for an ESERO office in the United Kingdom. Relation for the Government of Canada, of telemetry and tracking facilities for space cooperation for peaceful purposes concerning the European Space Operations acting through and represented by the the purpose of the Agency’s launcher signed in Tallinn (Estonia) on 20 June 2007 Centre signed in Darmstadt on 18 December International cooperation Canadian Space Agency. programmes and activities signed in Paris by Mr René Oosterlinck, ESA’s Director of 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s The Education Office continued, through (ESA/LEG/317) on 29 March 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Legal Affairs and External Relations, and Director General, and Dr Joachim Wuermeling, the International Education and Strategy Dordain, ESA’s Director General, and Mr Juhan Parts, Minister of Economic Affairs Staatssekretär of the Governement of the Board, its international cooperation with Agreement between the European Space Mrs Sarah Dennis, Ambassador of and Communication. Federal Republic of Germany. NASA, CNES, JAXA and CSA. Agency and the National Aeronautics New Zealand in France. (ESA/LEG/329) (ESA/LEG/334) and Space Administration concerning the (ESA/LEG/323) After the support given to the ‘Science Network and Operations Cross-Support Arrangement between the European Space Implementing Arrangement between the on Stage’ festivals in the past, new signed in Washington on 21 March 2007 Multilateral Agreement concerning the Agency and the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana European Space Agency and Australia’s educational initiatives are being analysed by Mr Pieter Gaele Winters, Director of Provision of the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (ASI) regarding the participation of the DEST concerning the installation of an ESA in the context of the EIROFORUM working Operations and Infrastructure of the Payload for the BepiColombo Mission ESA Astronaut of Italian nationality Paolo Ariane Telemetry Kit at the University of group. Among others, a plan for support European Space Agency, and Mr William signed in Paris on 24 May 2007 by Nespoli as a crew member of the US Space South Australia’s facilities for the tracking of for the Science in School journal was being H. Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator Prof. David Southwood for ESA, Shuttle STS-120 mission to the International the ESA Jules Verne ATV mission, validated produced. for Space Operations for the National Ms Simonetta di Pippo for ASI, Space Station signed in Paris (Bourget) on by an exchange of letters by Mr Jean- Aeronautics and Space Administration of Mr Richard Bonneville for CNES, 19 June 2007 by Mr Daniel Sacotte, ESA’s Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director General Support to the International Space the United States of America. Mr Thomas Galinski for DLR, Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Ms Lisa Paul, Head of the Department University was complemented by the (ESA/LEG/318) Prof. Keith Mason for STFC and Dr Kari Tilli and Exploration Programmes, and of Education, Science and Training of the provision of laboratory equipment and for TEKES. Prof. Giovanni Fabrizio Bignami, President of Government of Australia (DEST). hardware for the set-up of a concurrent Plan for European Cooperating State (ESA/LEG/324) the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana. (ESA/LEG/335) design facility. (PECS) Charter between the European (ESA/LEG/330) Space Agency and the Government of Agreement between the European Space Romania signed in Vienna on 14 February Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agreement between the Centro para el 2007 by Mr Chris De Cooker ESA’s Head of Agency concerning the Cooperation in the Desarrollo Tecnologico Industrial (CDTI) and the International Relations Department Field of Space Components signed in Paris the European Space Agency concerning the and Mr Marius-Ioan Piso President of the on 19 June 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, assistance to the implementation phase Romanian Space Agency. ESA’s Director General, and of a Spanish National Earth Observation (ESA/LEG/319) Dr Keiji Tachikawa, President of JAXA. satellite and its Ground Segment signed in (ESA/LEG/325) Paris on 20 July 2007 and in Madrid on European Cooperating State (ECS) 30 July 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, Agreement between the Government of the Memorandum of Understanding ESA’s Director General, and Mr Maurici Republic of Poland and the European Space between the European Space Agency Lucena, Director General of CDTI. Agency signed in Warsaw on 27 April 2007 and the National Aeronautics and Space (ESA/LEG/331) by Mr René Oosterlinck, ESA’s Director of Administration concerning the James Webb Legal Affairs and External Relations and Space Telescope signed in Paris on 18 June Arrangement between the European Space Mr Pawel Poncyljusz, State Secretary, 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Agency and Malaysia’s National Space Ministry of Economy. Director General and Mr Michael D. Griffin, Agency (Angkasa) on the execution of a (ESA/LEG/320) NASA Administrator. joint experimental programme during (ESA/LEG/326) the flight of a Malaysian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) signed on 19 July 2007 by Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain,

72 73 Annual Report 2007

PAT 527 SPHERICAL PARALLEL MECHANISM WITH TWO DEGREES OF FREEDOM US Application 11/802,401 Filed 22 May 2007 ESA patent applications in 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Inventors C. Menon, R. Vertechy, V. Parenti Castelli Other Application FR 06 04744

PAT 530 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VOLTAGE REGULATION OF A POWER BUS US Application 11/984,395 Filed 16 November 2007 PAT 507 REAL TIME SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHODS Applicant European Space Agency Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1842080 Inventor F. Tonicello USA National Phase entered 11/795,099 French Application FR 06 10059 Filed July/August 2007 Applicant European Space Agency PAT 532 ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM WITH MAXIMUM POWER POINT Inventors B. Harnisch, A. Bergeron, P. Bourqui TRACKING Other Applications PCT/FR 05/00052 US Application 12/000,777 Filed 17 December 2007 PAT 508 WIDE FIELD FOUR MIRROR TELESCOPE Applicant European Space Agency Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1825315 Inventor P. Perol USA National Phase entered 11/792,970 French Application FR 06 11007 Filed June/July 2007 Applicant European Space Agency PAT 534 PROCESS AND DEVICE TO MEASURE THE GRAVITATIONAL AND/OR INERTIAL Inventors B. Harnisch, V. Kirschner, W. Holota ACCELERATION OF A BODY MOVING IN A GRAVITATIONAL FIELD Other Applications PCT/EP 2004/014255 French Application 07 05061 Filed 12 July 2007 PAT 514 SET-UP FOR TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT WITHOUT CONTACT TO THE Applicant European Space Agency SAMPLE UNDER VACUUM Inventor C. J. De Matos Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1889041 USA National Phase entered 11/922,079 PAT 535 RECONFIGURABLE REFLECTOR FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES Filed December 2007 European Application 07 291125.8 Applicant European Space Agency US Application 11/902,586 Inventors C. Semprimoschnig, S. Hetzel, M. van Eesbeek Filed 21 and 24 September 2007 Other Applications FR 05 51563, PCT/FR 2006/001305 Applicant European Space Agency Inventors L. G. Scolamiero, M. Sabbadini PAT 516 AUTOMATIC AUTOPILOT OF A SAILING BOAT FOR NAVIGATION IN THE PRESENCE OF WAVES GAL PAT 002 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DEMODULATING GALILEO ALTERNATE Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1894073 BINARY OFFSET CARRIER (ALTBOC) SIGNALS / Japan National Phase entered JP2008-515242 National/Regional Phase entered in Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, USA USA National Phase entered 11/921,761 Filed March/April 2007 Filed December 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Applicant European Space Agency Inventors J.-M. Sleewaegen, W. De Wilde, G. Seco Granados Inventor M. Lopriore Other Application PCT/EP 04/009952 Other Applications FR 05 05912, PCT/FR 2006/001240 GAL PAT 003 SPREADING CODES FOR A SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM / PAT 519 MULTIBEAM ANTENNA CODE D’ETALEMENT POUR UN SYSTEME DE NAVIGATION PAR SATELLITE US Application 11/707,035 National/Regional Phase entered in Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, USA Filed 16 February 2007 Filed June/July 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Applicant European Space Agency Inventors P. Balling, A. Roederer, C. Mangenot Inventor J. O. Winkel Other Application FR 06 01585 Other Application PCT/EP 04/014488

PAT 526 INTERFEROMETRIC RADIOMETER GAL PAT 005 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INTEGRITY INFORMATION European Application EP 1868010 FOR USERS OF A GLOBAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM/ US Application 11/812,103 National/Regional Phase entered in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, USA Filed 7 and 15 June 2007 Filed March/April 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Applicant European Space Agency Inventors P. de Maagt, J. Christensen, A. Carlström, A. Emrich, S. Andersson Inventors H. L. Trautenberg, V. Oehler, M. Abele, B. Lobert Other Application FR 06 05371 Other Application PCT/EP 2005/010038

74 75 Annual Report 2007

PAT 527 SPHERICAL PARALLEL MECHANISM WITH TWO DEGREES OF FREEDOM US Application 11/802,401 Filed 22 May 2007 ESA patent applications in 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Inventors C. Menon, R. Vertechy, V. Parenti Castelli Other Application FR 06 04744

PAT 530 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VOLTAGE REGULATION OF A POWER BUS US Application 11/984,395 Filed 16 November 2007 PAT 507 REAL TIME SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHODS Applicant European Space Agency Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1842080 Inventor F. Tonicello USA National Phase entered 11/795,099 French Application FR 06 10059 Filed July/August 2007 Applicant European Space Agency PAT 532 ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM WITH MAXIMUM POWER POINT Inventors B. Harnisch, A. Bergeron, P. Bourqui TRACKING Other Applications PCT/FR 05/00052 US Application 12/000,777 Filed 17 December 2007 PAT 508 WIDE FIELD FOUR MIRROR TELESCOPE Applicant European Space Agency Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1825315 Inventor P. Perol USA National Phase entered 11/792,970 French Application FR 06 11007 Filed June/July 2007 Applicant European Space Agency PAT 534 PROCESS AND DEVICE TO MEASURE THE GRAVITATIONAL AND/OR INERTIAL Inventors B. Harnisch, V. Kirschner, W. Holota ACCELERATION OF A BODY MOVING IN A GRAVITATIONAL FIELD Other Applications PCT/EP 2004/014255 French Application 07 05061 Filed 12 July 2007 PAT 514 SET-UP FOR TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT WITHOUT CONTACT TO THE Applicant European Space Agency SAMPLE UNDER VACUUM Inventor C. J. De Matos Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1889041 USA National Phase entered 11/922,079 PAT 535 RECONFIGURABLE REFLECTOR FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES Filed December 2007 European Application 07 291125.8 Applicant European Space Agency US Application 11/902,586 Inventors C. Semprimoschnig, S. Hetzel, M. van Eesbeek Filed 21 and 24 September 2007 Other Applications FR 05 51563, PCT/FR 2006/001305 Applicant European Space Agency Inventors L. G. Scolamiero, M. Sabbadini PAT 516 AUTOMATIC AUTOPILOT OF A SAILING BOAT FOR NAVIGATION IN THE PRESENCE OF WAVES GAL PAT 002 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DEMODULATING GALILEO ALTERNATE Europe Regional Phase entered EP 1894073 BINARY OFFSET CARRIER (ALTBOC) SIGNALS / Japan National Phase entered JP2008-515242 National/Regional Phase entered in Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, USA USA National Phase entered 11/921,761 Filed March/April 2007 Filed December 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Applicant European Space Agency Inventors J.-M. Sleewaegen, W. De Wilde, G. Seco Granados Inventor M. Lopriore Other Application PCT/EP 04/009952 Other Applications FR 05 05912, PCT/FR 2006/001240 GAL PAT 003 SPREADING CODES FOR A SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM / PAT 519 MULTIBEAM ANTENNA CODE D’ETALEMENT POUR UN SYSTEME DE NAVIGATION PAR SATELLITE US Application 11/707,035 National/Regional Phase entered in Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, USA Filed 16 February 2007 Filed June/July 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Applicant European Space Agency Inventors P. Balling, A. Roederer, C. Mangenot Inventor J. O. Winkel Other Application FR 06 01585 Other Application PCT/EP 04/014488

PAT 526 INTERFEROMETRIC RADIOMETER GAL PAT 005 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INTEGRITY INFORMATION European Application EP 1868010 FOR USERS OF A GLOBAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM/ US Application 11/812,103 National/Regional Phase entered in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, USA Filed 7 and 15 June 2007 Filed March/April 2007 Applicant European Space Agency Applicant European Space Agency Inventors P. de Maagt, J. Christensen, A. Carlström, A. Emrich, S. Andersson Inventors H. L. Trautenberg, V. Oehler, M. Abele, B. Lobert Other Application FR 06 05371 Other Application PCT/EP 2005/010038

74 75 Annual Report 2007

→ NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ESA’s Annual Accounts are summarised in four main financial The net effect of provisions and accruals is statements presented herewith including comparative reflected in the item ‘Reserve for Accruals and Provisions’. The €93 million debit information for year 2006. balance in 2007 can be considered as net Among the assets, the €983 million balance accumulated excess of liabilities over assets of Cash and Banks does not include the recognised in the accounts. funds managed for the Pension Scheme. The latter represent the financed portion of Provisions and accruals are included in the the scheme, invested in the so-called Buffer Statement of Assets and Liabilities in order Fund, and are presented as non-current to provide a comprehensive picture of all assets. The total obligation of the Pension claims, entitlements and obligations of Scheme towards the active and retired staff ESA, but at this stage of the transition to and differed pensions of ESA is revaluated Accrual Accounting they are not financed. at €1480 million in 2007 following the Therefore, the net effect of reversed adoption of the recognised accounting accruals of the previous year and new standards on Employees Benefits IAS 19. accruals is identified on a separate line of The not yet financed portion is shown as a the Statement of Income and Expenditure receivable amount. which adjusts the expenditure of the year in order to show the total cost incurred. One of the main current assets represents In 2007 this balance amounted to a €235 €70 million of advance payments to million net increase of restated prior-year suppliers, made across the ongoing accruals. programmes of ESA. Until the relevant services are tested and accepted, these The statement of Changes in Net Assets/ payments are considered as a claim Liabilities illustrates the allocation of the towards the contractor companies. Surplus in the following year, part of which is represented by the net effect of accruals Among the liabilities, the Prepaid and provisions. This part is consolidated in Contributions and the funds available in the Reserve for Accruals and Provisions. the Regulation Fund represent balances due to Member States, whereas Accrued The 2007 surplus amounts to €566 million, Payables are obligations towards suppliers inclusive of €806 million of under-spending for invoices received but not yet paid, or of the budget allocations, €5 million of cost incurred in 2007 but not yet invoiced. shortfall actual income over the budget, with other minor balances, and €235 million The ESA liability for Staff Untaken Leave net increase of restated prior-year accruals. represents the value of the number of days of leave accrued by staff members but not yet taken at year-end.

Image courtesy Photoeverywhere.co.uk

76 77 Annual Report 2007

→ NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ESA’s Annual Accounts are summarised in four main financial The net effect of provisions and accruals is statements presented herewith including comparative reflected in the item ‘Reserve for Accruals and Provisions’. The €93 million debit information for year 2006. balance in 2007 can be considered as net Among the assets, the €983 million balance accumulated excess of liabilities over assets of Cash and Banks does not include the recognised in the accounts. funds managed for the Pension Scheme. The latter represent the financed portion of Provisions and accruals are included in the the scheme, invested in the so-called Buffer Statement of Assets and Liabilities in order Fund, and are presented as non-current to provide a comprehensive picture of all assets. The total obligation of the Pension claims, entitlements and obligations of Scheme towards the active and retired staff ESA, but at this stage of the transition to and differed pensions of ESA is revaluated Accrual Accounting they are not financed. at €1480 million in 2007 following the Therefore, the net effect of reversed adoption of the recognised accounting accruals of the previous year and new standards on Employees Benefits IAS 19. accruals is identified on a separate line of The not yet financed portion is shown as a the Statement of Income and Expenditure receivable amount. which adjusts the expenditure of the year in order to show the total cost incurred. One of the main current assets represents In 2007 this balance amounted to a €235 €70 million of advance payments to million net increase of restated prior-year suppliers, made across the ongoing accruals. programmes of ESA. Until the relevant services are tested and accepted, these The statement of Changes in Net Assets/ payments are considered as a claim Liabilities illustrates the allocation of the towards the contractor companies. Surplus in the following year, part of which is represented by the net effect of accruals Among the liabilities, the Prepaid and provisions. This part is consolidated in Contributions and the funds available in the Reserve for Accruals and Provisions. the Regulation Fund represent balances due to Member States, whereas Accrued The 2007 surplus amounts to €566 million, Payables are obligations towards suppliers inclusive of €806 million of under-spending for invoices received but not yet paid, or of the budget allocations, €5 million of cost incurred in 2007 but not yet invoiced. shortfall actual income over the budget, with other minor balances, and €235 million The ESA liability for Staff Untaken Leave net increase of restated prior-year accruals. represents the value of the number of days of leave accrued by staff members but not yet taken at year-end.

Image courtesy Photoeverywhere.co.uk

76 77