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The 2008 Annual Report of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group Released March 2009 1 International Space Exploration Coordination Group Annual Report: 2008 Introduction This second Annual Report of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) and its sub-working groups provides highlights of their activities during the past twelve-months including the progress of its Workplan, work ahead, the major space exploration accomplishments of its members including future opportunities, and progress in implementing the Themes described in The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination. In addition, this ISECG Annual Report, as with the 2007 edition, provides an opportunity for agencies to update the international community on their individual space exploration plans – this information will be found in the Annex. The Annual Report is intended to keep all exploration stakeholders, including other exploration related coordination groups, better informed of the ISECG's work and progress implementing the Global Exploration Strategy Framework document. Efficient, beneficial and public supported Space Exploration can only be accomplished as an international endeavour involving a diverse stakeholder community comprising; space agencies and their policy/funding governments, industry, scientific institutions, academia, and non-profit groups. The ISECG is facilitating this dialogue and understanding. 2 Part 1 The Role of the ISECG 1.1 Overview The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) was born out of The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination (GES or Framework Document) that was prepared by fourteen space agencies1 and published in May 2007. The GES elaborates a vision for the peaceful robotic and human space exploration, including a common set of key space exploration themes, focusing on destinations within the Solar System where humans may one day live and work. This focus on human activity puts low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars into particular focus of the ISECG. The Framework Document also established the framework for the creation of the ISECG. The GES/Framework Document was clear concerning the Principles and Resulting Requirements that would govern the ISECG. The guiding Principles are: • Open and Inclusive (open to any agency with a vested interest in space exploration) • Flexible and Evolutionary (to meet changing needs and circumstances) • Effective (work to an agreed Work-Plan with deliverables useful to all stakeholders) • Mutual Interest (meet the needs of all stakeholders) The Terms of Reference (TORs) for the ISECG were formally adopted at the first meeting of the ISECG held in Berlin in November 2007. The primary purpose of the ISECG is to provide a forum for space agencies to discuss their interests, objectives and plans in space exploration with the view to working collectively towards the further development and implementation of the entire scope of the Global Exploration Strategy set out in the Framework Document. The expected benefits of this coordination are to increase robustness, safety and cost effectiveness of individual and collective exploration goals, and to facilitate the ability of participating agencies to engage in productive bilateral or multilateral discussions, while preserving their autonomy. This will contribute to strengthening the sustainability of global space exploration. In addition the ISECG will strive to promote interest and engagement in space exploration activities throughout society worldwide. The scope of the ISECG activities are broad and strategic, and focused on developing non- binding findings, recommendations and other outputs as necessary for use by participating agencies. In this regard the ISECG is different from other similar groups. The latter, such as the International Mars Exploration Working Group, having a more destination or discipline focus. Importantly, it is not the intent of the ISECG to either duplicate the work or govern the work of other coordination groups, but rather to "work with" them to ensure that ISECG Workplan activities are being covered. 1 In alphabetical order: ASI (Italy), BNSC (United Kingdom), CNES (France), CNSA (China), CSA (Canada), CSIRO (Australia), DLR (Germany), ESA (European Space Agency), ISRO (India), JAXA (Japan), KARI (Republic of Korea), NASA (United States of America), NSAU (Ukraine), Roscosmos (Russia). “Space Agencies” refers to government organizations responsible for space activities. 3 From the outset it was agreed that the ISECG would perform its work through an agreed Workplan with each activity being undertaken by a working-group comprising members with a particular interest and expertise in the subject. The Workplan is updated periodically as required such that it is always current, i.e., it is not an annual Workplan. Each Working-Group has a concrete deliverable(s). The ISECG and its Working Groups meet regularly via teleconference, as well as face-to-face meetings, and the ISECG meets in Plenary at least once a year. During the Plenary session agencies share the latest developments in their exploration programs and review the progress of the Workplan Working Groups. The ISECG is supported by a small permanent Secretariat, provided by ESA. The second meeting of the ISECG was held in Montreal, Canada in July 2008 and the third meeting was held in Yokohama, Japan in March 2009. For more information on the ISECG, its publications and for Agencies to request membership please contact the ISECG Secretariat at: [email protected]. The ISECG will soon have a dedicated website. 1.2 Working Groups of the ISECG The ISECG accomplishes its tasks throughout the year through the work of several working groups. These working groups are introduced below, and in some cases described in more detail in corresponding sections of this report. 1.2.1 Enhancement of Public Engagement This Working Group, led by DLR, is identifying the key elements for public engagement that could be used by participating Agencies to promote exploration. 1.2.2 Establishment of Working Relationships with Existing International Working Groups As already mentioned it is not the intent of the ISECG to either duplicate the work or govern the work of other coordination groups, but rather to work with them to ensure that ISECG Workplan activities are being covered. This Working Group, led by CNES, has identified those international bodies of particular relevance to the ISECG and is ensuring that these groups are familiar with the work of the ISECG – the ISECG Annual Reports are one informing mechanism. In addition the ISECG has identified areas, which would greatly benefit from close contact between ISECG and existing working groups. Examples of such activities include: (a) development of exploration data archiving and distribution standards as might be addressed by the International Planetary Data Alliance, (b) development of standards to support space exploration communications interoperability as are being addressed among those agencies actively planning spacecraft beyond Low Earth Orbit, the Space Frequency Coordination Group, the Interagency Operations Advisory Group and the Consultative Committee on Space Data Systems, 4 (c) development of a common Lunar cartographic reference system as might be undertaken by the International Lunar Exploration Working Group, the International Astronomical Union (IAU)/IAG Cartographic Working Group and the International Planetary Data Alliance (IPDA). 1.2.3 The INTERnational Space Exploration Coordination Tool (INTERSECT) The development of INTERSECT is led by CSA and ESA, and it will serve the ISECG members as web-based/interactive data base. Its purpose, when fully developed and maintained, is to provide a single reference source for ISECG members. This is further described in the beginning of Part 3. 1.2.4 The Space Exploration Interface Standards Working Group (ISWG) This Working Group, led by NASA, is identifying the key exploration element interfaces recommended to be common, and of priority, that would maximize opportunities for international cooperation in an open architecture environment. The work of this Working Group is further described in Section 3.3. 1.2.5 Mapping the Space Exploration Journey A human mission to Mars is surely a long-term objective in our collective future. However, there is a great deal of work that lies ahead before the community of space explorers could execute such a mission. In 2008, Germany (i.e. DLR) proposed the ISECG accept a task related to Chapter 3 of the Framework Document, “Mapping the Space Exploration Journey.” The objective of this new ISECG task, Mapping the Barriers to Human Exploration, would be to identify the significant, known technological and operational challenges associated with extending human presence to various destinations in the Solar System. 5 Part 2 Current and Near-Term Activities of ISECG Members The year 2008 saw a great deal of activity in all areas of space exploration. Spacecraft that recently arrived at the Moon continued their investigations of the Earth’s natural satellite, and spacecraft at Mars continued unabated on their course of exploration that has been ongoing for several years. Also, in 2008 plans were solidified for new missions in the solar system, and, importantly for the ISECG, exploration in the near-Earth neighborhood. 2.1 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) 2.1.1 The International Space Station (ISS) This past year, 2008, was a milestone year for the ISS. It marked