The Aurora Programme Europe’s Framework for Space Exploration Aurora
Piero Messina HME Liaison Office, Directorate for Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes, ESA Headquarters, Paris, France
Bruno Gardini Aurora Exploration Programme Manager, Directorate for Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes, ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Daniel Sacotte Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes, ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Simona Di Pippo Chair, HME Programme Board; Director, Exploration of the Universe, Italian Space Agency (ASI)
y 2001, ESA had identified robotic and human exploration of the Solar System as Bone of the major undertakings for Europe and its international partners in the 21st century. Spacefaring nations, with Europe at the forefront, have successfully explored other planets through unmanned missions, and the International Space Station is a permanent presence in low Earth orbit. Creating the framework that brings together the robotic and human elements of space activities for further exploration of the Solar System is the next logical step. The Aurora Programme Preparatory Phase The scientific, academic and industrial communities were polled on the preferred destinations and objectives of a potential long-term exploration programme. Mars scored first, followed by other destinations that included the Moon. The advice from the different communities was an important element in proposing a new European programme – the Aurora Space Exploration Programme – as a building block in a broader international effort for the robotic and human exploration of Mars, with the Moon as an important stepping stone.
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The Preparatory Phase lasted from Sustainable human life in space: the missions to the Moon and Mars. the beginning of 2002 to December development of enabling technologies These activities will enable Europe to 2005, with the number of participating to support life and protect health, to determine its objectives, interests and countries growing along with the access energy, manage environmental priorities by identifying further funding. From the initial €14 million, the risks and exploit local resources; missions and elements for realisation; envelope reached more than €48 million Sharing the space adventure and benefits: – development of enabling technologies from 12 States (Austria, Belgium, communicating the excitement of for Mars Sample Return (MSR). The Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The human spaceflight and exploration, goal of bringing back the first sample Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and sharing the benefits with the of Martian soil is a major Switzerland and the UK). Italy was the general public. technological challenge – and a great main contributor. opportunity for the scientific world. It In January 2004, the US President On the basis of all the above, together has important implications for announced a new space policy directing with indications of support from understanding the planets, studying NASA to implement the Vision for Member States, an ambitious yet the origin of the Solar System, and Space Exploration. This was a turning realistic proposal was prepared for the point in global space policy, creating a Aurora Space Exploration Programme renewed interest in space exploration and submitted to the ESA Council among spacefaring nations. An Meeting at Ministerial Level in Berlin assessment on how far this new policy (D) on 5–6 December 2005. would affect Europe’s exploration programme was conducted in cooperation The Approved Aurora Programme with European space agencies, industry European Ministers confirmed, at the and other stakeholders gathered in the highest political level, the willingness of Space Exploration Policy Assessment Europe to play a significant role in Group. At the same time, a thorough exploring and understanding the Solar revision of the ExoMars mission and its System, in particular Mars and the scientific objectives was performed with Moon. the scientific community and the The approved Aurora Space national delegations. Exploration Programme consists of two The long-term and visionary nature of main elements: the Core Programme space exploration requires well-rooted and Robotic Missions. The first is support by society at large. This is why a defining architectures and scenarios, dialogue with stakeholders and with and preparing for missions and their sectors not usually involved in space was enabling technologies; the other is conducted throughout 2005. The aim developing actual missions. was to identify the main elements that should drive Europe’s sustained Core Programme involvement in space exploration with The Core Programme aims to allow its international partners. At the end of Europe to participate meaningfully in the consultations, four main drivers the future exploration endeavours, were identified: although further decisions at later Ministerial Councils will be required. Europeans in space: allowing Europe to Based on a building-block approach, the be a significant partner in exploration activities will ensure the robustness of by assuring access to enabling Europe’s contribution, and include: technologies, the presence of European culture in future space endeavours, the – exploration roadmaps, scenarios and enhancement of European integration, architecture studies. Updating the and the creation of European pride scenarios and roadmaps elaborated around an inspiring and ambitious during the previous Preparatory cooperative project; Phase, based on continuous consulta- Habitability and life beyond Earth: tions with the stakeholders and increasing our knowledge of life, its leading to system studies and mission evolution and its environment; architectures for human and robotic
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searching for life on Mars. MSR is Programme attracted some €73 million worldwide as a logical step in the also a major milestone for exploration for 2006–2009, with Belgium and Italy exploration of Mars. From a scientific because its mission profile is suitable being the main contributors, followed by point of view, it will provide samples of for a subsequent human visit to Mars; the UK and Switzerland. Martian soil to study in our – development of general enabling laboratories, where instruments are far technologies for exploration, flight Status and Next Steps more powerful than could ever be demonstrations of selected enabling Phase-B1 of ExoMars is due to be carried by spacecraft or rovers. From a capabilities, and the preparation of completed by the end of 2006. Under technology standpoint, the MSR potential European contributions to the prime contractorship of Alcatel mission would be the first attempt at a lunar exploration; Alenia Space Italy (AAS-I), the phase return trip to the Red Planet, with all its – awareness activities, in association has accommodated the outcome of the operational implications. with the European Union, to engage Ministerial Council. The baseline European citizens in space mission, launched by a Soyuz from Conclusions exploration and to inspire new Kourou in 2011, includes a carrier, a Aurora is Europe’s framework, through generations through, among others, the descent module, a rover and the scientific ESA, for defining and developing the involvement of universities in the payloads: the exobiology ‘Pasteur’ on European contribution, be it capabilities, elaboration of future exploration the rover and a geophysical package on building blocks or autonomous missions. the lander. Communications and data- missions, to the global endeavour of the relay will be provided by NASA’s Mars robotic and human exploration of the Robotic Missions Reconnaissance Orbiter, which arrived Moon and Mars. Europe’s ambition is This component covers the development, at the planet last March. to work out a comprehensive, long-term launch and operation of selected In order to increase mission robustness exploration strategy, building in a degree exploration missions. The first proposed and capabilities – in anticipation of of independence alongside significant European mission is ExoMars – the first interest by Member States – two commonality with NASA’s and other exobiology mission to the planet. Slated additional options are being studied in partners’ plans. Europe is seeking to be for launch in 2011, it will provide parallel by industry. An orbiter could be a key partner, building on its valuable experience in the design and launched on a second Soyuz, or an achievements and experience in robotic, operation of new enabling technologies Ariane-5 would allow the baseline’s scientific and planetary missions, and capabilities: the entry, descent and carrier to be replaced by an orbiter. infrastructure development and human landing system, and the rover, drill and Participating States will be called on to spaceflight. ESA’s planned robotic sample-acquisition systems. It will thus decide early next year at the missions are fully in line with the open the way to future scientific and Implementation Review. That meeting internationally agreed strategy for the exploration missions. At the same time, will also take into account the maturity scientific exploration of Mars. They fit ExoMars will return excellent scientific of the mission concept. nicely in terms of timing and scientific information by searching for traces of A series of activities is being launched goals with other missions to Mars. In an past and present life, characterising the within the Core Programme, with evolving international context, it is planet’s biological environment, special attention to architecture and important that the European improving our knowledge of the system studies, a Mars Sample Return contribution is robust and sustainable Martian environment and geophysics, Phase-A2 study, and key technology and, to the maximum extent possible, and identifying hazards before landing developments for the next mission to does not critically depend on a single other spacecraft. ExoMars will qualify Mars. In particular, the MSR mission is partner’s capabilities. Since Aurora’s Europe to undertake future Mars considered by the scientific community inception, international cooperation has exploration. The mission is described in always been identified as a key enabling greater detail in the following article. element to achieve the long-term goals. At the Ministerial meeting in Sound, yet flexible, international December 2005, Member States could cooperation is therefore an important subscribe to either or both elements: 14 element for sustainability and of the 17 countries chose both. In robustness in the worldwide endeavour particular, ExoMars received over- in which Europe and ESA intend to play whelming support, especially by Italy. a significant role. e Subscriptions of more than €650 million exceeded the financial Further information on Aurora can be found at envelope required for the proposed www.esa.int/aurora baseline configuration. The Core
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