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2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 PROJECT JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND COMMENTS SPACE TELESCOPE LAUNCHED APRIL1990 Programmes ULYSSES LAUNCHED OCTOBER 1990 SOHO LAUNCHED DECEMBER 1995

HUYGENS LAUNCHED OCTOBER 1997

XMM-NEWTON LAUNCHED DECEMBER 1999

CLUSTER RE-LAUNCHED MID-2000

INTEGRAL LAUNCHED OCTOBER 2002

MARS EXPRESS LAUNCHED JUNE 2003

SMART-1 LAUNCHED SEPTEMBER 2003 TC-1 LAUNCHED DECEMBER. 2003 SCIENTIFIC DOUBLE STAR in Progress PROGRAMME TC-2 LAUNCHED JULY 2004 ROSETTA LAUNCHED MARCH 2004

VENUS EXPRESS LAUNCHED NOVEMBER 2005

HERSCHEL/PLANCK LAUNCH FEBRUARY 2008

LISA PATHFINDER LAUNCH 4TH QUARTER 2009 Status end-June 2006 GAIA LAUNCH END-2011 JWST LAUNCH JUNE 2013

BEPICOLOMBO LAUNCH AUGUST 2013

METEOSAT-5/6/7 M5 LAUNCHED 1991, M6 1993, M7 1997

ERS-2 LAUNCHED APRIL 1995

ENVISAT LAUNCHED MARCH 2002

MSG-1 MSG-2 MSG MSG-3 LAUNCH 2011, MSG-4 LAUNCH 2013

METOP METOP-A LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2006, METOP-B 2010, METOP-C 2015 CRYOSAT LAUNCH FAILURE OCTOBER 2005 CRYOSAT-2 LAUNCH MARCH 2009 GOCE LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007 PROGRAMME

EARTH OBSERVATION EARTH SMOS LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007

ADM-AEOLUS LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2008

SWARM LAUNCH 2010

EARTHCARE LAUNCH END-2012

ARTEMIS LAUNCHED JULY 2001

ALPHABUS LAUNCH 2009

SMALL GEO SAT. LAUNCH JUNE 2010

GNSS-1/EGNOS OPERATIONS START 2006 COMMS./NAV. PROGRAMME

GIOVE-A GIOVE-B GALILEOSAT GIOVE-A LAUNCHED DEC. 2005 GIOVE-B LAUNCH NOV./DEC. 2006, IOV END-2008 PROBA-1 LAUNCHED OCTOBER 2001

PROBA-2 LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007 PROG.

TECHNOL. SLOSHSAT LAUNCHED FEBRUARY 2005

COLUMBUS LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007

ATV FIRST LAUNCH MAY 2007

NODE-2 & -3 & CUPOLA LAUNCHES AUGUST 2007 & JANUARY 2010 CUPOLA WITH NODE-3 ERA LAUNCH NOT BEFORE MID-2009

MSG MELFI EDR/EUTEF/SOLAR ISS SUPPORT & UTIL.

FOTON-MI APCF-6/BIOBOX-5/ MATROSHKA FOTON-M2 TEXUS-42 MAXUS-7/TEXUS-43 TEXUS-45 FOTON-M3 ARMS/BIOPACK/ TEXUS-44 EMIR/ELIPS MASER-10 EML-1 EMCS/ MARES FAST-2/ERISTO MAXUS-6 PEMS PCDF MSL MFC BIO, FSL, EPM with COLUMBUS & EXPLORATION PROGRAMME & EXPLORATION ASTRONAUT FLT. HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, MICROGRAVITY HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT,

AURORA CORE

EXOMARS LAUNCH MID-2011 OR MID-2013

ARIANE-5 DEVELOP. OPERATIONAL

ARIANE-5 PLUS AR5-ECA QUALIF. LAUNCHED FEBRUARY 2005

VEGA FIRST LAUNCH DECEMBER 2007 PROG.

LAUNCHER SOYUZ AT CSG READY FOR LAUNCH NOVEMBER 2008

DEFINITION PHASE MAIN DEVELOPMENT PHASE STORAGE

LAUNCH/READY FOR LAUNCH OPERATIONS ADDITIONAL LIFE POSSIBLE

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HUYGENS LAUNCHED OCTOBER 1997

XMM-NEWTON LAUNCHED DECEMBER 1999

CLUSTER RE-LAUNCHED MID-2000

INTEGRAL LAUNCHED OCTOBER 2002

MARS EXPRESS LAUNCHED JUNE 2003

SMART-1 LAUNCHED SEPTEMBER 2003 TC-1 LAUNCHED DECEMBER. 2003 SCIENTIFIC DOUBLE STAR in Progress PROGRAMME TC-2 LAUNCHED JULY 2004 ROSETTA LAUNCHED MARCH 2004

VENUS EXPRESS LAUNCHED NOVEMBER 2005

HERSCHEL/PLANCK LAUNCH FEBRUARY 2008

LISA PATHFINDER LAUNCH 4TH QUARTER 2009 Status end-June 2006 GAIA LAUNCH END-2011 JWST LAUNCH JUNE 2013

BEPICOLOMBO LAUNCH AUGUST 2013

METEOSAT-5/6/7 M5 LAUNCHED 1991, M6 1993, M7 1997

ERS-2 LAUNCHED APRIL 1995

ENVISAT LAUNCHED MARCH 2002

MSG-1 MSG-2 MSG MSG-3 LAUNCH 2011, MSG-4 LAUNCH 2013

METOP METOP-A LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2006, METOP-B 2010, METOP-C 2015 CRYOSAT LAUNCH FAILURE OCTOBER 2005 CRYOSAT-2 LAUNCH MARCH 2009 GOCE LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007 PROGRAMME

EARTH OBSERVATION EARTH SMOS LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007

ADM-AEOLUS LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2008

SWARM LAUNCH 2010

EARTHCARE LAUNCH END-2012

ARTEMIS LAUNCHED JULY 2001

ALPHABUS LAUNCH 2009

SMALL GEO SAT. LAUNCH JUNE 2010

GNSS-1/EGNOS OPERATIONS START 2006 COMMS./NAV. PROGRAMME

GIOVE-A GIOVE-B GALILEOSAT GIOVE-A LAUNCHED DEC. 2005 GIOVE-B LAUNCH NOV./DEC. 2006, IOV END-2008 PROBA-1 LAUNCHED OCTOBER 2001

PROBA-2 LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007 PROG.

TECHNOL. SLOSHSAT LAUNCHED FEBRUARY 2005

COLUMBUS LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2007

ATV FIRST LAUNCH MAY 2007

NODE-2 & -3 & CUPOLA LAUNCHES AUGUST 2007 & JANUARY 2010 CUPOLA WITH NODE-3 ERA LAUNCH NOT BEFORE MID-2009

MSG MELFI EDR/EUTEF/SOLAR ISS SUPPORT & UTIL.

AURORA CORE

EXOMARS LAUNCH MID-2011 OR MID-2013

ARIANE-5 DEVELOP. OPERATIONAL

ARIANE-5 PLUS AR5-ECA QUALIF. LAUNCHED FEBRUARY 2005

VEGA FIRST LAUNCH DECEMBER 2007 PROG.

LAUNCHER SOYUZ AT CSG READY FOR LAUNCH NOVEMBER 2008

DEFINITION PHASE MAIN DEVELOPMENT PHASE STORAGE

LAUNCH/READY FOR LAUNCH OPERATIONS ADDITIONAL LIFE POSSIBLE

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Two active regions crossing the solar east limb in November XMM-Newton maps very large sky features during the slews 2003. The yellow side has white-light images showing sunspots. between targets. Among these is the 20 000 year-old Vela SOHO The blue side shows predicted sunpots on the farside. Since the supernova remnant (right), occupying a sky area 150 times that white light observations are images made ‘straight on’, they are of the full Moon. The slew survey results are compared here with On 7–12 May 2006, the community held a stretched into blurry lines when projected to show the view over an image previously taken by the Rosat mission (left). memorable meeting to celebrate 10 years of the limb. This is simply because there is no camera above the (ESA/Rosat) east limb (yet) successful scientific operations of SOHO (SOHO-17: 10 Years of SOHO and Beyond, Giardini Naxos, Italy). Nearly 300 participants presented and discussed over 250 scientific papers, which will be published by the ESA Publications Division as SP-617.

The Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) team has made significant improvements to their holographic farside imaging technique. The that are believed to come from Io has original method allowed only the central revealed a periodic behaviour, with peaks at Cassini-Huygens regions of the Sun’s farside to be seen, about 13 days and 26 days. This is not thought to a quarter of its total area. With the new originate at the source, but is rather due to The latest version of the Huygens descent method, one can see the entire farside, the interaction of the dust particles with movies made by the DISR team was released including the poles. solar wind streams that corotate with the in May (http://saturn.esa.int). These movies kept its cameras operating and quietly used the Maspalomas station. The Cluster Active Sun. This in turn indicates that the give a good account of the work done so far this extra time to scan the sky. The results of Archive (CAA) was opened as planned on Scientists of SAIC, San Diego, have interaction is electromagnetic in nature and by all the teams to understand and interpret this slew survey, covering some 15% of the 1 February 2006. A total of 227 users were presented large-scale computer simulations that the dust grains act as charged particles. the probe performance during the descent sky, have now been made available. The registered at the end of June 2006 and more of the solar corona, based on magnetic field and the returned science data. Science catalogue includes more than 2700 bright than 22 Gbytes of high resolution data were data from SOHO. They used MDI On 1 September 2006, Ulysses will be at a results related to the Huygens misison are sources and a further 2000 of lower downloaded. The CAA also delivers all raw measurements of the Sun’s surface magnetic radial distance of 3.4 AU from the Sun, and now regularly submitted for publication in significance. Regular updates of the data to the Cluster PIs and Co-Is and the field to calculate the structure of the entire heliographic latitude 60º south of the solar refereed journals. catalogue are planned as more of the sky is average download rate is above 4.5 Gbytes solar corona. Among other quantities, the equator. covered. per day. new model allows prediction of the emission of the solar corona in extreme-UV light that Fundamental 3-D properties of magnetic can be compared with observations by XMM-Newton turbulence observed in the shocked solar SOHO’s Extreme-UV Imaging Telescope. The ISO Cluster wind were published in February 2006 in solar eclipse on 29 March offered a special XMM-Newton operations continue smoothly, Physical Review Letters. These properties are opportunity to compare the theoretical The ISO Data Archive Version 10 was with the spacecraft, instruments and ground The four satellites and instruments are of prime importance for model magnetic predictions with polarised white-light images released on 29 June. It allows queries based segment all performing nominally. operating nominally. The short eclipse turbulence in the shocked solar wind, which of the corona. The computer model passed limiting factor for payload operations. on object type; 143 object types are defined, Observations of the AO-5 A and B priority season recently finished and a few anomalies plays a key role in the dynamical coupling this important test by correctly predicting the Nevertheless, windows of opportunity have hierarchically organised, based on the targets are expected to be completed by the have been observed owing to the ageing of between the solar wind and the corona’s large-scale structure. been identified for some of the instruments SIMBAD system. A total of 6117 objects are end of February 2007. A total of 1138 papers the batteries. This has proved, however, that magnetosphere. These results were obtained that are not part of the core payload. For associated with 29 254 ISO observations. based on XMM-Newton data has appeared in the satellites can survive a short eclipse with by combining the magnetic measurements example, the gamma-ray burst instrument the refereed literature. Of these, 132 are from minimum power in the batteries and it on all four satellites using the k-filtering that has been switched off for the previous ISO continues to have a significant presence 2006. provides experience for the next long method. The consequences of magnetic Ulysses 18 months will be returned to operation in in the refereed literature, with over 1350 eclipses, in September 2006. turbulence are also relevant to astrophysical mid-July 2006, and is planned to remain on papers published. Recent highlights include The XMM-Newton Users Group expressed and laboratory plasmas. Ulysses, well into its 16th year of operations, until the end of the year. Data-recovery levels the result of the first far-IR high-resolution their satisfaction with the recent calibration The Cluster constellation is a regular continues its climb to high southern solar have generally been high, although NASA spectral line survey in the Orion region, improvements, especially for the low-energy 10 000 km large-scale tetrahedron in the latitudes as it heads for the third pass over Deep Space Network outages in May caused obtained with the LWS in Fabry-Perot mode. response of the RGS cameras and the centre of the magnetotail. This configuration the Sun’s south pole. The spacecraft and uncharacteristically low weekly averages The spectrum is dominated by the molecular consequent improvement in the instrument will be changed to a multi-scale configuration Integral

scientific instruments continue to operate (well below 90%) for 3 weeks running. species H2O, OH and CO, along with [OI] and cross-calibration. The group recommends in November 2006. well. As onboard temperatures continue to [CII] lines from PDR or shocked gas and the development of a slow-slew observing Integral operations continue smoothly, with rise, albeit slowly, the risk of freezing the While the main focus of the mission is [OIII], [NIII] lines from the foreground M42 mode and the study of legacy-type observing JSOC and ESOC operations are continuing the satellite, instruments and ground

hydrazine fuel is no longer the overriding clearly the Sun and its environment, the HII region. Several isotopic species and NH3 programmes. nominally. The data return from mid- segment all performing nominally. The 4th + operational constraint. Diminishing power Jovian system continues to play an important are also detected. HDO and H3O are November 2005 to early June 2006 was on Announcement for Observing proposals levels, an inevitable consequence of the role in many of the Ulysses investigations. A tentatively detected for the first time in the For the past 4 years, while XMM-Newton has average 99.1%. The Perth station has been (AO-4) closed on 24 April 2006. 142 longevity of the mission, are once again the recent study of interplanetary dust streams far-IR range towards Orion-KL. been manoeuvring between targets, it has used nominally since 1 January 2006, with proposals were received, compared to 108

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for AO-3. This increase may be due to the around Mars, NASA’s Deep Space Network introduction of ‘key programme’ (DSN) is frequently required to monitor its Akari (Astro-F) Venus Express observations; 43 proposals were received aerobraking process, so there is less DSN requesting data rights to sources within the availability for Mars Express. Akari, the new Japanese infrared sky The period of April to the end of June 2006 AO-4 key programme observation of the surveyor mission with ESA participation, saw was crucial for the Venus Express spacecraft galactic centre region. Integral scientific All instruments continue to deliver excellent ‘first light’ on 13 April 2006 (UT) and to enter orbit and manoeuvre into its final results have been reported in 190 refereed science. The estimated cumulative number of delivered its first images of the cosmos. The operation orbit. This was achieved in the first and 341 non-refereed publications. Mars Express publications in the refereed images were taken towards the end of the week of May and instrument commissioning literature is about 145, 35 of which are from successful orbital checkout of the satellite. immediately started. As part of these Thanks to clever design and sophisticated 2006. The MARSIS radar has made commissioning activities, the Venus Express analysis by European astronomers, Integral significant discoveries during the last night- Akari’s two instruments were pointed Science Operations Centre was exercised in can now make images of the most powerful time season; they will be published shortly. towards the reflection nebula IC4954, a performing its planning role as an gamma-ray bursts even if the satellite itself is region some 6000 light years away and intermediary between the European scientific pointing somewhere completely different. A Mars Express topical workshop on ‘The extending more than 10 light years across. institutes and the Mission Operations Centre The south pole of Venus as never seen before This technique was applied by Meaning of Methane on Mars’ is planned to Reflection nebulae are clouds of dust in Darmstadt (D), where the final command R. Marcinkowski and collaborators, who take place in early 2007 at the Royal illuminated by the light of nearby stars. In load is controlled. The activities were analysed data from the two separate Astronomical Society in London. these infrared images of IC4954, a region of performed on schedule and routine telescope at the instrument operational detectors (ISGRI and PICsIT) that make up intense star formation active for several operations began on 4 June using a pre- Herschel/Planck frequencies up to 300 GHz has been the IBIS imager to image the bright gamma- million years, it is possible to pick out planned observation process that has completed for the first polarisation direction. ray burst GRB 030406 that occurred far recently born stars. They are embedded in allowed the operations to proceed smoothly. The activities on both Flight Model spacecraft The second test campaign addressing the outside the IBIS field of view, some 37º off Double Star gas and dust and cannot be seen in visible continue at a good pace. The refurbishment other polarisation direction will be carried out the pointing axis. light. It is also possible to see the gas clouds Significant science results have already been of the Herschel Cryostat in Astrium, in the autumn. The two satellites and their instruments are from which these stars were created. These reported by the scientific community and Friedrichshafen (D), in order to implement operating normally. The Chinese have first images demonstrate the vastly increased images from some of the instruments have the improvements identified in the earlier test The Herschel telescope testing at cryogenic reported on the lifetime of TC-2 (nominal end scientific capability of Akari over its been publicly released to reveal features of campaigns, is making good progress. The temperatures has been fully completed and Mars Express in July 2006), proving it to be extendable to predecessor, IRAS, flown 20 years ago. the south pole of Venus seen for the first cryostat had to be opened to the level of the the test data are under final review and end-2006, which would take operations of time. main HeII tank and the activities to close it in evaluation for a delivery by end of the year. The final commissioning of the MARSIS both to the end of the year. PIs and Chinese Akari’s lifetime will be shorter than expected the summer are running. In order to allow instrument – primarily the commissioning engineers are looking at the thermal owing to initial problems with the Sun The six different infrared images (top of verification of the cryostat internal straylight All Herschel and Planck instruments are in and calibration of the monopole antenna – evolution of both and a proposal for a further sensors and the consequent need to find and page) were taken by the VIRTIS suppression system, qualification units of the the final stages of their acceptance testing has been completed. A great deal of work extension to October 2007 will be discussed test alternative solutions. The observing UV/visible/near-IR spectrometer 12–19 April SPIRE and HIFI instruments have been and instrument flight model calibration. The has gone into preparing for the upcoming, with the scientists during the summer. strategy is currently being refined to during the first orbit around the planet. mounted to the cryostat optical bench. The Planck instruments are close to the power-difficult, eclipse/aphelion and maximise the scientific return of the mission. Around the south pole it is possible to see a activities on the Herschel Service Model, now completion of their activities and will be conjunction season of 24 August to The European Payload Operation System ESA’s contributions are working well peculiar double-eye vortex structure, never mainly integration and functional acceptance delivered for integration in the summer. The 5 November. A dedicated review of the (EPOS) coordinates the operations for the – regular and efficient ground station clearly seen by any other mission to Venus. testing of the spacecraft avionics systems, Herschel instrument-level testing and operations for the most difficult part of this seven European instruments aboard TC-1 coverage from Kiruna and pointing The sequence shows the rotation and continue at Alcatel Alenia in Torino (I). calibration will extend up to the end of the period was held at ESOC on 8 June. The and TC-2 and is running smoothly. Data are reconstruction software, developed at ESAC, variation of the double vortex over time. The year. minor problems experienced in operating the acquired using the VILSPA 2 ground station which is already in routine use. images also show a collar of cold air around The Planck Flight Model spacecraft has been ASPERA scanner and the PFS instrument and the Chinese stations in Shanghai and the vortex structure (dark blue), possibly due partially de-integrated at Alcatel in Cannes (F) The Planck Flight Model telescope equipped with videogrammetry have been resolved. Beijing. Quicklook with the most recent data to the recycling of cold air downwards. for the upcoming Planck instrument targets and protective covers on its support stand (a few days old) from all instruments are The reflection nebula IC4954 as seen by Akari at 9 µm (left) and integration activities. The Planck Service by IRAS at 12 µm (right, smaller scale) With both the distance of Mars Express to publicly available at the Double Star Data Module has been completed with the final the Sun (which determines the available Centres in Graz, Austria and Beijing, China. VIRTIS image of Venus in the ultraviolet mounting of the tanks of the reaction control power) and the Earth-Mars distance (which system followed by end-to-end testing. On determines the telemetry rate) increasing, the A study on surface waves in the magnetotail Herschel, the integration and test activities resources available for science operations was published in the special issue of Annales on the Service Module are concentrating on are seriously affected. Science operations are Geophysicae on Double Star on 8 November the avionics subsystem. proceeding well, although the additional work 2005. It involved five satellites: TC-1 and the involved in preparing for the eclipse/aphelion four Clusters. Cluster demonstrated that they The Planck telescope has been fully and conjunction season places a heavy were surface waves and fully characterised assembled, aligned and prepared for the final burden on the flight control team. them, while Double Star, 30 000 km away, telescope cryogenic-optical test, when the showed that this was a large-scale telescope alignment will be verified by With another spacecraft (Mars phenomena taking place over a large region videogrammetry measurements. The testing Recconnaissance Orbiter) added to the flotilla of the magnetotail. on the qualification model of the Planck

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technologies, such as the caging mechanism, Phase-1 of LISA Pathfinder, and the The Gaia spacecraft with fully deployed sunshield LISA Pathfinder electrostatic suspension sensing and proportional cold-gas thruster under actuation, and inertial sensor enclosure development for Gaia. The result is that The SMART-2/LISA Pathfinder vacuum maintenance, is not yet resolved and accommodation is possible for both BepiColombo Implementation Phase Contract is there is still concern that these might affect solutions, although some relaxation of progressing well, with all activities the programme schedule. The activities requirements is required. BepiColombo is an interdisciplinary mission proceeding according to schedule. The main leading to a timely delivery of the LTP to Mercury, selected as the 5th cornerstone activity in the reporting period was the therefore remain very challenging and require In June 2006 CNES presented the results of in the Cosmic Vision programme. Owing to design finalisation after the Mission the full commitment of all parties involved. the study to their Board, which will decide if the high scientific potential of the planet and Preliminary Design Review and the nearly a more detailed study phase is required for its environment, the mission will open a new completed procurement of the various The work on the NASA Disturbance one or both of the backup technologies. frontier in the study of the Solar System. subsystems and equipment. Reduction System (DRS), now consisting of BepiColombo is a collaboration between ESA only the colloidal micropropulsion subsystem and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency With the exception of the thermal hardware, and the computer, with the drag-free (JAXA). It consists of two scientific orbiters, to be procured in early 2007, all the software, is progressing nominally. Also for Gaia the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Invitations to Tender for the procurement of the DRS, the technological risks of the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), to the spacecraft equipment and subsystems colloidal thrusters are not yet completely Gaia is proceeding at a fast pace. Two major study the origin and evolution of the planet, have been issued, proposals received, ruled out. activities are running in parallel. On the the transfer time from launch to the L2 point. the prime contractor. Several subsystem Mercury’s interior dynamics and the origin of evaluated by the Prime Contractor and ESA, engineering side, the first major ESA review, The change was made possible by the rather Preliminary Design Reviews have been the magnetic field. The launch configuration according to the best-practice rules, and The launch is expected to take place at the the System Requirements Review, was comfortable mass situation, which allows a completed. Some have been split in two parts is a stack of the two spacecraft and the contracts negotiated and kicked-off. end of 2009. successfully completed with a Board meeting greater propellant load. In this new scenario, because of the late availability of breadboard chemical and electrical propulsion modules. on 7 July. At the same time, major attention the science mission can start in early test results and the need for the prime The procurement of the micropropulsion is being paid to the competitive subsystem January 2012, about 4 months earlier than contractor to freeze interface definitions to The consolidated BepiColombo mission subsystem was more complicated than procurement. Together with the Prime previously planned. progress on the optical bench design. scenario foresees a Soyuz-Fregat launch in expected owing to the immaturity of the Microscope Contractor, the project team is involved in the August 2013 and arrival at Mercury in potential technologies. Consequently, a new selection of 78 subcontractors according to A close interface between the Gaia Science The NASA-provided Detector Subsystem August 2019 for a nominal 1-year scientific Request for Quotation was issued to industry CNES has completed the preliminary study to ESA’s best-practice process. At the time of Team and Astrium is now in place to ensure passed its Preliminary Design Review. mission. The 6-year cruise is achieved by a requesting the implementation of a assess the feasibility of accommodating the writing, the first three contracts have been an efficient process for the optimisation of combination of six flybys (Moon, Earth, technology phase in which parallel backup thruster systems to the baseline slit awarded. the payload design and related operations. The MIRI Critical Design Review (CDR) 2 Venus, 2 Mercury) and electric propulsion. development of both European technologies FEEP, in synergy with LISA Pathfinder. The campaign has concluded. The start of the The spacecraft design employs lightweight (slit and needle field-emission electric technologies under consideration are the A major change has been made to the instrument-level CDR has been delayed to technologies and materials compatible with propulsion, FEEP) will be followed by a needle FEEP, being developed in the parallel mission scenario by significantly shortening December 2006, allowing sufficient time to the aggressive thermal environment at development and qualification for flight of JWST clarify the issues and concerns raised at the Mercury. one of the two systems. This contract has lower level CDRs. been awarded and the activities have started. The first Gaia CCD of flight model standard, used ESA hosted the JWST Quarterly meeting ESA is responsible for the overall project, for the qualification programme 25–27 April 2006, with more than 200 The schedule of the Jet Propulsion including the mission design, the MPO, the A thorough assessment of the capability of participants representing the various parties Laboratory’s Detector Subsystem underwent a electrical and chemical propulsion modules, the spacecraft to meet the mission involved in the JWST partnership. thorough review because of the the launch, the cruise operations up to performance (in terms of residual forecasted late delivery. Measures to delivery of the two spacecraft in their acceleration noise) is being carried out. This NASA has reached Technology Readiness reconciliate the delivery date and the MIRI respective Mercury orbits, and the MPO is a multidisciplinary and complex analysis Level 6 for six of the ten critical technologies: instrument need date were identified and mission and science operations. JAXA is involving thermal distortion, optical the sunshield membrane; the primary mirror implemented. Parts and subassemblies for the responsible for the procurement of the MMO metrology, electrostatic sensing and segment assembly; and the near-IR and mid- instrument Verification Model are being and for its mission and science operations at actuation, and drag-free control. IR focal plane assemblies. The last two manufactured and tested. The anticipated Mercury. The mission definition has been elements are part of the NIRSpec and MIRI delay in the Instrument Verification Model is completed and the scientific payloads of both The work on the LISA Technology Package instruments. being recovered by simplification of the model spacecrafts have been selected. (LTP) carried out by a consortium formed by build standard. This will ensure timely ESA and the participating member states (D, The ESA-NASA Joint Project Implementation feedback to the Flight Model programme. Proposals from Industry were received on I, UK, E, CH, F, NL) is progressing. All the Plan has been agreed and signed off by the 17 May 2006 in response to the Invitation to system and subsystem Preliminary Design ESA and NASA Project Managers. The ESA and NASA JWST project team visited Tender for the Implementation Phase of Reviews have been completed and the first the Centre Spatial Guyanese launch site during BepiColombo. The Tender Evaluation Board subsystem (the Inertial Sensor Front End The build-up of the NIRSpec industrial the period. As JWST is a high-performing has completed its evaluation and the Electronics) is already undergoing the Critical consortium is almost complete and the last observatory, cleanliness control was the major recommendation for selection of the Prime Design Review. The criticality of several LTP Invitations to Tender are being released by issue for discussion. Contractor will be made to the Industrial

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Policy Committee for approval in November meanwhile also been mechanically and industrial prime contractor (Astrium GmbH) 2006. GOCE electrically integrated on the Platform PFM. has been busy consolidating the design, since some items have become obsolete Final approval for implementation of the Two Accelerometer Sensor Heads (ASH) On the Ground Segment side, the Flight and new-generation replacements have to BepiColombo mission will be requested from Flight Models (FMs) have been integrated Operations Segment and the Payload Data be integrated into the satellite. The work is the Science Programme Committee in and tested, both at the single-ASH level and Segment developments continue according proceeding rapidly and the first pieces of November 2006. at pair level. This first stiffness-free pair is to plan. The PDS Version 2 Acceptance flight equipment will be delivered in due for delivery in July and constitutes the Review was completed in ESRIN in June, mid-2007. first arm of the gradiometer instrument. A while the Factory Acceptance Test of the third ASH FM has been integrated and Version 1 of the Calibration and Monitoring In the meantime, the ground segment, and LISA environmentally tested. It was stiffness-free Facility & Reference Planning Facility is in particular the science data processing prior to environmental testing. Unfortunately, planned for the beginning of July. Activities facility at Kiruna, has been put into The Mission Formulation Mid-term Review after vibration and thermal testing, it is have also continued nominally at the hibernation. During 2007 the facility will be was completed in April and the baseline suffering from an intermittent anomalous European GOCE Gravity Consortium, updated to run on contemporary hardware, configuration is now available. The industrial behaviour that is being investigated. The responsible for the development of the High- as the hardware procured during the contractor has been requested to perform two fourth and fifth ASH FMs are undergoing Level Processing Facility. A pre-Acceptance original CryoSat development will have additional trade-offs with an architecture using testing; integration and testing of the sixth Review of Version 2 of the HPF is planned in become obsolescent by March 2009. a single test-mass per satellite and in-field unit is scheduled from August to September. Munich by mid-July. guiding. The first trade will include impact on The gradiometer Front-End Electronics FM1 Prior to the failed CryoSat launch, an redundancy, impact of the required and FM2 have been refurbished, while FM3 extensive scientific measurement campaign SMOS Proto-Flight Model integration at EADS CASA modifications (e.g. optical readout) on the was tested under microgravity conditions at in the Arctic had been planned. This architecture, loss of heritage from LISA the Zarm drop tower in Bremen. In addition, CryoSat-2 campaign, CryoVEx 2006, required Pathfinder due to all required modifications, the Thermal Control Electronic Unit Proto- coordinated measurements from an aircraft still to be measured is the central hub Board for investigation and eventual and impact on mission risk. The second trade- Flight Model (PFM) and the Gradiometer The launch of CryoSat on 8 October 2005 equipped with both radar and laser sensors, structure with one adjacent segment of each implementation by the project. off will analyse the impact of in-field-guiding Accelerometer Interface Electronic Unit PFM resulted in loss of the satellite following a a helicopter with an electromagnetic sensor arm. Once all the antenna characterisation on the overall architecture considering one or have also been completed and delivered. The failure in the launch vehicle at the planned and multiple in situ measurements by activities are completed, the LICEF receivers The building refurbishment and preparations two proof masses, including the optical and schedule foresees delivery of the fully time of stage-2 engine shutdown. An groups of scientists on the ice. After the will be transferred to the Flight Model arm for the X-band receive antenna are mechanical design, implementation of full integrated and tested gradiometer electronics explosion at about 40 km altitude showered launch failure, the postponement of this segments that are under integration with progressing nominally for installing the ESA- redundancy in the architecture, budget to the satellite prime contractor by finely fragmented debris within the planned campaign was discussed with the groups electrical, radio-frequency and optical part of the ground segment at ESAC (E). estimates, identification of critical items and September. stage-2 drop zone some 120 km from the concerned. It became clear that much harness, thermal control hardware, and other assessment of the performances of the North Pole. valuable information could be obtained and subsystems such as the noise sources of the modified baseline. Results will be available at The Platform PFM integration has been so, during April and May 2006, the calibration subsystem. the end of September. completed, with the exception of the solar A major effort has since been undertaken by campaign went ahead as planned. Quick- ADM-Aeolus array and ion propulsion assembly. All solar all parties. The scientific community has look results indicate that many of the open Platform integration of the recurrent Proteus The internal LISA status review was array panels have been completed and are confirmed the pressing need for the mission questions that needed to be resolved in platform has progressed significantly at the The Flight Model propulsion system has been completed on 13 June with the Board available for integration. Testing of the Ion – it is needed more now than when first order to exploit the data from CryoSat fully Alcatel Alenia Space, Cannes (F) facilities. It proof-tested at EADS-Astrium Stevenage meeting. It was an independent assessment of Propulsion Control Unit FM revealed an proposed. The Executive has worked with will be answered by the data collected. A is interrupted owing to the resumption of the (UK). The FM harness is being installed. The the maturity of the project based on the anomaly that was traced to electronic industry and the delegations to put together few issues remain, which require more Calypso launch campaign. wavefront error has been measured on the results of the Mission Formulation industrial circuitry in the power supply. The problem the technical, programmatic and financial measurements, but first results show that FM primary mirror attached to its support activity performed by Astrium. was solved, allowing completion of the unit’s means to build and launch a replacement CryoVEx 2006 has been a great success. Rockot launcher interfaces have been structure; it is slightly better than expected. acceptance testing and delivery to the satellite. The Earth Observation Programme reviewed in the Preliminary Mission Analysis The delicate tripod that holds the telescope The cooperation with NASA proceeds well Platform contractor. Board approved resumption of the mission at Meeting involving ESA, CNES, Alcatel, secondary mirror has been vibration tested. despite NASA’s financial difficulty. The two its meeting on 24 February 2006 and the Eurockot and Khrunichev. teams are working as a single virtual team The activities dedicated to the closed-loop industrial activities started at the beginning SMOS A complete chain of the instrument’s receive with good exchange of information and joint functional testing of the Drag-Free Attitude of March. The launch of CryoSat-2 is planned For the overall SMOS ground segment, the electronics has been successfully tested, project decisions. Control System on the Engineering Model for March 2009. This approval within Delivery of subsystem units for the payload Preliminary Design Review has been from instrument control electronics to the Test Bench have continued. In parallel, the 6 months of the failure is a major protoflight model continues. All LICEF completed. While the elements of the flight detectors themselves. A series of thermo- The 6th LISA Symposium took take place at functional testing of the Platform PFM has achievement for all the parties involved. receivers have been delivered, and are being operations ground segment, both on the mechanical issues has delayed the start of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center started. used to populate the arm segments of the CNES and the ESA side, were found to be in vacuum testing of the laser Qualification 19–23 June and was attended by 250 people. Advanced activities, to procure electronic structural model to undergo the ‘on farm’ an adequate development state, the payload Model; these appear now to have been One of the hot topics was data analysis, The manufacturing of the two Satellite-to- parts with long delivery times, had already antenna pattern characterisation at the data ground segment, including the data solved, and the test will start in September. highlighting the need to have a coordinated Satellite Tracking Instrument FMs has been been initiated shortly after the launch failure antenna measurement facility of the processors for level-1 and -2 data products, plan and to extend the project agreement completed. After verification of their in order to safeguard the schedule. With the Technical University of Denmark. All three were judged to be rather schedule-critical. Launch of the satellite remains scheduled for made in 2004 with NASA to this area. standalone performance, FM1 and FM2 have full start-up of the industrial activities, the arm measurements have been completed; Backup solutions were suggested by the September 2008.

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Thomas Reiter working with NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson in integrated awaiting roll-out to the pad for a the Destiny module of the ISS Swarm scheduled launch on 17 July. [Editor’s note: three attempts on 17–19 July were aborted Phase-B of the satellite activities with EADS owing to launch vehicle problems; launch Astrium GmbH is progressing, with was then postponed for several months.] discussions are under way with NASA to consolidation at the system level of the transfer to Europe all of the remaining Phase-A trade-off, satellite conceptual design Several anomalies occurred during the first integration activities, which were planned to and system performances. The System launch campaign that required significant be performed in KSC. Thereafter, Node-3 Requirements Review has started, with the effort and flexibility from the launch teams to would be stored at the prime contractor’s objective of consolidating the top-level resolve. In particular, a generic bearing facility in Turin (I) before shipment some specifications and the satellite design. problem with the AMSU-A instruments months before launch in early 2010. required both instruments to be removed and Procurement of the satellite units and replaced at the Cosmodrome. While the task ISS Operations and Ground Segments instruments is well advanced. itself is well established, the logistics for the The activities for the Astrolab mission were Subcontractors have already issued offers for emergency shipment of the spare instruments The summer solstice for the northern hemisphere as seen by MSG replanned for the Shuttle launch in July. The critical elements: startracker, GPS receiver, to Baikonur and the return of the suspect on 21 June 2006 at 06:00 UTC. At this time of the year, the Increment-12 payload activities were S-band transponder, vector field instrument to the US required extensive hemisphere is at its maximum tilt towards the Sun, producing the concluded. The activities planned for the longest daylight period (Eumetsat) magnetometer, core electrical ground coordination and cooperation by all parties Soyuz-12S visiting time and the start of support equipment (EGSE). Other offers are concerned to navigate the Russian and Increment-13, which included the upload and in preparation by industry for the onboard Kazahk customs formalities. In addition, MSG-3 operation of the two Kubik biological facilities computer, onboard software, EGSE elements, some anomalies in the satellite avionics also It is planned to put MSG-3 into long-term and the performance of the Biology-1 power conditioning & distribution unit, and required extensive investigation. In one case, storage by the end of the year, awaiting Ground processing for the next mission formal qualification tests that have now experiments, were carried out nominally. the accelerometer instrument. modification of the Central Flight Software launch in early 2011. (STS-115) is proceeding on schedule for a started. Major advances in completing the Some components continue during was required. late August 2006 launch. The Assembly Jules Verne hardware were made, following Increment-13. Phase-B of the Electrical Field Instrument is MSG-4 Sequence for completion of the ISS is being which the system acoustic vibration tests underway. Breadboarding of the critical In parallel with the satellite activities, final The IST1 Integrated System Test confirmed finalised, with Node-2 and Columbus were completed in the Large European The passive Matroshka (human phantom) elements has begun. The accommodation preparations, including formal rehearsals and the completion of the integration activities. currently foreseen for launch in the autumn Acoustic Facility at ESTEC. radiation dosimeters have been installed in and interface definition of the instrument is simulations for both the Launch & Early Orbit The environmental test programme has of 2007. the Russian ISS segment and Phase-IIA of in progress with the satellite prime Phase (LEOP), Satellite In-Orbit Verification started. The acoustic test confirmed the Arianespace has informed ESA about an the experiment is under way. Preparation for contractor. The definition of the level-1b (SIOV) and routine operations phases were MSG-4 acceptance levels to be within The Columbus laboratory, complete with its opportunity for an in-flight demonstration of Phase-IIB with Roskosmos is in progress. algorithms and instrument performance completed, and both operating entities were specification for the Ariane-5 launcher. It is suite of payload rack facilities, arrived at the Ariane-5/ATV mission profile in simulator is under way. ready for the satellite in orbit. During this planned to start the thermal-vacuum testing NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on November 2006. Such a demonstration The Qualification and Acceptance Review for period, the final Satellite System Validation after the summer break. 30 May 2006. would improve confidence in a dual-boost the Columbus Control Centre (COL-CC) has The Absolute Scalar Magnetometer Phase-B Test was performed for the routine phase and mission for ATV, and hence would been conducted. A final end-to-end system is progressing with LETI, Grenoble (F) under LEOP, commanding MetOp from Darmstadt Space Infrastructure Development considerably mitigate the risk to the project validation test involving the USOCs has been the leadership of CNES. The breadboard via the satellite link to the Cosmodrome. On 2 May a ceremony, attended by the and the European ISS programme. performed and FAR1 was completed. activities to demonstrate performances in the Human Spaceflight, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was held scalar and vector modes are under way. at EADS-ST, Bremen (D) to celebrate the The European Robotic Arm (ERA) Mission Two pre-Operations Qualification exercises Microgravity & completion of Columbus development, prior Preparation and Training Equipment (MPTE) were performed successfully as part of the The Preliminary Design Review presentation MSG to its delivery to KSC later in the month. was shipped to Russia in February, and ATV Control Centre (ATV-CC) operations is planned for mid-December. Exploration A final end-to-end system validation test activities have been completed in preparation preparation activities. The ATV simulator MSG-1 involving the User Support and Operations for the shipment of the flight unit. However, VR2.1 has been delivered to ATV-CC; a new Meteosat-8’s condition is nominal and the Centres (USOCs) was performed and the with the recent prospect of significant delays version of the monitoring and control system instrument’s performance remains excellent. Highlights Final Acceptance Review (FAR1) was in the launch of the Russian Multipurpose has been accepted and an end-to-end test of MetOp Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-121) was completed with the final ESA/NASA Board Laboratory Module, which is the ERA launch the voice system with international partners MSG-2 launched to the International Space Station meeting on 16 May. The Columbus carrier, the Flight Model will be temporarily was successful. The initial review of the ATV- The reporting period was dedicated to the The commissioning phase was completed at (ISS) on 4 July carrying ESA astronaut laboratory and its four active multi-user stored in The Netherlands. ERA was CC Security Payload Local Area Network and launch campaign of the Metop-2 satellite (to the end of June by a review at Eumetsat. It Thomas Reiter, who became the third member payloads racks (Biolab, Fluid Science showcased during a media day held in April. Architecture Design Document has been be redesignated as Metop-A in orbit), which was concluded that satellite and instrument of the Expedition crew and is carrying out the Laboratory, European Physiology Modules, carried out. began on 11 April. performances are well within specifications. Astrolab Long Duration Mission. The Shuttle and European Drawer Rack) were then Activities in the Nodes programme are MSG-2 is ready to start the operational also delivered the European Modular transported to KSC. proceeding very well. The Node-3 electrical Utilisation Planning, Payload At the time of writing (14 July), the satellite phase, at which point it will be renamed Cultivation System (EMCS), the –80ºC Freezer and functional tests and NASA Audio & Video Developments and Preparatory Missions preparations are completed, the satellite Meteosat-9. It will remain, until further notice, (MELFI) and the Percutaneous Electrical A successful series of ATV functional test dry Tests have been completed. The delivery date An ISS utilisation symposium was held in encapsulated and Soyuz launch vehicle the hot standby for Meteosat-8. Muscle Stimulator (PEMS). runs was carried out in preparation of the of Node-3 is planned for spring 2007, but Toledo (E), with about 60 papers and

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Shuttle Discovery approaches the ISS 6 July. The European-built 2–5 May at EAC; Columbus User Level within the predicted corridor, there were no the layer of granite revealed by the 5 m Leonardo logistics module is prominent in the cargo bay training for the same class was held pressure oscillations during ignition or the excavation. 8–12 May. steady-state phases, and the thrust vector participation from NASA, JAXA, CSA and control system operated satisfactorily. The Review Board for the Preliminary Design Russia. ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli has been Review related to the interfaces between the assigned to the crew of the Space Shuttle Other Vega activities included: ELS (Ensemble de Lancement Soyuz) and the Following the European Commission’s flight STS-120 which, in August 2007, will BLA (Base de Lancement Ariane) took place selection of ESA’s ‘SURE’ proposal to use the launch Node-2, a connecting module built in – the preparation of the System Critical as planned. As a result, a number of studies ISS as a research infrastructure, 32 mainly Europe for NASA as part of the Columbus Design Review (SCDR), with the delivery are to be conducted. The Board authorised scientific proposals were received. A peer launch barter, to the ISS. of a first set of updated documents; the project to launch the related tender evaluation is in progress. – the completion of the working group on process. Exploration the separation of stages-1/2; The Maxus-7 sounding rocket, carrying a The ExoMars Phase-B1 contract is being – the start of the Hardware In the Loop 1 The CDRi for Mechanical and Air- complement of five ESA-funded experiment extended in scope and duration to test campaign in the laboratory; Conditioning aspects were conducted during modules, was successfully launched on 2 May implement the decisions taken at the – the kick-off meeting for the Upper May in Toulouse. No major issues were 2006 from Esrange. On 11 May, Texus-43 was Ministerial Council in December 2005. Composite Mechanical test campaign observed; the Review Boards will meet in the also successfully launched carrying three Procurement actions are progressing in (vibration and acoustics) preparation; coming weeks. ESA-funded experiment modules. However, preparation for the System Requirements – the Test Review Board for level 1 analyses the ignition device of the combustion Review, to be held at the end of the year, of the interstage-2/3 vibration and The Review Board of the PDRi for the mobile experiment failed. The hardware development and the generation of the data necessary for separation tests. gantry also took place in May; a major for two further Texus missions and one Maser Review (M-PDR) is scheduled for September The education programme for the Astrolab the down-selection of the mission options conclusion was that an ad hoc meeting mission is underway. 2006. mission was defined. Testing and required by the Ministers. At system-level, On the subsystems side, integration of the should check the adequacy of the European development of the two student experiments, the selection of the contractor for the AVUM Stage Structural and Thermal Model part of the gantry. The list of experiments for the 44th and 45th The Portable Glove Box, needed for biology CASPER (University of Dublin) and UTBI planetary protection tasks is being finalised. has started, the interstage stiffness and ESA Parabolic Flight campaigns, both planned experiments in autumn 2006, passed its (University of Valencia), are on schedule for For the ExoMars payload, attention is strength tests have been completed, as well for October 2006, is under final preparation. Acceptance Tests and Safety Review, and launch on Soyuz-13S. focusing on the Pasteur instruments and as the fairing static qualification tests, the All payload and experiment developments was launched to the ISS aboard the Geophysics and Environment Package. Thrust Vector Control CDR has started and FLPP (including pre-flight refurbishment activities) Progress-22P on 24 June. A biology Commercial Activities the development activities for the new for the Foton-M3 mission have been initiated experiment mission with six experiments in ESA participated in the ILA2006 International A work plan for the Core Programme payload adapter have begun. The Period 1, phase 1 final presentation of and continue nominally; launch is planned for two Kubik incubators was successful during Air Show, in Berlin, 16–21 May 2006, component of the Exploration Programme is system and experimental vehicle activities September 2007. the visiting stage of Soyuz in April. The together with DLR and the German Space being developed following the overall logic P80 activities are still focused on the motor has been performed. The contract with NGL Increment-13 research programme focusing Industries Association, BDLI. Human for consolidation of an integrated European that will undergo the firing test in French Prime Spa for FLPP1 activities including All Final Acceptance Reviews (FAR-2) for the on human physiology, radiation and plasma Spaceflight and Exploration were two key strategy for human spaceflight, microgravity Guiana at the end of November. The first system, experimental vehicles, propulsion Columbus payload rack facilities (Biolab, Fluid physics is being performed by cosmonaut areas promoted during the event.Industry and exploration. composite structure (the insulated motor and materials and structures has been Science Laboratory, European Physiology Pavel Vinogradov and progressing very well. Space Days 2006 (ISD2006) took place at case) has been manufactured, proof loaded negotiated and is close to signature. Modules, and European Drawer Rack, All experiment and operations preparations ESTEC, 29–31 May. Several ISS Business A common understanding between ESA and for pressure and compression/ tension and including the Protein Crystallisation for the Astrolab mission of Thomas Reiter Club members were present at the event. Roskosmos has been achieved regarding submitted to X-ray non-destructive The FLPP2 Implementation Plan has been Diagnostics Facility) were successfully closed were concluded. Preparation for ESA participation in the the mission, system concept and inspection. It is now on its way to Kourou. approved and first procurement actions have prior to their shipment to KSC with Columbus. Farnborough International Airshow (UK) is programmatic aspects of an advanced crew The ‘maquette de pilotage’ test facility is been started. The Request for Quotation for The Engineering Model rack deliveries to the ISS Education under way. transportation system, on the basis of ready (in Colleferro) and tests with actuators the first set of Upper Stage Engine USOCs are in progress. An international meeting with NASA was held which an updated programme proposal, have been performed. Demonstrator activities has been issued; the in April to coordinate education activities for Astronaut Activities which is the evolution of the proposal on proposal has been evaluated and The final verification activities for the External ISS and Exploration, and in particular during Thomas Reiter and his backup Léopold the Clipper Preparatory Programme that The Ground Segment System Design Review negotiations started. Payloads (SOLAR and EuTEF) Phase-C/D are ISS missions of ESA astronauts. Eyharts completed their training for the was submitted to the Ministerial Council in began on 23 May and will end in July. under way. SOLAR experienced a hardware Astrolab mission, finishing training at EAC in December 2005 in Berlin, was discussed in Discussions are under way with national design problem and was returned to the The second year of the Delta Research May. The final Shuttle launch training was May. agencies on the coordination of activities developer, where the problem has been School Programme was kicked-off with the performed at KSC. All planning and related to the IXV reentry demonstrator. isolated. It will be delivered early in 2007, well Dutch Minister of Education, the US General administrative preparations to support Soyuz at CSG Activities related to the project are in time for the launch with Columbus. FAR-2 Consul, ESA astronaut André Kuipers and the Astrolab/ULF 1.1 were finalised. EAC also progressing nominally. e preparation for EuTEF has started. Director of ESA External Relations. supported the STS-121 Shuttle flight Vega Earthworks at the Soyuz Launch Site activities as well as the Astrolab activities. continue to advance at a rapid pace. Definition of the ground segment for the The first cycle of ESA lectures for EuMAS The firing test of the Zefiro-23 DM1 was Excavation of the flame chute has proceeded Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) has (European Master in Aeronautics and Space) ATV part-1 training for the International successful on 26 June in Sardinia. Initial as planned; infrastructure contractors started started. The ACES Mission-Preliminary Design was completed. Partner pool astronaut class was conducted analysis shows that the pressure profile was using explosives in early April to penetrate

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