Blue Pages B122 6/2/05 1:54 PM Page 80 Programmes Programmes in Progress Status end-March 2005 80 esa bulletin 122 - may 2005 www.esa.int Blue Pages B122 6/2/05 1:54 PM Page 81 In Progress 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 PROJECT J FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ JASOND J FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ JASOND J FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ JASOND COMMENTS SPACE TELESCOPE LAUNCHED APRIL1990 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 TC-2 TC-1 LAUNCHED DEC. 2003 DOUBLE STAR SCIENTIFIC TC-2 LAUNCHED JULY 2004 PROGRAMME ROSETTA LAUNCHED MARCH 2004 VENUS EXPRESS LAUNCH OCTOBER 2005 HERSCHEL/PLANCK LAUNCH AUGUST 2007 LISA PATHFINDER LAUNCH MID-2009 GAIA LAUNCH END-2011 JWST LAUNCH AUGUST 2012 BEPICOLOMBO LAUNCH APRIL 2012 M5 LAUNCHED 1991, METEOSAT-5/6/7 M6 1993, M7 1997 ERS-2 LAUNCHED APRIL 1995 ENVISAT LAUNCHED MARCH 2002 MSG MSG-1 LAUNCHED AUG. 2002, MSG-2 AUG. 2005, MSG-3 2009 METOP-2 LAUNCH APRIL 2006, METOP METOP-1 2010, METOP-3 2014 CRYOSAT LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2005 GOCE LAUNCH AUGUST 2006 PROGRAMME SMOS LAUNCH FEBRUARY 2007 EARTH OBSERVATION EARTH ADM-AEOLUS LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2008 SWARM LAUNCH 2009 EARTHCARE LAUNCH 2012 ARTEMIS LAUNCHED JULY 2001 ALPHABUS LAUNCH 2009 GNSS-1/EGNOS OPERATIONS START 2005 COMMS./NAV. PROGRAMME GALILEOSAT FIRST LAUNCH 2005 PROBA-1 LAUNCHED OCTOBER 2001 PROBA-2 LAUNCH 2ND HALF 2006 PROG. TECHNOL. SLOSHSAT LAUNCHED FEBRUARY 2005 COLUMBUS LAUNCH DECEMBER 2006 ATV FIRST LAUNCH FEB. 2006 NODE-2 & -3 LAUNCHES OCT. 2006 & OCT. 2008 CUPOLA GNSS-1/EGNOS LAUNCH MAY 2009 ERA LAUNCH NOVEMBER 2007 DMS (R) LAUNCHED JULY 2000 ISS SUPPORT & UTIL. MSG MELFI EDR/EUTEF/SOLAR MATROSHKA FOTON-M2 EML-1 TEXUS-42 EML-2 PCDF FOTON-MI APCF-6/BIOBOX-5/ EMCS/ MAXUS-7 EMIR/ELIPS ARMS/BIOPACK/ MASER-10 PEMS FAST-2/ERISTO MAXUS-6 FOTON-M3 MARES MSL & EXPLORATION PROGRAMME & EXPLORATION MFC BIO, FSL, EPM with COLUMBUS HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, MICROGRAVITY HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, ASTRONAUT FLT. ARIANE-5 DEVELOP. OPERATIONAL AR5-ECA QUALIF. LAUNCHED ARIANE-5 PLUS FEBRUARY 2005 PROG. VEGA FIRST LAUNCH NOVEMBER 2007 LAUNCHER DEFINITION PHASE MAIN DEVELOPMENT PHASE STORAGE LAUNCH/READY FOR LAUNCH OPERATIONS ADDITIONAL LIFE POSSIBLE www.esa.int esa bulletin 122 - may 2005 81 Blue Pages B122 6/2/05 1:54 PM Page 82 Programmes than in 2003. The current total of refereed electrons that it emits ideal test particles for ISO papers based on Hubble data is over 4700. studying particle propagation throughout the inner heliosphere. Ulysses electron Recent highlights include direct evidence from Current projections for the lifetime of HST are observations during the close (1992) and ISO data that shock waves generated by that it should continue to be scientifically distant (2004) Jupiter encounters have galaxy collisions excite the gas from which operational until late 2008, if the deliberate recently been analysed to study the time- new stars will form. This is revealed in the switch to a ‘two-gyro science mode’ is dependence of the particle transport Antennae galaxies pair by exceptional H2 implemented sometime this summer. The parameters. Since the observations from both rotational line emission at a wavelength of lifetime of the observatory may ultimately be periods were obtained during the declining 9.66 microns, detected via ISOCAM Circular decided by that of the batteries, which are phase of the solar cycle, it was expected that Variable Filter observations. The H2 line now 15 years old but continue to degrade the electron intensities in 2004 would vary in luminosity, normalised by the far-infrared gracefully.The current prediction is that they the same way as in the 1992 observations. luminosity, exceeds that of all other known should continue to operate until 2010, thus galaxies, and the strongest H2 emission is giving considerable time for either a robotic or This was found not to be the case, however. In spatially displaced from the known starburst Shuttle servicing mission to be implemented, mid-2002, the electron flux started increasing regions. This result also provides important should this course of action be decided and displaying large short-term variations. clues as to how the birth of the first stars was upon. These features lasted throughout the distant triggered and speeded-up in the early encounter, making the electron intensities less Universe. Published in the April issue of obviously correlated with the proximity to Astronomy & Astrophysics by Haas et al., the Jupiter compared with the first (close) Jovian findings are also reported on the ESA News Ulysses encounter in 1992. The suggestion is that the portal as an outreach story. transport parameters, and in particular those The spacecraft and its scientific payload are governing movement perpendicular to the both in good health, with no anomalies having magnetic field in the polar direction, are highly occurred during the last quarter. The time-dependent. Hubble Space budgetary situation regarding NASA’s Telescope contribution to the mission is, however, a Ulysses is presently some 5 AU (astronomical concern, as a number of operational missions, units) from the Sun, on its way to the 3rd including Ulysses, are presently under threat passage over the solar south pole. The 15th anniversary of the launch of HST of termination. It is hoped to resolve this was celebrated on 24 April 2005. The question at a NASA Review to be held later Telescope continues to operate exceptionally this year, and that the mission will continue as well, and during its lifetime has changed the agreed until the end of the next polar passes Cassini/Huygens paradigm and understanding in all areas of in March 2008. astronomical research. Operational efficiency The Huygens industrial consortium, led by remains high at ~50%, which means that even All science operations during the reporting Alcatel in close coordination with the Huygens in its current low-Earth-orbit HST is observing period have been nominal. A proposed switch- Mission Team, is carrying out an engineering for 50% of the time. Scientific observations are on of the Ulysses’ Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) analysis of the Probe’s performance. The processed within a few hours, and accessibility instrument to support post-launch calibrations aspects being addressed include: software to the data and archival information is assured of instruments on NASA’s Swift satellite performance, entry detection, thermal within just a few hours also. was deemed unnecessary based on the behaviour, power budgets, parachute satisfactory in-orbit performance of its payload. performances, spin and attitude profiles, radar- To assess the impact of Hubble observations GRB will therefore remain switched off until altimeter calibration, and the radio-link budget. on astrophysical research, standard objective the onboard power/thermal situation improves measures of productivity and impact need to (probably not before April 2007). An anomaly has been observed in the Probe’s be used. One of these is the number of papers direction of spin under the parachutes. It published annually based on Hubble data. The One of the principal goals of the Ulysses separated from the Orbiter with the expected numbers for 2004 became available in mission is to achieve a deeper understanding spin rate and direction. A value of 7.5 rpm was February. Following a strong and regular of how energetic charged particles are measured by the Cassini magnetometer and increase during the first eight years of Hubble, transported through the complex plasma confirmed by JPL after post-mission analysis the number of papers published continued to environment created by the solar wind. of the separation dynamics using Orbiter increase, although at a slower pace. However, Jupiter’s location with respect to the source of attitude data. At the end of the entry phase, 2004 saw another significant increase, with a the magnetised solar wind – the Sun – is both the Probe was still rotating at about 7.5 rpm, record 601 papers published, over 100 more non-central and precisely known, making the but the spin rate slowed more than expected 82 esa bulletin 122 - may 2005 www.esa.int Blue Pages B122 6/2/05 1:54 PM Page 83 In Progress under the main parachute. In fact, it stopped spinning after about 10 min and began to spin in the reverse direction. It then kept spinning in that direction with the expected spin profile for the rest of the descent. No explanation has yet been found for this anomalous behaviour, which is still under investigation. The Sun sensor of the DISR instrument was affected by the fact that the solar disc came into its field of view from an unexpected direction. Highlights from among the many unique scientific results already gleaned from Huygens include: – Atmospheric structure (temperature, density and pressure) from the surface up to 1500 km. Titan’s atmosphere was found to be highly structured during the whole entry phase, and turbulent in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere. – First detection of the cosmic-ray ionised layer at round 60 km altitude. – Atmospheric methane concentration of 1.5% in the stratosphere and the upper troposphere. The concentration increased during the last 20 km of the descent, reaching 5% near the surface. The The massive, X-ray-luminous cluster of galaxies, designated XXMU J2235.3-2557, detected from an XMM-Newton observation evaporation of methane after touch-down indicates that the surface at the landing site was soaked with methane. future. Evidence of a limited number of new The completion status of the observing – A 120 m/s wind at high altitude, but the hot pixels elsewhere in the focal plane of programme is as follows: winds are generally less strong than MOS-1 was also found.