DiPippoB 135B.qxd 7/30/08 3:15 PM Page 10 New Challenges Simonetta Di Pippo Director of Human Spaceflight, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands SA’s new Director of Human Spaceflight looks at how we have demonstrated E Europe’s ability to live up to our ambitions in human spaceflight, and how we are entering the next phase of the human exploration of space. The International Space Station (ISS) is today a beautiful reality, an inter- national accomplishment which Europe, through ESA, is proudly part of. The European-built Node-2, the ESA Columbus laboratory and Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) are key contributions to an endeavour that has brought humanity to live and work in space uninterruptedly for almost a decade now. Five international partners repre- senting 14 nations have succeeded to bring to life the largest civilian cooperative project ever conceived. Hundreds of thousands of skilled workers throughout the world have been Backdropped by Earth, the ISS is seen from working to build and operate the ISS, Space Shuttle Discovery on 12 June 2008 learning from each other. Citizens from during the STS-124 mission (NASA) all over the world have witnessed in esa bulletin 135 - august 2008 11 DiPippoB 135B.qxd 7/30/08 3:15 PM Page 10 New Challenges Simonetta Di Pippo Director of Human Spaceflight, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands SA’s new Director of Human Spaceflight looks at how we have demonstrated E Europe’s ability to live up to our ambitions in human spaceflight, and how we are entering the next phase of the human exploration of space. The International Space Station (ISS) is today a beautiful reality, an inter- national accomplishment which Europe, through ESA, is proudly part of. The European-built Node-2, the ESA Columbus laboratory and Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) are key contributions to an endeavour that has brought humanity to live and work in space uninterruptedly for almost a decade now. Five international partners repre- senting 14 nations have succeeded to bring to life the largest civilian cooperative project ever conceived. Hundreds of thousands of skilled workers throughout the world have been Backdropped by Earth, the ISS is seen from working to build and operate the ISS, Space Shuttle Discovery on 12 June 2008 learning from each other. Citizens from during the STS-124 mission (NASA) all over the world have witnessed in esa bulletin 135 - august 2008 11 DiPippoB 135B.qxd 7/30/08 3:15 PM Page 12 Human Spaceflight New Challenges amazement male and female astronauts The Next Phase of Space Exploration from many nations working together to The first phase of space exploration is now The ISS as seen from Space Shuttle Discovery in June assemble and utilise this first inter- over. During this phase, we learned to fly in 2008 after the addition of the Japanese Kibo module national human outpost in outer space. space, to live and work there, but always (lower centre near ESA's Columbus). ESA's ATV Jules Verne is at the top, recognised by its familiar diagonal Much has been said about the ISS, but remaining safely close to Earth. In cross of solar panels (NASA) it will always be a reminder of the human parallel, our robotic proxies have reached desire to explore and push the frontiers, a out and conducted an initial, but no less signpost for future directions in our space fascinating, exploration of more distant activities. planets, including Mars, which remains the One cannot celebrate the ISS without ultimate destination for a human mission. thinking of those who have lost their lives We are on the edge of a second phase in this enterprise, reminding us all that that promises to be much more rewarding space activities, even though much safer as we build on the accomplishments and than before, still represents a risk that the experience gained previously, in order requires all the possible safety measures. to go farther than low Earth orbit and to The near-completion of the ISS do much more. however compels us to act rapidly in order This next phase will be characterised by not to waste the investment made so far a number of important players with and not to dissipate the human capital and similar capabilities, a second wave of knowledge gained over the last two innovation linked to space exploration, an decades. accrued attention paid to economic This was the consideration that led factors and, possibly, by the emergence of ESA to define and propose to its Member private enterprise in human spaceflight States in 2001 the European space and exploration. Because this second exploration programme Aurora. In a phase aims at a sustained effort in space different context, this was also, at least exploration, cooperation will be even partially, the underlying consideration in more important and will occur probably With a significant contribution from opportunity for cooperation. The first Europe’s Role in Human Spaceflight the US Presidential Vision for Space at global level. Europe through ESA and four national element of this mechanism is an Europe has secured an important role in Exploration announced in January 2004 With this in mind, 14 space agencies space agencies (ASI, BNSC, CNES and International Space Exploration the ISS partnership and has lived up to that eventually turned NASA in a ‘space worldwide have produced an important DLR), this document lays down the Coordination Group (ISECG) that is its commitments brilliantly. We should exploration agency’. document called ‘Global Exploration common vision and objectives by possibly meant to implement, with the support of credit the European industry in Strategy: a framework for coordination’. all space agencies involved or interested in a Secretariat, the strategic vision developing and manufacturing the space space exploration. contained in the document. The hardware that has been working It also provides for a mechanism of experience and the tradition of working flawlessly since the first day of coordination and for multiplying the together that we have gained in the ISS installation and ever since. Columbus, will come in very useful as we plan to ATV, Node-2 and many other elements pool our resources for a robust and have gained for Europe the respect and sustained space exploration effort. compliments from all international partners. Special credit goes to past ESA Directors of human spaceflight 12 esa bulletin 135 - august 2008 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 135 - august 2008 13 DiPippoB 135B.qxd 7/30/08 3:15 PM Page 12 Human Spaceflight New Challenges amazement male and female astronauts The Next Phase of Space Exploration from many nations working together to The first phase of space exploration is now The ISS as seen from Space Shuttle Discovery in June assemble and utilise this first inter- over. During this phase, we learned to fly in 2008 after the addition of the Japanese Kibo module national human outpost in outer space. space, to live and work there, but always (lower centre near ESA's Columbus). ESA's ATV Jules Verne is at the top, recognised by its familiar diagonal Much has been said about the ISS, but remaining safely close to Earth. In cross of solar panels (NASA) it will always be a reminder of the human parallel, our robotic proxies have reached desire to explore and push the frontiers, a out and conducted an initial, but no less signpost for future directions in our space fascinating, exploration of more distant activities. planets, including Mars, which remains the One cannot celebrate the ISS without ultimate destination for a human mission. thinking of those who have lost their lives We are on the edge of a second phase in this enterprise, reminding us all that that promises to be much more rewarding space activities, even though much safer as we build on the accomplishments and than before, still represents a risk that the experience gained previously, in order requires all the possible safety measures. to go farther than low Earth orbit and to The near-completion of the ISS do much more. however compels us to act rapidly in order This next phase will be characterised by not to waste the investment made so far a number of important players with and not to dissipate the human capital and similar capabilities, a second wave of knowledge gained over the last two innovation linked to space exploration, an decades. accrued attention paid to economic This was the consideration that led factors and, possibly, by the emergence of ESA to define and propose to its Member private enterprise in human spaceflight States in 2001 the European space and exploration. Because this second exploration programme Aurora. In a phase aims at a sustained effort in space different context, this was also, at least exploration, cooperation will be even partially, the underlying consideration in more important and will occur probably With a significant contribution from opportunity for cooperation. The first Europe’s Role in Human Spaceflight the US Presidential Vision for Space at global level. Europe through ESA and four national element of this mechanism is an Europe has secured an important role in Exploration announced in January 2004 With this in mind, 14 space agencies space agencies (ASI, BNSC, CNES and International Space Exploration the ISS partnership and has lived up to that eventually turned NASA in a ‘space worldwide have produced an important DLR), this document lays down the Coordination Group (ISECG) that is its commitments brilliantly. We should exploration agency’. document called ‘Global Exploration common vision and objectives by possibly meant to implement, with the support of credit the European industry in Strategy: a framework for coordination’.