EXPOSE-E: an ESA astrobiology mission 1.5 years in space

The multi-user facility EXPOSE-E was designed by the European Space Agency to enable astrobiology research in space (low-Earth orbit). On 7 February 2008, EXPOSE-E was carried to the International Space Station (ISS) on the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) platform in the cargo bay of Space Shuttle STS-122 Atlantis. The facility was installed at the starboard cone of the Columbus module by extravehicular activity, where it remained in space for 1.5 years. EXPOSE-E was returned to Earth with STS-128 Discovery on 12 September 2009 for subsequent sample analysis. EXPOSE-E provided accommodation in three exposure trays for a variety of astrobiological test samples that were exposed to selected space conditions: either to space vacuum, solar electromagnetic radiation at >110?nm and cosmic radiation (trays 1 and 3) or to simulated martian surface conditions (tray 2). Data on UV radiation, cosmic radiation, and temperature were measured every 10?s and downlinked by telemetry. A parallel mission ground reference (MGR) experiment was performed on ground with a parallel set of hardware and samples under simulated space conditions. EXPOSE-E performed a successful 1.5-year mission in space.     

欧空局将探测水星

到目前为止，人类对太阳系九大行星之一──水星的认识还局限于美国的水手10号探测器1974和1975年三次路过该行星时所掌握的情况。水手10号的这次探测任务受到了意大利一位天文学家所做的计算工作的启发。这位名叫乔塞佩(贝皮)·科兰布的科学家对如何把水手10号送入一条可几次回到水星附近的轨道提出了自己的建议，并得到采纳。他还对水星每绕太阳公转两圈会自转3周这一“怪癖习性”做出了解释。今年9月中旬，欧洲空间局下属的空间科学顾问委员会在法国巴黎召开会议，对今后10多年该局的行星探索和空间科学任务方案提出了建议，包括发射水星…     

欧空局为猎兔犬2开绿灯

英国公开大学牵头的猎兔犬2火星着陆器项目在11月10日提交给欧洲空间局的科学项目委员会后,已得到该委员会的最终批准。该着陆器将搭载在该局2003年发射的火星快车轨道探测器上前往火星。猎兔犬2重60公斤,目前还没有完全解决项目所需的4000万美元资金。英国政府已答应拨出...     

工业界向欧空局提空间探测方案

针对欧空局制订的一项空间探测基准构想,欧洲工业界已提出了轨道设施、月球与火星着陆器和低轨运载能力为50吨的一种运载火箭的各种方案.在欧空局7月7～8日召开的构想评审会议上,工业界详细介绍了可为欧空局制订欧洲空间探测战略规划提供依据的一些设想以及将供该局向11月份召开的成员国部长会议提交的多项方案.     

欧洲航天局月球着陆器概述及启示

月球南极位于太阳系中已知的最大撞击坑——爱特肯盆地的边缘,具有独特的科学探测价值,但鉴于多种原因至今尚无着陆器涉足。针对欧洲航天局月球南极着陆的长期论证结果,选取了最新的月球着陆器设计方案,介绍了整器构型和任务飞行过程,总结了光照与通信分析方法、障碍识别与规避和推进系统的实现方式;分析了月尘环境及等离子探测仪、月尘分析仪、月壤挥发物分析仪和可移动载荷等4种有效载荷的功能组成。最后提出了对我国月球探测的建议。     

ESA strategic planning for space exploration

The European Space Agency (ESA) is pursuing an independent strategic planning process for consolidating a destination driven (LEO, Moon, Mars) space exploration strategy. ESA's space exploration strategy is driven by the goals to maximise knowledge gain and to contribute to economic growth. International cooperation is a key pillar of ESA's strategy as it is considered both, an enabler for achieving common goals and a benefit, opening new perspective for addressing future challenges. The achievement of ESA's space exploration strategy is enabled through international partnerships. The interagency coordination process conducted within the framework of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) plays an important role in laying the foundations for future partnerships. It has achieved so far the development of a common vision for space exploration, a common plan for implementing the vision in the form of the Global Exploration Roadmap, as well as a common approach for articulating the value of global space exploration. ESA has been a strong promoter and supporter of the interagency coordination process conducted within ISECG and thanks to its unique expertise in international cooperation the Agency has contributed to its success.     

The science and politics of an Indian ASAT capability

India has recently stated an intention to develop an anti-satellite (ASAT) capability. The reasons for this may include the country’s growing economic and political clout, alongside the increasing importance of space to this status, the significance of space assets to the military, a perceived threat from China, and fear of being disadvantaged in future treaty negotiations if not ‘in the club’. Nevertheless, development and use of an ASAT would have potentially catastrophic debris-related consequences that would also create major political problems for the user. The state of India’s ASAT activities is described and recommendations on avoiding hasty development, such as researching methods of protecting satellites, strengthening bilateral relations with China and pushing for a legally binding norm on ASATs, are made.     

QUASAT program: The ESA reflector

QUASAT is a joint ESA/NASA cooperative mission for a free-flying VLBI antenna to be used with the U.S. and European ground arrays. The spaceborn reflector shall have a diameter of 15 m or more and shall operate at three frequencies: 1.6, 5 and 22 GHz. These requirements are very stringent and very difficult to satisfy. The reflector proposed by the European Space Agency as part of the Quasat assessment study shall be presented. Such reflector shall use the Inflatable Space Rigidized technology under development within ESA. Results of the performances envisaged from such design shall be discussed together with the manufacturing and testing problems envisaged for such reflector. Results derived by different reflector design but using the same Inflatable Space Rigidized technology shall also be presented.     

Rosetta: The ESA comet rendezvous mission

Rosetta was selected in November 1993 for the ESA Cornerstone 3 mission, to be launched in 2003, dedicated to the exploration of the small bodies of the solar system (asteroids and comets). Following this selection, the Rosetta mission and its spacecraft have been completely reviewed: this paper presents the studies performed the proposed mission and the resulting spacecraft design.

Three mission opportunities have been identified in 2003–2004, allowing rendezvous with a comet. From a single Ariane 5 launch, the transfer to the comet orbit will be supported by planetary gravity assists (two from Earth, one from Venus or Mars); during the transfer sequence, two asteroid fly-bys will occur, allowing first mission science phases. The comet rendezvous will occur 8–9 years after launch; Rosetta will orbit around the comet and the main science mission phase will take place up to the comet perihelion (1–2 years duration).

The spacecraft design is driven (i) by the communication scenario with the Earth and its equipment, (ii) by the autonomy requirements for the long cruise phases which are not supported by the ground stations, (iii) by the solar cells solar array for the electrical power supply and (iv) by the navigation scenario and sensors for cruise, target approach and rendezvous phases. These requirements will be developed and the satellite design will be presented.     

The ESA approach to low-cost planetary missions

While ESA has never adopted the mantra of “cheaper, faster, better” there has been considerable pressure to reduce mission costs in recent years. To this end, ESA has implemented a number of changes to its procurement procedures which are now being implemented in missions such as SMART-1, Mars Express and which will be applied to future missions such as the Mercury Cornerstone. This paper outlines the approach taken to each and describes the missions.     

瑞典为欧空局研制科学卫星

瑞典空间公司最近同欧洲空间局签署了一份价值3290万美元的合同,将为该局研制小型先进研究与技术卫星(SMART)1科学与技术验证卫星。卫星定于2003年前后发向月球。欧空局的SMART系列小型卫星旨在为未来的空间探测活动验证新的关键性技术。它们将使用同样的卫星平台和设备,...