News ESA's Future: The News and Updates Thread

[Urwumpe]

If successful, ESA would still be years behind SpaceX (and others).

At least in terms of creating a RC Model of a Falcon 9.

But then, they do it with hydrolox because there was a previous project testing the re-ignition in nozzle forward attitude with such an engine. Also this way they can use the existing propellant infrastructure at CSG.

 

[RGClark]

Further on Arianspace’s intention to transition to reusability:

Ariane 6 and beyond.
https://satelliteobservation.net/2018/05/21/ariane-6-and-beyond/

In a Q & A, it’s stated their position towards reusability changed because the coming satellite megaconstellations made it financially feasible.

Bob Clark

 

[Notebook]

The European Commission has set out how it wants to spend the next EU space budget.
Officials have proposed spending some €16bn (£14bn) over the years 2021-2027.
The biggest segment, €9.7bn, would go on the further development and maintenance of Europe's sat-nav programmes, Galileo and Egnos.
€5.8bn would fund the Copernicus Earth observation project; and €500m would support secure satellite communications and space environment monitoring.
These two latter activities are new for the EU and go by the names of GovSatCom and Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska detailed the proposal in a press conference in Brussels.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44383819

 

[Notebook]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/S...e_whose_inventor_won_technology_s_Nobel_prize

8 June 2018
ESA congratulates its research partner Picosun in Finland, whose board member Dr. Tuomo Suntola was awarded the prestigious Millennium Technology Prize for his invention of an atom-by-atom coating method whose reach extends across daily life.

 

[Notebook]

2 July 2018
Europe’s satellite navigation system Galileo is already in use worldwide, usable by itself or in combination with the US Global Positioning System (GPS). Now a combined Galileo–GPS positioning fix has been achieved in space – aboard the International Space Station – through an ESA–NASA collaboration.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/S..._Galileo-GPS_position_fix_achieved_aboard_ISS

 

[Notebook]

9 July 2018
This week, the largest solid rocket motor ever built in one piece will be test fired at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana for the first time.
This important milestone validates the booster for use on Vega-C next year and on Ariane 6 from 2020.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/S...olid_rocket_motor_poised_for_first_hot_firing

 

[Urwumpe]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/S...olid_rocket_motor_poised_for_first_hot_firing

What to expect can be seen in this older video (it also shows the thrust curve on the Ariane 5 booster)

http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2012/05/Ariane_5_booster_roars_into_life

 

[Notebook]

Title Galileo satellites viewed in smartphone app
Released 11/07/2018 8:26 am
Copyright ESA
Description
An augmented reality view of Galileo satellites in the sky close to ESA’s technical centre in the Netherlands. It comes from a Galileo-focused satnav app for Android smartphones, developed by ESA engineers.

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2018/07/Galileo_satellites_viewed_in_smartphone_app

 

[Unstung]

So it looks like ESA may participate in Mars Sample Return again. The agencies were supposed to collaborate together before until budget cuts stopped NASA's contribution. However, NASA soon went ahead with Mars 2020 that would cache samples.

SpaceNews: "ESA awards Mars sample return study contracts as international cooperation plans take shape"

 

[Urwumpe]

The test firing of the P120C at Kourou is scheduled for July 12th, according to Avio.

I still hope we can get a live stream at ESA TV of it.

 

[Notebook]

16 July 2018
Today's hot firing of the P120C solid-propellant motor at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana proves its flight-worthiness for use on Vega-C next year and on Ariane 6 from 2020.
This marks an important milestone in the development schedule of Europe’s new-generation launchers, designed to boost our autonomy in the space arena, and maintain Europe’s global competitiveness.
The test lasted 135 seconds simulating the complete burn time from liftoff and through the first phase of flight.
No anomalies were seen and the performance met expectations, though full analysis will take several months.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/S...es_solid_rocket_motor_for_Ariane_6_and_Vega-C

 

[Notebook]

Video:

http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Vi...firing_of_P120C_motor_for_Vega-C_and_Ariane_6

Don't know why they can't release them earlier?

N.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

 

[Notebook]

https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Preparing_for_the_Future/Discovery/Robots_in_space2

When we think of robots we tend to personify these non-human aids and give them human-like features. But even though a lot of research has gone into developing these humanoid machines, we are still a long way from a world where they could take over, or even mimic the actions of a person.
Robots are machines that have inbuilt artificial intelligence. They are used in all kinds of situations, especially where they can alleviate strenuous tasks or complete missions that are too dangerous for a human to undertake.

 

[Urwumpe]

A small reminder: This is just two weeks from the submission deadline.

https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/..._of_space_transportation_ESA_s_call_for_ideas

 

[Notebook]

21 September 2018
As part of ESA’s continuing commitment to realise cutting-edge satellite missions to advance scientific understanding of our planet and to show how new technologies can be used in space, three new ideas have been chosen to compete as the tenth Earth Explorer mission.
The decision follows the release of a call for ideas in September 2017. Out of the 21 proposals submitted, ESA’s Advisory Committee for Earth Observation (ACEO) recommended that three mission ideas should be selected for feasibility study: Stereoid, Daedalus and G-Class.
Today, ESA’s Programme Board for Earth Observation accepted the committee’s recommendation.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Three_Earth_Explorer_ideas_selected

 

[Notebook]

4 October 2018
The construction of ESA's Plato mission to find and study planets beyond our Solar System will be led by Germany’s OHB System AG as prime contractor, marking the start of the full industrial phase of the project.
The announcement was made today at the 69th International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, where the contract was formally signed.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/S...ion_of_Europe_s_exoplanet_hunter_Plato_begins

 

[Notebook]

itle European Service Module ready for shipment to the US
Released 23/10/2018 1:46 pm
Copyright Airbus
Description
After years of planning, development, building and integration, the European Service module that will power the Orion spacecraft on its journey into lunar space is ready to be shipped. In November the fully integrated, tested, and sealed European workhorse will leave Bremen on an Antonov cargo plane for Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA where it will be integrated with the rest of the Orion spacecraft.

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2018/10/European_Service_Module_ready_for_shipment_to_the_US

Lot smaller than I thought it would be?

N.

 

[Notebook]

Title One step closer to the Flyeye network
Released 01/11/2018 12:08 pm
Copyright ESA
Description
ESA’s plans to deploy a network of asteroid-detecting ‘Flyeye’ telescopes has come one step closer to reality. Last week, the Agency signed an agreement with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to locate the first-ever Flyeye telescope atop the 1865-metre Monte Mufara mountain in Sicily.

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2018/11/One_step_closer_to_the_Flyeye_network

 

[Notebook]

1 November 2018
It is nearly time for the first new electric propulsion module of Spacebus Neo to complete its last run of tests in Thales UK’s Belfast assembly centre before being shipped to Cannes for final spacecraft assembly.
Spacebus Neo is a new telecom satellite product line by Thales Alenia Space, developed under ESA’s Neosat programme.
The first satellite will be Eutelsat’s KONNECT, which will provide broadband to Europe and Africa.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/T...ctric_propulsion_module_bids_Belfast_farewell