ESA Space Highlights 2003

This is the now traditional end of the year programme of the ESA TV Service, with a summary of the main events in space exploration during the last 12 months.
This exchange comprises of a 5 minute A-roll with split audio (enghis commentary/international sound) and is complemented by a B-roll with clean international sound.

Script: Space Highlights 2003
10:00:40:00
The year 2003 started with a sad and dramatic event, the loss of Shuttle Columbia at the re-entry after a highly successful 15-day research mission, STS 107.
10:01:00:00
This was only the culmination of a period of bad luck, also for Europe, with the failed maiden launch of the Ten-Ton Ariane 5, and the costly cancellation of the Rosetta launch as an indirect consequence.
10:01:13:00
Although, as we approach the end of the year, the overall situation is not all bright, Europe in particular has been able to recover from the failures, and also clock up some good results.
10:01:29:00
Rosetta is now firmly scheduled for launch in February 2004, to another target comet, on an Ariane 5 launcher. It was possible to adapt the mission and the spacecraft in the short available time to this new target. The generic ""classical"" Ariane 5 has seen three successful launches in 2003, all flawless, and there is now confidence in a successful outcome of the Rosetta launc