ESA title

Press Releases — 2001

Published by the ESA Newsroom and Media Relations

email: media @ esa.int (Media inquiries only)

Index French German
Press Release N° 77–2001
Agency

The influence of space on design: a competition is launched

As part of its ongoing efforts to generate public awareness of the importance and influence of space research and development, the European Space Agency (ESA) is holding a competition within its Member States to show how space materials and technologies can help meet basic needs of society. The idea behind the competition is that young designers should work materials in new ways to embody essential characteristics, features and properties of those used in space. This will assist in promoting the belief that European space activities are in tune with a social vision of the world and can present a more human, caring and friendly face. In addition, it will increase public understanding of design, especially in relation to space technologies, by showing how cultural, social and economic influences interact with the dimension of space. 
20/12/2001 578 views
Open
Press Release N° 76–2001
Agency

José Achache is the new ESA Director of Earth Observation

Meeting at the Agency's headquarters in Paris on 19/20 December, the ESA Council appointed José Achache, of French nationality, to the post of Director of Earth Observation, for a four-year term. 
20/12/2001 409 views
Open
Press Release N° 75–2001
Applications

Perfect images transmitted via a laser link between Artemis and SPOT 4

On 30 November, the first-ever transmission of an image by laser link from one satellite to another took place (*). The system, called SILEX, consists of the Opale terminal on Artemis and the Pastel terminal on the SPOT 4 satellite. It was designed in close cooperation between the European Space Agency (ESA), the French space agency (CNES) and manufacturer Astrium with over 20 European contractors involved. The terminals exchange high-definition imagery data at 50 megabits per second. Artemis subsequently beams the data at its leisure to the receiving station operated by Spot Image at Toulouse, using a conventional 20 GHz radio link. 
06/12/2001 345 views
Open
Press Release N° 74–2001
Science & Exploration

Bedrest study phase 1 comes to an end: meet the scientists and volunteers

In August this year ESA, CNES and NASDA started the first period of a study to validate countermeasures to cope with the demands of long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station when 14 male volunteers were confined to bed for 90 days, lying in a strict -6° head-down tilt position, the best for simulating certain effects of the weightless environment of space. 
06/12/2001 346 views
Open
Press Release N° 73–2001
Science & Exploration

Exploring the Digital Universe with Europe's Astrophysical Virtual Observatory

A new European initiative called the Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (AVO) is being launched to provide astronomers with breathtaking potential for new discoveries. It will enable them to seamlessly combine data from both ground- and space-based telescopes making observations of the Universe across the whole range of wavelengths - from high-energy gamma rays through the ultraviolet and visible to the infrared and radio. 
05/12/2001 403 views
Open
Press Release N° 72–2001
Science & Exploration

ESA Astronaut Frank De Winne to fly to the International Space Station on Soyuz

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne (*), a Belgian member of the European Astronaut Corps, has been assigned to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in November 2002 on a Russian Soyuz launcher. He will be flight engineer on a "taxi flight", a 10-day mission with the main purpose of exchanging the Soyuz capsule, which is permanently docked with the Station to serve as a rescue vehicle, if needed. 
30/11/2001 563 views
Open
Press Release N° 71–2001
Applications

ESA's Earth observation application activities certified to ISO 9001

Today Antonio Rodotà, Director General of the European Space Agency, accepted the ISO 9001 Certificate from National Quality Assurance (NQA), an accredited third-party certification body, on behalf of the Earth Observation Applications Department at the ESA/ESRIN establishment in Frascati, Italy. 
28/11/2001 415 views
Open
Press Release N° 70–2001
Science & Exploration

Astronomy helps advance medical diagnosis techniques

While developing devices to capture X-rays from objects in space, scientists at the European Space Agency have designed a camera that could become a powerful new weapon in the fight against cancer. 
27/11/2001 5079 views
Open
Press Release N° 69–2001
Applications

A world first : data transmission between European satellites using laser light

Last night, for the first time, a data link between satellites was established using a laser beam as signal carrier. On board ESA's Artemis satellite - launched last July by an Ariane 5 - is the SILEX system. This system provides an optical data transmission link with the CNES Earth observation satellite SPOT 4, which is orbiting the earth at an altitude of 832 km while Artemis is temporarily in a parking orbit at 31 000 km. Through the laser data link, images taken by SPOT 4 can be transmitted in real time to the image processing centre at Spot Image in Toulouse, France, via Artemis, thus drastically reducing the time between taking the picture and its delivery to the centre. This is possible whenever the two satellites are in line of sight. Without the Artemis relay the images are stored on board in SPOT 4's memory and dumped to the ground stations. 
22/11/2001 441 views
Open
Press Release N° 68–2001
Agency

Space-based solar racing car breaks all records!

The Dutch solar car Nuna, using European space technology, finished first in the World Solar Challenge, a 3010 km race right across Australia for cars powered by solar energy. Having set off from Darwin on Sunday 18 November, Nuna crossed the finish line In Adelaide on Wednesday 21 November in a record-breaking time of 32 hours and 39 minutes. 
21/11/2001 369 views
Open
Press Release N° 67–2001
Agency

Press briefing on Ministerial Council meeting

Last week the European ministers responsible for space affairs, meeting in Edinburgh, endorsed the next stages in a series of ongoing programmes and committed to new initiatives that will keep Europe at the forefront of space science and technology, Earth monitoring from space, telecommunications, satellite navigation, launchers, human spaceflight and planetary exploration. 
20/11/2001 259 views
Open
Press Release N° 66–2001
Agency

Ariane-5 booster test firing at the Guiana Space Centre

A test firing of an Ariane-5 solid rocket motor (MPS) is to take place on 20 November 2001 on the booster teststand (BEAP) at the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's spaceport in Kourou, under the Ariane-5 Research and Technology Accompaniment programme. 
19/11/2001 364 views
Open
Press Release N° 65–2001
Agency

Space serving European citizens

The ministers responsible for space affairs in the countries that make up the European Space Agency - its fifteen member states and Canada - today concluded a two-day meeting in Edinburgh of the Agency’s ruling Council by endorsing the next stages in a series of ongoing programmes and committing to new initiatives that will help keep Europe at the forefront of space science and technology, Earth monitoring from space, telecommunications, satellite navigation, launchers, human spaceflight and planetary exploration.
15/11/2001 451 views
Open
Press Release N° 64–2001
Enabling & Support

Space-based solar racing car on starting grid

On 18 November, 43 racing cars will be jostling for position at the start of the 6th World Solar Challenge in Darwin, Australia. Among them, a slick student-built machine that profits from space technology, supplied by the European Space Agency (ESA). The Alpha Centauri team and their car Nuna are amongst the favourites.
09/11/2001 401 views
Open
Press Release N° 63–2001
Science & Exploration

Space Station 'taxi' flight returns ESA astronaut to Earth

ESA astronaut Claudie Haigneré and her two Russian colleagues were welcomed back to Earth today (Wednesday, 31 October 2001) after successfully delivering a new 'lifeboat' to the International Space Station. 
31/10/2001 292 views
Open
Press Release N° 62–2001
Applications

New spacecraft to preserve our planet and the environment

Three hundred leading scientists in the field of climate and environmental research using Earth Observation satellites meet this week in Granada (Spain) to push forward the European Space Agency's Living Planet programme aimed at advancing our understanding of the interactions between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the land, to enable mankind to understand the Earth as an integrated system. 
30/10/2001 321 views
Open
Press Release N° 61–2001
Applications

Earth Explorers at Granada

On 30 and 31 October Granada is hosting, at the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones, the third workshop on ESA's Earth Explorer programme, to be inaugurated in the presence of Mrs Anna María Birulés y Bertrán, the Spanish Minister for Science and Technology, and Mr Antonio Rodotà, Director General of the European Space Agency. 
29/10/2001 561 views
Open
Press Release N° 60–2001
Science & Exploration

Weightless in bed for three months. Want to volunteer?

Space is the only true weightless environment. On Earth, where experiments can be performed more easily, models are designed to simulate the weightless environment as accurately as possible. Simulation models provide significant knowledge and are crucial in ongoing research. Current research aims are to gain knowledge that will protect astronauts' health while living in space for longer than 6 month. 
29/10/2001 362 views
Open
Press Release N° 59–2001
Science & Exploration

International Space Station receives 2001 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation

Today in Oviedo, Spain, the International Space Station will be honoured with the 2001 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation. The Director General of the European Space Agency, Antonio Rodotà, and representatives of the other ISS partner space agencies, from the United States, Russia, Canada and Japan, will receive the award from HRH the Prince of Asturias. 
26/10/2001 331 views
Open
Press Release N° 58–2001
Science & Exploration

European astronaut Claudie Haigneré heads for the International Space Station

A Soyuz launcher carrying Claudie Haigneré, the first European woman astronaut selected for an ISS mission, and her fellow crew members lifted off successfully today, Sunday 21 October, at 10:59 CEST (08:59 GMT), from Baïkonur, Kazakhstan. Their assignment: the "Andromède" mission. 
21/10/2001 302 views
Open
Press Release N° 57–2001
Science & Exploration

First European woman heads for International Space Station

ESA's French astronaut Claudie Haigneré will become the first European woman to visit the International Space Station (ISS) after she lifts off from Baikonur on board a Russian Soyuz vehicle on Sunday 21 October at 10:58 CEST (08:58 GMT) for a ten-day space mission. 
18/10/2001 424 views
Open
Press Release N° 56–2001
Enabling & Support

Micro-satellite will hook into Internet

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will this month launch ESA's small technology satellite PROBA from India's Shriharikota launch base as a piggyback payload. The launch is scheduled for 21-31 October. The satellite will be launched into a 600 km polar orbit. 
17/10/2001 424 views
Open
Press Release N° 55–2001
Agency

ESA Council Meeting at ministerial level: Edinburgh 14and 15 November 2001

The eighth ESA Council meeting at ministerial level will take place on 14 and 15 November 2001 at theEdinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), The Exchange, Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE (Scotland). 
16/10/2001 349 views
Open
Press Release N° 54–2001
Agency

Space comes to Edinburgh

On 14 and 15 November, the city of Edinburgh will host the eighth ministerial-level meeting of the European Space Agency's Council. The ministers responsible for space activities in ESA's fifteen member states and Canada will be setting the course for Europe's space programmes for the period ahead. They will be invited to endorse the next stages of a series of ongoing programmes (Launchers, Space Science, Earth Observation, Telecommunications, Satellite Navigation, Human Spaceflight etc.), and also to commit to the start of new programmes that will keep Europe at the forefront of space activities. 
15/10/2001 511 views
Open
Press Release N° 53–2001
Science & Exploration

Physical and life science experiments "tested" in absence of gravity

On 16 October the Airbus A-300 "Zero-g" will take off from Bordeaux-Mérignac airport in France for the first of three parabolic flights designed to carry out experiments in weightlessness before they are conducted in real spaceflight. 
12/10/2001 835 views
Open
Press Release N° 52–2001
Science & Exploration

More science on the International Space Station thanks to ESA's "glovebox"

On Tuesday 16 October the European Astrium consortium will be ready to ship, from its Bremen establishment in Germany to NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, the microgravity science glovebox (MSG), one of the first ESA elements conducting science on the International Space Station. On the same day there will be a press briefing by ESA, Astrium and NASA specialists (see accreditation form attached), followed by a visit to the cleanroom. 
12/10/2001 542 views
Open
Press Release N° 51–2001
Agency

Two ESA Directors get renewed terms

In the course of its meeting at the Agency's headquarters in Paris on 10 and 11 October, the ESA Council, on the recommendation of the Director General, Antonio Rodotà, renewed the contracts of two of the Directors: Jörg Feustel-Büechl and Claudio Mastracci. 
12/10/2001 357 views
Open
Press Release N° 50–2001
Applications

Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, Europe gets ready

On Monday 15 October 2001, in Brussels, top representatives from ESA, the EU and other governmental organisations will participate in a Conference on GMES (Global Monitoring for environment and security) organised under the aegis of the Belgian EU Presidency. The full day programme, articulated into three sessions, will see the presence of around 300 delegates. Registration will start at 08:30 hrs at the Palais de Congrès, Coudenberg, 3 (*). 
10/10/2001 363 views
Open
Press Release N° 49–2001
Science & Exploration

Irish astronomers eager to use European gamma-ray space observatory

The status of INTEGRAL - the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory of the European Space Agency (ESA) - and the Irish involvement in the mission are being presented at a press conference organised in Dublin on 4 October (12h00) by the Royal Irish Academy (RIA - 19 Dawson street, Dublin 2), Enterprise Ireland and ESA. 
25/09/2001 463 views
Open
Press Release N° 48–2001
Science & Exploration

'Space' in the classroom - A subject without boundaries

International Space Station Education Conference at ESA/ESTEC from 26 to 28 October 2001 The European Space Agency's TEACH SPACE 2001 Education Conference has become even more attractive for Europe's teachers. The first International Space Station Conference in Europe for teachers will be held between Friday 26 and Sunday 28 October at the European Space Agency's ESTEC centre in Noordwijk in the Netherlands. 
25/09/2001 414 views
Open
Press Release N° 47–2001
Applications

ESA to fund early-stage satcom businesses

The European Space Agency today launches a new initiative designed to help small companies enter the field of satellite communication by providing early-stage investment and support.
18/09/2001 363 views
Open
Press Release N° 46–2001
Science & Exploration

Three months in bed to simulate effects of long-duration Space Station missions

Spending a long time in a weightless environment has an impact on the human body, and evidence exists of changes to the bone and muscles of astronauts who have participated in long-duration missions in space. To cope with the requirements of long-stay missions aboard the International Space Station, the European Space Agency, together with the French space agency CNES and the Japanese space agency NASDA, are validating countermeasures through a preventive-medicine ground-based simulation that makes use of the bed rest model. 
31/08/2001 332 views
Open
Press Release N° 45–2001
Science & Exploration

3D TV for space, live at IFA 2001

With a live transmission from its International Space Station User Information Centre in Noordwijk (the Netherlands), ESA and German company TMP will demonstrate a new technique for shooting, recording and transmitting 3D TV images. 
27/08/2001 492 views
Open
Press Release N° 44–2001
Applications

Artemis recovery operation continuing successfully

Ground control in Fucino, Italy - the operations team and system engineers of the Altel (Alenia Spazio-Telespazio) consortium, supported by ESA specialists - reports that since last night (Tuesday 24 July) ESA's Artemis satellite has been successfully positioned in its circular parking orbit at about 31000 km. 
25/07/2001 341 views
Open
Press Release N° 43–2001
Applications

ESA starts recovery of Artemis

ESA's Artemis telecommunications satellite is fully under the control of the Altel (Alenia Spazio-Telespazio) operations team and system engineers in Fucino, Italy, supported by a team of ESA specialists, after a successful first orbit-raising manoeuvre last night. 
19/07/2001 423 views
Open
Press Release N° 42–2001
Science & Exploration

East Meets West on "Double Star", a Joint Mission to Explore Earth's Magnetic Field

A new phase in ESA-China scientific collaboration was officially given the green light today at ESA Headquarters in Paris with an historic agreement between ESA and the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) to develop a joint project known as "Double Star".
09/07/2001 354 views
Open
Press Release N° 41–2001
Enabling & Support

Countdown continues for ESA's Artemis satellite

Follow the launch from various ESA establishments and on the ESA websiteOnly a few days remain before an Ariane 5 launches Artemis, ESA's advanced telecommunication satellite, into orbit. Final preparations at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, are progressing smoothly for a launch on 12 July, with a 93-minute launch window starting at 18 :58 Kourou time (23 :58 CEST). 
06/07/2001 390 views
Open
Press Release N° 40–2001
Science & Exploration

Life in the Universe ? Is anybody out there?

The possibility that there is life elsewhere in the Universe has always excited the general public. Scientists are equally enthusiastic: physicists, biologists, chemists, cosmologists and astronomers all over Europe are researching the age-old question: is there other life in the Universe? 
06/07/2001 422 views
Open
Press Release N° 39–2001
Science & Exploration

ESA and NASA agree new mission scenario for Cassini-Huygens

A new mission scenario has been identified in order to solve the Huygens radio communications problem and fully recover the scientific return from the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its giant moon Titan.
02/07/2001 574 views
Open
Press Release N° 38–2001
Space Safety

New Director of Strategy and External Relations named at ESA

Meeting at the Agency's headquarters in Paris on 20 and 21 June, the ESA Council appointed Jean-Pol Poncelet, a Belgian, to the post of Director of Strategy and External Relations, for a four-year term.
21/06/2001 705 views
Open
Press Release N° 37–2001
Science & Exploration

International Space Station wins Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation

The European Space Agency (ESA) was honoured to learn that the International Space Station has been given the 2001 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation. The Prince of Asturias Foundation announced its decision yesterday in Oviedo, Spain.
15/06/2001 405 views
Open
Press Release N° 36–2001
Science & Exploration

Europe and Russia strengthen co-operation in Space

Today a hearing took place in the State Duma in Moscow on "Opportunities for Euro-Russia co-operation in space". The meeting was hosted by the President of the State Duma, Gennadi Seleznev, and was organised by the Chairman of the Duma Committee on Education and Science, Ivan Melnikov.
08/06/2001 327 views
Open
Press Release N° 35–2001
Agency

Paris Air Show at Le Bourget: media programme

ESA and the French space agency CNES are pleased to invite media representatives to the joint pavilion at the 44th Paris Air Show, taking place from 16 to 24 June 2001 at Le Bourget, for the following events. 
30/05/2001 527 views
Open
Press Release N° 34–2001
Science & Exploration

ISS Forum 2001 – The Space Station is open for business

From 5 to 7 June, Berlin will become the focal point for the International Space Station (ISS) when more than 500 leaders of industry, government officials and scientists from 22 countries gather in that city at ISS Forum 2001, the first international conference on Space Station utilisation covering both research and commercial opportunities, to explore the Space Station’s potential and discover the opportunities available to them.
29/05/2001 431 views
Open
Press Release N° 33–2001
Applications

European children draw a flag for the Earth

The European Space Agency’s Earth Flag competition, held to herald the launch of ESA’s new Earth observation satellite Envisat, has been a huge success. Over 11 000 entries have been received from children in the 15 ESA Member States, as well as Canada, which is cooperating with ESA on the Envisat project.
29/05/2001 354 views
Open
Press Release N° 32–2001
Agency

Environment satellite goes on tour

On 31 May the European Space Agency (ESA) starts a year-long travelling exhibition about its new environment satellite, Envisat. The largest and most up-to-date satellite for earth observation ever built will be presented at fourteen cities across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. From the inaugural event in Berlin, the show will continue on to Mannheim, Lucerne, Saarbruecken, Munich and Zurich. 
22/05/2001 358 views
Open
Press Release N° 31–2001
Agency

Leading European Research Organisations Join Forces in EIROFORUM (1)

Since the early 1950s, a number of powerful research infrastructures and laboratories which are used by an extensive network of scientists have been developed and deployed within Europe by European Intergovernmental Research Organisations (EIRO). Together, they represent European spearheads in some of the most crucial basic and applied research fields. 
22/05/2001 799 views
Open
Press Release N° 30–2001
Science & Exploration

More European astronauts to fly to the International Space Station on Russian spacecraft.

First assignment for Italian ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori.ESA's Director General Antonio Rodotà and the Director General of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) Yuri Koptev recently signed an agreement for European astronauts to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) on Russian Souyz launchers in the period 2001 to 2006. 
22/05/2001 351 views
Open
Press Release N° 29–2001
Applications

ESA's Artemis telecommunications satellite to be launched in July

ESA and Arianespace have agreed today on an early summer launch date for Artemis, the agency's new advanced telecommunications satellite.
17/05/2001 305 views
Open
Press Release N° 28–2001
Science & Exploration

ISS ready for utilisation

First European conference on industrial and commercial utilisation of the International Space StationAt the first joint press conference of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German space agency DLR, hosted by the national chamber of commerce of German industry (BDI/DIHT) in Berlin yesterday, representatives of the two space agencies informed an international audience of journalists about the objectives of ISS Forum 2001 and the possibilities for industry and business to utilise the potential of the International Space Station (ISS).
15/05/2001 508 views
Open
Press Release N° 27–2001
Agency

First European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology - ESA/ESRIN, 21 - 23 May 2001

From 21 to 23 May, the first European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology will be taking place at ESA/ESRIN, the European Space Agency establishment in Italy (Frascati, near Rome).
15/05/2001 876 views
Open
Press Release N° 26–2001
Science & Exploration

The busiest ever ESA parabolic flight campaign ready to take off

The 30th ESA parabolic flight campaign is ready to start from the Bordeaux-Mérignac airport on the special Airbus A300 Zero-g. Three flights of 30 parabolas each are foreseen on the mornings of the 15, 16 and 17 May.
03/05/2001 454 views
Open
Press Release N° 25–2001
Science & Exploration

ESA astronaut sets research in motion on International Space Station

ESA astronaut Umberto Guidoni returned to Earth yesterday, 1 May, proud to have become the first European astronaut to set foot on the International Space Station.
02/05/2001 312 views
Open
Press Release N° 24–2001
Enabling & Support

Space System Integrators and Small Medium-sized Enterprises meet at 'Industry Space Days'

The European Space Agency’s research and technology centre ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, will be host on 9 and 10 May to the 2001 edition of the "Industry Space Days". This initiative, organised by ESA, fosters exchanges between space Agencies, established space groups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). In particular, it encourages SMEs to take a more active part in the European space programmes, explaining to them how to do business with ESA.
01/05/2001 374 views
Open
Press Release N° 23–2001
Science & Exploration

International Space Station partners grant flight exemption for Dennis Tito

The members of the International Space Station (ISS) Multilateral Coordination Board (MCB), including representatives from ESA, reached a final decision on Tuesday on the flight of Dennis Tito to the Space Station. The ISS partners granted an exemption for the US businessman's flight to the Space Station aboard the Soyuz 2 Taxi mission, which is scheduled for launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on 28 April.
25/04/2001 1138 views
Open
Press Release N° 22–2001
Science & Exploration

MAXUS 4 is now ready for launch

Following the success of the earlier Maxus flights which have taken place since 1992, the countdown is underway for the launch of ESA’s Maxus 4 sub-orbital microgravity mission on 29 April from ESRANGE, near Kiruna in northern Sweden. During the last two years, scientists from five European countries have been working together with the engineering teams from Astrium GmbH and the Swedish Space Corporation in preparation for the Maxus 4 mission, which is funded by the European Space Agency.
25/04/2001 374 views
Open
Press Release N° 21–2001
Science & Exploration

First European astronaut on Space Station speaks to EC President and ESA Director General

On Wednesday 25 April 2001, Umberto Guidoni, the first European astronaut to set foot on the International Space Station will be greeted by EC President Romano Prodi and ESA Director General Antonio Rodotà from Brussels.
24/04/2001 324 views
Open
Press Release N° 20–2001
Enabling & Support

High-Tech from Space – Technology Transfer at Hanover Fair 2001

Space technologies available for new products and services on Earth: this is what ESA, through the technology broker MST Aerospace, will be proposing to non-space industry from all over the world at the Hanover Fair (23/28 April, Halle 18 EG/Stand A15). A space brunch for the press, attended by former ESA astronaut Dr Ulf Merbold, will be on offer from 12:30 on 23 April.
20/04/2001 325 views
Open
Press Release N° 19–2001
Agency

Guidoni makes history as first European on Space Station

Europe today sent its first astronaut to the International Space Station when Space Shuttle Endeavour and its seven-strong crew lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at 14:41 local time (20:41 Central European Summer Time).
19/04/2001 304 views
Open
Press Release N° 18–2001
Science & Exploration

ESA celebrates Sun-Earth Day on 27-28 April 2001

The European Space Agency invites you to join with us in promoting Sun-Earth Day. This event, on 27-28 April, is an exciting opportunity to ponder our links with the nearest star and to celebrate the discoveries of ESA’s solar observatories, SOHO, Cluster and Ulysses.
12/04/2001 540 views
Open
Press Release N° 17–2001
Science & Exploration

First European astronaut visits the International Space Station

Follow the Shuttle launch from various ESA establishments and monitor mission highlights live on the ESA web site.ESA astronaut Umberto Guidoni from Italy will be the first European to visit the International Space Station when he lifts off aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on 19 April with an international crew of seven, including Canada’s Chris Hadfield and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov.
11/04/2001 432 views
Open
Press Release N° 16–2001
Science & Exploration

Europe goes to Mars - preparations are well under way

If you live in Europe, there's almost certainly a research institute or industrial company near you that is contributing materials or expertise to Mars Express, Europe's first mission to the Red Planet.
10/04/2001 346 views
Open
Press Release N° 15–2001
Agency

New Director of Technical and Operational Support named at ESA

At its 150th meeting, held at ESRIN, ESA’s establishment near Rome on 21 and 22 March 2001, the ESA Council unanimously nominated its new Director of Technical and Operational Support for the next four years, Pieter Gaele Winters (NL).
27/03/2001 371 views
Open
Press Release N° 14–2001
Enabling & Support

Third European Conference on Space Debris

The European Space Agency is hosting the third European Conference on Space Debris from 19 to 21 March at ESOC, its European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany. The British, French, German and Italian space agencies (BNSC, CNES, DLR, ASI), the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) are co-sponsoring this event, which will draw over 200 experts from all over the world.
12/03/2001 376 views
Open
Press Release N° 13–2001
Applications

Satellite multimedia terminals speak the same language

In recent years, standardisation has proven to be one of the critical success factors in the introduction of new telecommunications systems and services. The recent success of systems like GSM mobile phones and digital video for professional and consumer video equipment is probably the best supporting evidence.
06/03/2001 286 views
Open
Press Release N° 12–2001
Agency

ESA-EC Joint Task Force on European Strategy for Space meets for the first time in Brussels

Today ESA and the EC have set up a Joint Task Force to implement the European Strategy for Space endorsed by the European Research Council and by ESA's Council at Ministerial level in Brussels on 16 November 2000 (see ESA press release N° 74-2000 of 16/11/2000).
01/03/2001 1180 views
Open
Press Release N° 11–2001
Science & Exploration

"First Convention of Lunar Explorers" - Invitation to the media

Will the Moon be the ultimate travel destination? Can we harness energy from the Moon? How and when can we build a lunar base or a lunar village? Will it be possible to transform that barren landscape 384 000 km away into a thriving hub of scientific research and industrialization? These and other questions will be discussed during the first Convention of Lunar Explorers (LUNEX) in Paris, at the Palais de la Découverte from 8 to 10 March.
01/03/2001 335 views
Open
Press Release N° 10–2001
Applications

Workshop on "A European perspective on Disaster Management"

The European Space Agency and the European Commission's Information Society Directorate-General are jointly organising a workshop on "A European Perspective on Disaster Management" at ESA's ESRIN establishment in Frascati, Italy, from 27 February to 1 March.
16/02/2001 299 views
Open
Press Release N° 9–2001
Applications

Artemis : Europe's advanced telecommunication satellite to be launched soon on Ariane 5

Artemis, the most advanced telecommunication satellite ever developed by the European Space Agency, is now slated for launch on a European Ariane 5 launcher sometime between June and August 2001. The launch contract was signed today at ESA Headquarters in Paris by Antonio Rodotà, Director General of ESA, and Jean-Marie Luton, CEO of Arianespace.
15/02/2001 366 views
Open
Press Release N° 8–2001
Science & Exploration

Cluster commences operations : first exciting results to be announced at a media event in Paris

Six months after the four Cluster spacecraft congregated in Earth orbit, scientists are beginning to gather the first scientific results from ESA's unique mission to explore the magnetosphere - the magnetic shield that surrounds our planet. To mark the beginning of Cluster's operational phase, members of the media are invited to attend a special press event at ESA Headquarters on 16 February, starting at 10h30.
07/02/2001 346 views
Open
Press Release N° 7–2001
Agency

"Europe enlarges its Space" - Conférence at ESA/ESRIN

On 1-2 February, ESA's establishment ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, will host the Conference "Europe enlarges its Space". The Conference is being convened by the Italian Parliamentary Space Group as a follow-up to the Second European Interparliamentary Space Conference, which was held in Italy in October 2000. The organisation of the event is being supported by ESA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) with additional contributions from the Italian civil aviation authority ENAV and the Italian space industry.
25/01/2001 283 views
Open
Press Release N° 6–2001
Applications

Envisat launch : only a few months to go!

Media information day on Thursday 1 February at ESTEC
18/01/2001 442 views
Open
Press Release N° 5–2001
Applications

Earth monitoring satellites support rescue efforts in El Salvador

Responding quickly to support rescue efforts converging on El Salvador, member space agencies of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters have dispatched their Earth observation satellites to capture images of the devastation caused by last Saturday's earthquake.
17/01/2001 525 views
Open
Press Release N° 4–2001
Agency

Space Mission : Y3K

Junior astronauts invited to a contest by the European Space Agency and the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME)
12/01/2001 729 views
Open
Press Release N° 3–2001
Agency

The European Space Agency helps develop the Grid, the next generation of the World Wide Web

With the World Wide Web being used by more and more people, its limitations in dealing with huge amounts of data are becoming ever more apparent. Its successor, the Grid, would comprise computing resources in which supercomputers, processor farms, disks, major databases, informatics, collaborative tools and people are linked by a high-speed network.
12/01/2001 375 views
Open
Press Release N° 2–2001
Agency

ESA Director General to meet the press in Paris

On Monday 15 January, ESA Director General Antonio Rodotà will be meeting the media at ESA Headquarters in Paris for a press breakfast, starting at 08:30, to take stock of the Agency's achievements in 2000 and go through the list of activities planned in 2001.
03/01/2001 327 views
Open
Press Release N° 1–2001
Agency

Main Press and Communication activities for 2001 - Rev. 1 - 22.01.2001

In 2001 ESA is scheduled to be involved in a series of international events. These are the major ones that can be already pencilled in your agenda.
03/01/2001 335 views
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