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Press Releases — 2007

Published by the ESA Newsroom and Media Relations

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

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Press Release N° 35–2007
Science & Exploration

The European Columbus space laboratory set to reach the International Space Station; follow the launch live

With NASA’s announcement today of the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on 6 December, ESA astronauts Hans Schlegel, from Germany, and Leopold Eyharts, from France, are set to carry ESA’s Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station.Atlantis is now scheduled to lift off from launch pad 39-A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida at 22:31 CET. Docking with the ISS is scheduled for the third day of the mission (Saturday 8 December at 19:14 CET). Landing is currently scheduled to take place on Monday 17 December at 18:29 CET.
30/11/2007 345 views
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Press Release N° 34–2007
Agency

ESA and Inmarsat sign innovative Alphasat satellite contract

ESA and Inmarsat Global Ltd announce on Friday 23 November in Paris the formal signature of the contract for Alphasat satellite, one of the world’s largest telecommunications satellites. 
23/11/2007 493 views
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Press Release N° 33–2007
Science & Exploration

ESA to present the latest Venus Express results to the media

How has our knowledge of Venus evolved since ESA’s Venus Express spacecraft has been observing Earth’s twin? To answer this question and to present fresh new results concerning our cryptic neighbour, the European Space Agency is inviting the media to attend a press conference to be held at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 28 November. 
20/11/2007 474 views
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Press Release N° 32–2007
Agency

International Space Exploration Conf. 2007: Europe Defines the Future of Space Exploration

The International Space Exploration Conference 2007 (ISEC 2007) taking place in Berlin (D) from 8 to 9 November will welcome 500 high-level representatives of stakeholder groups from political institutions, the scientific community, industry and applied research organisations, public organisations and the general public.
31/10/2007 346 views
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Press Release N° 31–2007
Science & Exploration

ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and Node 2 module head for ISS

Paolo Nespoli set off on his way to the International Space Station earlier this evening onboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery. Inside the Shuttle’s cargo bay is the Node 2 module, the first European-built module to be permanently attached to Station. This evening, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:38 local time (17:38 CEST) and successfully entered low Earth orbit after almost 8 minutes of powered flight. On this STS-120 mission, the third Shuttle flight this year, Discovery carries a crew of seven, including ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, from Italy.
23/10/2007 313 views
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Press Release N° 30–2007
Applications

A new milestone in the GMES Space Component Programme successfully achieved

Yesterday the European Space Agency’s Member States participating in the GMES Programme approved the transition to Phase-2 of Segment 1 of the GMES Space Component Programme. 
28/09/2007 320 views
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Press Release N° 29–2007
Science & Exploration

Fluid theory confirmed by Foton space experiment

In scientific research, there is great satisfaction when theoretical work is eventually supported by experimentation. Such was the case this week for a team of Italian and US scientists when they received preliminary confirmation of a 10-year-old theory from a fluid science experiment that is currently orbiting the Earth on the Foton-M3 spacecraft. 
24/09/2007 502 views
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Press Release N° 28–2007
Science & Exploration

Lift-off for Foton microgravity mission

An unmanned Foton spacecraft, carrying a payload of more than 40 ESA experiments, was successfully launched earlier today. The Soyuz-U launcher lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 13:00 CEST (11:00 GMT). 
14/09/2007 412 views
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Press Release N° 27–2007
Science & Exploration

‘Heart’ of Herschel to be presented to media

By the end of 2007, the assembly of the ESA’s Herschel far-infrared space observatory – the latest mission to study the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies – will be completed. ESA and Astrium are jointly inviting the media to a press conference in Friedrichshafen, Germany, on 19 September 2007, to hear about this revolutionary spacecraft, its scientific objectives, and to view the very heart of its hardware.
04/09/2007 405 views
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Press Release N° 26–2007
Agency

Name and designer logo revealed for Paolo Nespoli’s Shuttle mission to the ISS

ESA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) today announced that they have chosen the name for the upcoming mission of astronaut Paolo Nespoli, a member of the STS-120 crew assigned to a Shuttle launch next October.
24/07/2007 324 views
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Press Release N° 25–2007
Agency

ESA and NASA sign agreement on James Webb Space Telescope and LISA Pathfinder

At a ceremony that took place today at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin signed the official agreements that define the terms of the cooperation on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and on the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission.
18/06/2007 377 views
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Press Release N° 24–2007
Science & Exploration

First ATV leaves Europe to prepare for launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana

Time to bid farewell to the most sophisticated spacecraft ever built in Europe. The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will leave the European Space Agency’s ESTEC establishment in the Netherlands in mid-July and be shipped to Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. There, it will start its launch preparation campaign which will last several months, before being launched by Ariane 5 not earlier than mid-January 2008 and (after a 12 to 15 day journey) docking automatically with the International Space Station using its own propulsion and navigation systems. 
15/06/2007 462 views
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Press Release N° 23–2007
Agency

Celebrating Space with ESA in Paris

The French capital has been chosen to host a celebration of space, “Paris fête l’Espace”, to be held on the place du Trocadéro on 15 June starting at 9.30pm. 
31/05/2007 574 views
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Press Release N° 22–2007
Agency

From the Earth to … the Earth, with ESA, at 'Le Bourget 2007'

The 47th international Paris Air Show will open its doors on Monday 18 June, until Sunday 24 June (*), and promises to be an outstanding event, with almost 2000 exhibitors present, and over 200 000 visitors expected. This year, a highly significant one for the space sector throughout the world, the European Space Agency is returning to le Bourget to take visitors to its pavilion on a special journey from the Earth to … the Earth! 
30/05/2007 424 views
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Press Release N° 21–2007
Agency

Europe’s Space Policy becomes a reality today

A stronger Europe in space, better equipped and better coordinated to face the future needs of its citizens. A wider strategic scope to address new challenges, including in the areas of security and defence space programmes, and space as an added dimension to the EU’s external relations: all this in a novel policy designed to fit European interests and values. 
22/05/2007 1565 views
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Press Release N° 20–2007
Agency

A giant leap for space activities in Europe: ministers to adopt European Space Policy in Brussels

Ministers in charge of space activities in the European Space Agency's Member States and those responsible for the internal market, industry and research in the European Union’s Competitiveness Council are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday 22 May to adopt the European Space Policy (*). 
16/05/2007 390 views
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Press Release N° 19–2007
Agency

A step closer to a European Space Policy

Space is a strategic asset which Europe must exploit more effectively. Europe cannot afford to lose out when it comes to securing the economic and societal benefits of space for its citizens. The European Space Policy will soon give Europe a comprehensive tool with which to widen its dimension vis-à-vis space activities. 
26/04/2007 352 views
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Press Release N° 18–2007
Agency

Scientists meet to review Envisat results after 5 years of operations

From 23 to 27 April in Montreux, Switzerland, over 900 scientists from around the world will attend the Envisat Symposium 2007 to review and present results of the European Space Agency’s Earth Observation satellites and in particular Envisat. 
11/04/2007 276 views
Open
Press Release N° 17–2007
Enabling & Support

ESA signs arrangement with New Zealand on tracking station

Today ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and Her Excellency Ms Sarah Dennis, New Zealand's Ambassador to France, signed an arrangement on the installation of a transportable telemetry station to track the Ariane 5 launcher that will carry into orbit ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for its maiden flight in autumn this year. 
29/03/2007 314 views
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Press Release N° 16–2007
Applications

Small GEO Platform contract signed

On 28 March in Berlin, the European Space Agency officially announced the signing with OHB/Germany of a €100 million framework contract to develop a European Small Geostationary Satellite platform for telecommunication missions. 
28/03/2007 340 views
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Press Release N° 15–2007
Agency

Take a closer look at our planet at the Palais de la Découverte in Paris

From Tuesday 3 April to Sunday 26 August, visitors to the 'City of Light' will have one more attraction to pack into their busy schedules. A stop at the Palais de la Découverte (http://www.palais-decouverte.fr) will allow them to take a closer look at our planet, as ESA and this renowned Parisian museum have teamed up to exhibit an amazing selection of views of our Earth, with a high science content, taken by ESA’s environmental satellite Envisat (*). 
19/03/2007 423 views
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Press Release N° 14–2007
Science & Exploration

European astronauts 'on stage' in Rome on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Rome Treaties

On 26 March, as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaties, an event with the European Space Agency’s astronauts will take place at the University of Rome La Sapienza, with the participation of Italian Research Minister Fabio Mussi. 
16/03/2007 392 views
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Press Release N° 13–2007
Science & Exploration

Huygens landing site to be named after Hubert Curien

As of 14 March, an epic space mission and one of the founding fathers of the European space endeavour will be forever linked. ESA, the international Committee for Space Research (COSPAR) and NASA have decided to honour Professor Hubert Curien’s contribution to European space by naming the Huygens landing site on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, after him. 
05/03/2007 566 views
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Press Release N° 12–2007
Applications

Agreement between ESA and the European Maritime Safety Agency signed today

Today, 2 March 2007, Mr Willem de Ruiter, Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and Mr Volker Liebig, Director of Earth Observation Programmes of the European Space Agency (ESA), signed an agreement between the two agencies, strengthening the framework for cooperation in the field of maritime monitoring and surveillance. 
02/03/2007 391 views
Open
Press Release N° 11–2007
Applications

ESA contribution to International Polar Year 2007-2008

Today marks the official start of International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008, a large worldwide science programme focused on the Arctic and Antarctic. ESA is contributing to this important initiative, which will constitute the most intensive period of research on the polar regions in half a century. 
01/03/2007 319 views
Open
Press Release N° 10–2007
Enabling & Support

Official opening of the Soyuz launch base construction site in French Guiana

The construction site of the Soyuz launch base in French Guiana was officially opened today by Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, Yannick d'Escatha, President of CNES, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Director General of Arianespace, and Anatoly Perminov, Head of Roscosmos. The ceremony took place in the presence of many French authorities and representatives of all the European and Russian entities contributing to the startup of the project. 
26/02/2007 373 views
Open
Press Release N° 9–2007
Science & Exploration

Rosetta comet-chaser takes a close look at planet Mars

There was considerable relief today at ESA’s space operations centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. In the early hours, spacecraft controllers, orbital mechanics experts, engineers and scientists were able to witness a spacecraft playing 'cosmic billiards'. Between 03:13 and 03:40 CET, ESA’s comet chaser, Rosetta, swung by Mars at a distance of only 250 kilometres and then whooshed away from the Red Planet, on a brand new path, continuing on a journey that will ultimately take it beyond Jupiter's orbit. 
25/02/2007 368 views
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Press Release N° 8–2007
Science & Exploration

Media event at ESOC: closest encounter between ESA's comet chaser Rosetta and Mars

On Sunday 25 February, ESA’s probe Rosetta, currently on a ten-year journey to comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, will make its closest approach to the planet Mars, coming within 250 kilometres of its surface. 
16/02/2007 442 views
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Press Release N° 7–2007
Science & Exploration

ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts assigned to European Columbus laboratory mission to the ISS

ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts of France has today been assigned to fly onboard the International Space Station for the delivery and commissioning of the European Columbus laboratory currently planned for this autumn. 
13/02/2007 415 views
Open
Press Release N° 6–2007
Science & Exploration

International Space Station Heads of Agencies meet at ESA

The heads of the International Space Station partners, space agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States, met at European Space Agency Headquarters in Paris, France, on January 23, 2007, to review ISS cooperation. 
23/01/2007 333 views
Open
Press Release N° 5–2007
Science & Exploration

Heads of space agencies meet in Paris

On 23 January, ESA's Headquarters in Paris will host an “ISS Heads of Agency meeting” at which Heads of space agencies involved in the International Space Station programme (ESA for Europe, NASA for the USA, CSA for Canada, JAXA for Japan and Roskosmos for Russia) will take stock of the status of the ISS and look at the follow-on activities. 
17/01/2007 366 views
Open
Press Release N° 4–2007
Science & Exploration

Planck satellite to be presented to media

By the end of February, integration of Planck, the ESA spacecraft due to study relic radiation from the Big Bang, will have been completed - and so too will a major step towards launch. ESA and Alcatel Alenia Space (AAS) are jointly inviting the media to a press conference to be held at the AAS facilities in Cannes, France, on 1 February to hear about the mission’s technological achievements and scientific objectives and to view the spacecraft in all its splendour. 
16/01/2007 428 views
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Press Release N° 3–2007
Science & Exploration

Press conference with ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter after his mission to the International Space Station

On Thursday 18 January, a press conference will take place at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany to give media a chance to meet the ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, of Germany, after completion of his mission following the landing of Space Shuttle Discovery on 22 December. 
05/01/2007 488 views
Open
Press Release N° 2–2007
Agency

ESA Director General meets the Press

On Wednesday 17 January, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain will meet the Press at ESA Headquarters in Paris. Starting at 08:30 with breakfast, the gathering will be followed at 09:00 by a press briefing to take stock of the Agency's activities in 2006 and announce the main events for 2007. 
04/01/2007 277 views
Open
Press Release N° 1–2007
Agency

Overview of ESA communication activities in 2007 relevant to the media

2007 will be a highly symbolic year for the space sector worldwide (50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, marking the start of the space age) and for Europe in particular (50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome establishing the European Community). Under the motto "Discovery, competitiveness and European identity", ESA Communication will strive to promote ESA’s missions in its main areas of activity: Science, Earth observation, Navigation, Telecommunication, Human spaceflight and Exploration, and Launchers. Watch out for press conferences, exhibitions, political rendezvous, launch events and much more. 
04/01/2007 478 views
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