Introduction

B.G. Taylor

The 1995-96 reporting period for the Astrophysics Division has been a particularly satisfying one, including events and results such as:

• the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) launch, and the efficient and first class operation of the Science Operations Centre at Villafranca, following the hard and sometimes difficult work in the development phase at ESTEC;
• the SAX launch, and the excellent operation of the Division- provided LECS instrument;
• a world 'first' with the practical realisation of a high- efficiency, colour discriminating superconducting photon-counting detector working from the ultraviolet, through optical to the infrared;
• the completion and release to PIs of the Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues within the schedule approved by the Scientific Programme Committee (SPC) pre-launch;
• consolidation of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) operations and scientific results after correction of the spherical aberration;
• continued scientific output from COMPTEL on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO);
• the recommendation of GAIA (one of the two leading proposers being a Division scientist) as a potential Cornerstone mission in Horizon 2000 Plus;
• a number of well-attended and productive symposia organised by Division scientists on the subjects of INTEGRAL, HST, GAIA, Far-Infrared Detectors and Gamma-ray Bursts;
• the selection of a major new astronomy mission, Planck (previously COBRAS/SAMBA).

The satisfaction, though, is tempered by the cessation of IUE operations after 18 years of high-quality scientific achievement.