TERRITORIO E VITA DALLO SPAZIO

A cura di ENZO LO SCALZO [loscalzo.web@asa-press.com]


Spazio - 4/2/2010

World Wetlands Day focuses on climate change

2 February 2010
World Wetlands Day 2010: 'Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate Change' stresses the fact that caring for wetlands is a part of the solution to climate change with the slogan: 'Caring for wetlands - an answer to climate change.'

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM2MMUJ15G_index_0.html


Press release ESA in Paris – Man Dir
PM3 del 15 gennaio – Estratto dei punti più rilevanti trattati nella presentazione del programma ESA per l’anno 2010.

2009 was a big year for technology in space... Many missions, but of outstanding significance is the confirmation of the Colombo mission in cooperation with Japan... Another ROBOTIC exploration of Mars... in cooperation with NASA... Check the conference with political debate...

The reform of financial matters of theAgency... Easier now to plan joined work with other nations... FUTURE of year 2010 is considered a difficult year ... recession will impact finance... (Since 2006 to 2009 expensed raised at 10% per year. We shall get stabilized...) For the next two years... will be without major problems withstanding...

2010 in space ... good news from 7th January release... contracts are ongoing in Italy for Sentinel and in URS with Soyuz...Galileo is up and running... Important mission starting CUPOLA with SHUTTLE... More materials to ISS NON RUSSIAN...

25th February a new launch for scientific data related to environment... Alfa magnetic spectrometer will be placed in ISS... Nespoli will go with Soyuz to ISS and after will follow the second ETV with Capland in Nov-Dec... Mission of 500 days in the ISS.. SOYUZ will carry a HYLAR Satellite... will work at round and on board... SOYUZ will also carry another Galileo...

Before the end of the year probably the launch of the VEGA satellites... The satellite is taking a long series of control, complex, but all is satisfactory... We hope to overcome the complex mission problems...

Another speaker takes the informations... about the First exploration conference… The second will take place in August and the third will face other issues in a complex road map... A series of planned meetings, Counsel meetings, etc... Other programs... and partners...
2010 important for ADR ... Major programme of meeting with industrial contractors...

PROBER 3 is a demonstration and formation programme ongoing in the incoming weeks... Cooperation with CNES and finalization... Another demonstration spacecraft... PROBER V.. opportuntity to test and qualify for a test of satellites programme... Galileo FOC... with 6 alternatives of programmes... working with CMES for a new launcher vehicle.

2010 is devoted to ISS with extension of the LIFE TIME up to 2020... or even longer... as far as it will be admissible with the cost sustained by the partners. Costing downtrend is a SERIOUS GOAL for the ISS!!

Increasing the BENEFITS: a) large issue. Science and technology improvement. – b) Climate change information and data – Over 20 project are under examination – Microgravity and data -50° up to 50°C – c) Partnership extension to other parties, for cost reduction, and… more and more with new partners and new countries…

Strong relationship with CE and Industry, which receive a back return of 50% of the investment as supplier… Scientists are major partners: they are selected mission by mission, not state by state or partner by partner… Russia, Japan, India, China…

THANKS - Q & A

Q .- Financial crises effects?
Q – Budget for new launches?

A – Government are facing payment difficulties, ESA keep care to respect the commitments… Attention and care is focused to new commitments… No member state wants to draw back from commitments made…

A – EXPENDITURE IS DIFFERENT FROM BUDGETS… Plan is 3,3 Billion Euro… Plan is critical… Projects do non always go ahead with the rate we expected… Other projects are not in respect of the payment plans… Initial Payment, Payment facilities and Negotiations are worked on along the road… Cost of launches is changing… SOYUZ sale its services on variable prices per launch…

Q – Costs of IMAGES Processing?
A – RN6 – called MGL… Cannot comment so deeply with the launcher, which should be modular, solid propulsion…

Q – Extending the time to pay the station imnvestment costs?
A – The decision is conservative… not from American administration yet… but we (ESA) keep working on the issue… No party has decided yet to pull out in autonomy…

Q – ISS… impediment of scientists related to the duration of the experimentation…? Will the duration limit the efficiency of the research?
A – The problem is how to provide convincing guarantees… ISS will have an END OF LIFE… BUT IT WILL BE USED AS MUCH as possible, that’s the maximum guarantee we have in our power…

Q – Which expectations are in terms of Galileo GMS? Is it fixed? Not a clear indication of how the issue will be used… Sentinels? How will it influence the present systems of EPS?
A – Space for use in energy matters? Power grids? Plenty of ideas, think what it could be done, with the available money…
CHIUSURA DEL MEETING…
Grazie, E. LS

The highlights of the year are the launch of Node-3 and Cupola, and of CryoSat, as well as of two ESA astronauts to the International Space Station. A simulated 520-day 'trip to Mars' will be starting in May. The launch of the second Automated Transfer Vehicle and of the first Galileo system satellites, the first lift-off of Soyuz from Kourou and the maiden flight of Vega should also be pencilled in your diaries.

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