European Space Programmes Research Articles

Tough bargaining ahead on European space programmes

Tough bargaining ahead on European space programmes

Thoughts on Europe's future in space

Fearing that mistaken decisions may be made, the author offers his comments to clarify the future possibilities for Ariane, Hermes and Columbus. The decisions soon to be taken on the manned spaceflight programme will affect the future of the entire European space programme. The possibilities for air-breathing propulsion are also reviewed.

The European space programme

Abstract The Director General of the European Space Agency describes the progress which has been made since the ESA Council agreed a long-term programme in 1985. Europe's space programme is based both on partnership with the USA, particularly over the Space Station, and on developing an autonomous European capability in space, particularly with Ariane and the Hermes spaceplane.

Effects of the long-term ESA programme on employment

European countries will be urged to undertake a new space programme, prepared under the direction of the European Space Agency (ESA). Can the financial efforts requested of them be considered as a profitable investment? This article examines the historical and potential effects of the European space programmes on employment, both within and outside the space sector.

Advances in Defining a Closed Brayton Conversion System for Future ARIANE 5 Space Nuclear Power Applications

The present European ARIANE space program will expand into the large ARIANE 5 launch vehicle from 1995. It is assumed that important associated missions would require the generation of 200 kWe or more in space during several years at the very beginning of the next century. For this reason, in 1983, the French C.N.E.S. (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) and C.E.A. (Commissariat a` l’Energie Atomique) have initiated preliminary studies of a space nuclear power system. The currently selected conversion system is a closed Brayton cycle. Reasons for this choice are given: high efficiency of a dynamic system; monophasic, inert working fluid; extensive turbomachinery experience, etc. A key aspect of the project is the adaptation to heat rejection conditions, namely to the radiator geometry which depends upon the dimensions of the ARIANE 5 spacecraft. In addition to usual concepts already studied for space applications, another cycle arrangement is being investigated which could offer satisfactory compromises among many considerations, increase the efficiency of the system, and make it more attractive as far as the specific mass (kg/kWe), the specific radiator area (m2/kWe), and various technological aspects are concerned. Comparative details are presented.

Politique spatiale militaire française et coopération européenne

French Spatial Military Policy and European Coopération, by Jérôme Paolini When political, industrial and economie requirements seem to promote military uses of outer space as a promising field for European security cooperation, France is today undertaking, unilaterally, major programs in this field that has become essential for the continuity of French defense policy. Recent but unfruitfull endeavours in joint European military space programs reveal in fact profound divergences between potential partners. In particular, emerging complementarities between stratégie forces and military space Systems are building up for France a symetry between nuclear independence and autonomous information gathering means from space that other nations in the European context ignore. A realistic evolution of European cooperation in the military exploitation of outer space should take into account this French specificity.

European space programme: Germany plans a space plane

European space programme: Germany plans a space plane

European spaceflight at the crossroads

Plans for Europe's future participation in space development are still under active discussion. This article offers a contribution to the debate, considering how Europe can best fulfil its own objectives. Choice of launch vehicle and its payload, as well as of other tools such as space station, re-entry vehicle, and launch site equipment are analysed. The article also discusses the purposes of space research for Europe, and the costs of a useful programme. A far-reaching European space programme still needs to be drawn up if Europe is not to lose out.

African satellite communication systems and their implications

Eurospace, founded in 1961, is the Organization of the European Space Industry. Its members are 80 major industrial companies, banks and operators from 13 countries in Western Europe. The Association is the mouthpiece of industry to the European Space Agency (E.S.A.), in particular with regard to future European space programmes. In the course of its other promotional activities it has applied and sustained successful efforts to promote a regional communication satellite system serving the African continent.

Progrès technique et dépenses dans les techniques avancées : le cas des dépenses spatiales européennes

The rate of return on research expenses is very variable from one project to another. For complex research projects (Space, High Energy Physics), the variation of this rate of return appears to be no more than a guess. The article presents the problem and the results of a study on the "Economie Effects" of expenses made for European Space Programs, under the hospices of the European Space Agency (ESA). This study is based upon the analysis of information furnished, by approximatively one hundred european firms engaged in the European Space Programs. The results obtained allow us to indicate precisely the relative importance of the categories of economic effects produced by Space expenses, effects produced in the area of technological innovations, effects produced upon the volume of sales, effects produced upon organization and methods (of production, of management), effects produced upon the labour factor (improvment of skills, of the level of technological knowledge...). These results together allow us to illustrate the way, in which the large public research programs contribute to a modification of the production and of the productivity of an entire group of firms.

European policies on space science and technology 1960–1978

This paper discusses the key political issues involved in current and past attempts to come to a common European space programme. The history of European space policy has been characterised by different perceived interests on the national level. In the 1960s financial and above all political problems shattered the ideal of a unified Europe, and European collaboration in space largely failed. Political disagreement — particularly between the three main European space nations, France, F.R. Germany and the United Kingdom — continued into the 1970s. Finally, a renewed attempt for European technological cooperation was made by the setting up of the European Space Agency. Since its creation, in 1974, Europe's space policy has again been facing political uncertainty. As a result of the divergence of national interests and of inappropriate industrial policies at the European level, Europe is now unable to cope with the reality of competitive space markets (satellites, launchers, ground equipment, tracking stations, etc.). If Europe is to become competitive in the commercial space market, industrial policies will have to be altered — with possible profound consequences for the structure and existence of the European Space Agency. If, alternatively, political disagreements about joint European programmes are not resolved, and if Europe as a consequence fails to make a (already late) start in the commercial space sector, the consequences may be far-reaching. The European countries may then either revert to separate national (or bilateral) programmes or become largely dependent on outside suppliers for space technology products. Europe may thus find itself without any share of the world space market.

European satellites to `fly'

Discusses the European space program for a communication satellite system for telephone, data, and TV traffic. Cost conscious beams, polarisation techniques, launching and long-life circuits are described.

European Space Program: It's Half-Speed Ahead

European Space Program: It's Half-Speed Ahead

Some Technical and Management Considerations in European Space Programmes

In 1957 the successful launching of the first artificial earth satellite had little immediate effect on the technical activities of the Aerospace Industry of the European countries. It was some years before various countries in Europe either singly or collectively allocated significant funds from their national budgets to allow any real research and development work to begin. In Britain, for example, it was only with the cancellation of Blue Streak in 1960 that the question of determining some sort of national policy in space activity was really brought into focus.