Vega launcher (artist’s impression)

The importance for Europe of having independent access to space will become clear to visitors. Europe can be proud of its autonomous space transportation system, with the heavy launcher Ariane 5, ESA’s new launcher Vega for placing small satellites into space, and cooperation with Russia on the medium-size Soyuz launcher, soon to be exploited from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

In 2006 the International Space Pavilion will have the theme “How space affects our everyday life”. This theme will be reflected in a special interactive feature area in the hall.

ESA, BNSC, industry, research establishments and other international space agencies will participate in a series of high-level space conferences organised and led by UK space industry. Speakers include Lord Sainsbury, UK Minister for Science and Innovation, Jean Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, and other senior level experts.

The conferences will cover such topics as Climate Change (Tuesday 18 July), the International future of Space (Wednesday 19 July, with Lord Sainsbury and top representatives of Space Agencies of the most prominent space faring countries) and Satellite Navigation (Thursday 20 July). A detailed programme is attached with the registration form to be filled in by media representatives wishing to attend the various sessions.

For more information, please contact:

Wendy Slater, ESA Communication Department
Phone: + 33 1 53 69 74 18
E-mail: Wendy.Slater@esa.int

Main space-related conferences to be held at Farnborough International
Venue: International Space Pavilion Conference Theatre
Media accreditation form

First name: _____________ Surname:______________________Media: _________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________Tel:___________________________ Fax: ___________________ Mobile :_______________________ E-mail: ________________ 

I will be attending the following sessions:

(  ) Monday 17 July 11:00-12:30
“Business Opportunities from Space – a commercial morning with ESA”. Organised by ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme, Business Incubation initiative and ISS Commercialisation Division. It will promote the industrial utilisation of space-based infrastructures and of space-derived applications. Presentations will illustrate new opportunities in the areas of research, technology transfer, promotion and satellite applications and introduce several business networks.

(  ) Tuesday 18 July 10:00-12:30
“Climate Change: Space contribution to understanding and mitigation”. Keynote speakers and experts will discuss climate change policy and implementation, measurement and prediction of climate change, the socio-economic impacts of climate change and how using space tools can assist mitigation, future space missions, and a global observation mission for climate change (GMES, Global Monitoring for Environment and Security).

(  ) Wednesday 19 July 10:30-11:30
“An international future for Space”. Expected speakers: Lord Sainsbury, UK Minister for Science and Innovation; Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General; Mike Griffin, NASA Administrator; Anatoly Perminov, Director General Roscosmos, Kaoru Mamiya, Vice President JAXA.
The session is organised by UKspace and PPARC, and will be chaired by David Williams, BNSC Director General.

(  ) Thursday 20 July 10:00-12:30
“Satellite Navigation”. A panel of high level speakers from ESA, UK Government, the Galileo Concession Consortium and institutional users. The international dimension of global navigation satellite systems is emphasized through a representative from Lockheed Martin.

Additional note: Journalists wishing to attend the Air show will also need to apply for accreditation:

Before 10 July - visit www.farnborough.com/media/accreditation.asp to apply online.

After 10 July - Journalists can be accredited at the Air show by bringing proof of identification and proof of working in the media to Gate A. Shuttle buses from the car park and the train stations arrive into Gate A.