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ESA turns 30! A successful track record for Europe in space

31 May 2005

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Slideshow animation showing: 1. ESA's first Director General, Roy Gibson | 2. IUE - the world's longest-serving astronomy satellite, launched 1978 | 3. Meteosat first image (9 Dec 1977) | 4. Italian delegate signing the ESA Convention in Paris, on 30 May 1975

Credits: ESA

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The ESA Convention being signed in Paris on 30 May 1975

The ESA Convention was approved by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, Paris 30 May 1975. ESA functioned de facto from 31 May 1975 - the ESA Convention entered into force 30 October 1980.

Credits: ESA

Note to editors:

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A virtually cloud-free Europe captured by MSG-1

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Enhanced composite image taken at 12:00 UT on 10 August 2003, by Europe’s Meteosat Second Generation satellite (MSG-1). A year on from launch, this image illustrates the excellent performance of the innovative radiometer carried by MSG-1.

Composite image of visible information: red shows the 1.6 µm near infrared channel, green is the 8 µm visible channel, and blue the 0.6 µm visible channel. The image has been enhanced to appear ‘natural’ to the human eye.

Built by ESA and operated by Eumetsat, MSG-1 was launched by Ariane a year ago, on 28 August at 22:45 UT, from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana.

Credits: EUMETSAT

1975 the turning point: establishment of the European Space Agency

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Europa launcher at the Euro Space Centre

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The Europa rocket at the Euro Space Centre in Belgium. Europa was one of the first European launchers, developed by ELDO.

Money invested flows back to ESA Member States

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PROBA-1 was a great opportunity for SMEs

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A consortium of European companies from seven countries, including many Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) developed PROBA-1, seen here during environmental testing at Intespace.

The participating companies include:

Belgium:
- Verhaert: Prime Contractor
- Spacebel: On-board Software
- Space Application Services: Ground Segment
- OIP: High Resolution Camera (HRC), Wide Angle Camera (WAC)

Finland:
- SSF: Software Validation
- Finnavitac: Debris In-Orbit Evaluator (DEBIE)

Canada:
- Sherbrooke University/NGC Aerospace: Attitude Control and Navigation System Software

Denmark:
- Technical University of Denmark: Startracker

UK:
- SIRA Electro-Optics: Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (CHRIS)
- SSTL: GPS Receiver
- Astrium Ltd: Payload Processor Unit
- AEA Technology: Batteries

Switzerland:
- Contraves: Space Radiation Environment Monitor (SREM)

Italy:
- Galileo Avionica: Solar Panels

Germany:
- Teldix: Reaction Wheels

The Netherlands:
- Dutch Space: Magneto-torquers
- Xensys: Miniaturised Radiation Monitor (MRM)
- Xensor: Smart Instrumentation Point (SIPS)

Credits: Verhaert

European launchers: a phoenix from the ashes

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View of the Ariane-5 ECA Flight 164 launch on 12 February 2005 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Credits: ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE-Service Optique CSG

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ESA Headquarters at 8-10 rue Mario Nikis, Paris

Credits: ESA/A. Gonin

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ESA's ten-instrument Envisat environmental satellite has been observing the Earth for three years. Envisat’s solar panels measured 10 x 4 x 4 metres when inside the Ariane launcher but then unfolded in space to an incredible 25 x 7 x 10 metres.

Credits: EADS Astrium

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The Giotto spacecraft, launched in 1985 on an Ariane 1 V14 launcher, brushed past the hidden nucleus of Comet Halley in 1986.

Credits: ESA

ESA 30th Anniversary

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