Aurora: the future of space exploration
23 September 2003
Press briefing at IAF in Bremen
ESA PR 57-2003. The European Space Agency will be represented at the 54th International
Astronautical Federation (IAF) Congress, at the Fair and Congress Centre
in Bremen (Germany) from Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October, by a
group of expert lecturers on several disciplines, scientists and
astronauts.
On Wednesday 1 October, between 15:00 and 16:00 in the ESA Exhibition area
(next to the Great Congress lounge), Franco Ongaro, Head of ESA’s Advanced
Concepts and Studies Office, will meet the press for a presentation of the
Aurora programme.
The goals of the Aurora programme are to define, and later implement, a
strategy for the robotic and human exploration of the solar system,
defining the missions, technologies and ground-based activities necessary
to implement that strategy. The programme aims to prepare Europe for a
prominent role in the international endeavour to send the first humans to
Mars.
Aurora was approved as an ESA optional programme at the November 2001
ministerial Council meeting in Edinburgh and is currently in its
preparatory phase, which will last until the next ministerial meeting, to
be held in 2004, when a decision is to be taken on funding for the period
2005-2009.
The Moon, Mars and asteroids are the possible targets of the strategy
currently being drawn up by ESA, with the support of several leading
European and Canadian experts and industrial companies. While unmanned
spacecraft pave the way for humans to explore the Moon and Mars, work will
soon start on Earth and on the International Space Station to develop
technologies and infrastructure that will support human missions.
Given the time-span of such a human mission, Europe also faces the issue
of how to exploit the industrial know-how developed in the ISS framework
and how to orient it toward new missions. Decisions on which areas of
expertise Europe wishes to lead in the future will have to be taken soon.
ESA has made a timely start on addressing the problem by setting up the
Aurora programme, which has fulfilled its initial goals and will be ready
next year to start development activities for the ExoMars and Entry
Vehicle Demonstrator robotic missions and for precursor human technology
and demonstration missions. Member States will be invited at the end of
this year to contribute to a bridging phase until the next ministerial
Council meeting, towards the end of 2004.
Media representatives wishing to attend this press briefing are kindly
requested to complete the attached registration form and fax it to:
Anne-Marie Remondin
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690
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