30th Anniversary: A Word from the Director
Today, the GSTP celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a workshop in Sopot, Poland. Attended by industry, academia and ESA colleagues the event will focus on the role the programme has played in building technology, necessary processes and capacity. For the occasion the Director of Technology, Dietmar Pilz, shares his thoughts on upcoming technological challenges for the space sector and what role GSTP can play in solving them.
It is with pleasure that I welcome each and every one of you to this occasion, as we gather to commemorate and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) for the European Space Agency (ESA).
One of my first impressions of ESA and ESTEC has been astonishment at the unbelievable products and missions we are enabling. As one of ESA's technology programmes, the GSTP is a cornerstone in providing this vital support to Europe's space industry and developing the advanced technologies, systems, and concepts that enable ESA’s ambitious space missions.
Over the past three decades, the GSTP has evolved into a testament of ingenuity and collaborative spirit. Through this exceptional program, we have nurtured and harnessed cutting-edge technologies, propelling ESA's missions to new frontiers and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. Over the years, the GSTP has been pivotal in enabling landmark missions such as Proba, the recent JUICE mission, and even the thrust control vector on the VEGA rocket launchers – the only moving part on a machine made up of thousands of small components. The programme has also contributed significantly to the development of innovative space technologies that have found applications in numerous terrestrial sectors, from medicine to telecommunications and environmental monitoring.
The GSTP has been a driving force in ESA’s work to unravel the mysteries of our planet, broaden our understanding of the cosmos, and provide vital data for addressing global challenges. Thirty years ago, ESA embarked on this remarkable journey of research and development, fuelled by our unwavering commitment to advancing space technology and shaping the future of space exploration. Today, as we stand together at this milestone, we reflect on the incredible achievements, breakthroughs, and collaborations that have defined the GSTP's legacy.
However, our journey doesn't stop here. As we stand at the threshold of the future, we are filled with enthusiasm and ambition to further elevate our achievements.
The programme inspires us to look beyond the horizon, envisioning new missions, technologies, and partnerships that will shape the next era of space exploration. As we look to the future with optimism and determination, I invite you all to join us in celebrating the legacy of the GSTP and envisioning the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. Together, we shall continue to pave the way for a future that knows no bounds in the pursuit of space exploration and technological innovation.
Thank you all for being part of this momentous occasion and here's to the next 30 years of the General Support Technology Programme.
Dietmar Pilz
Director of Technology, Engineering & Quality
and Head of ESA ESTEC Site