Germany Joins Aurora Exploration Programme

[zavvy]

<b>Germany Joins Aurora Exploration Programme</b><br /><br />LINK<br /><br />Germany joined the Preparatory Phase of the European Space Exploration Programme Aurora. It thus becomes the twelfth country participating in the programme (*), which allows scientists and industrial companies from Germany to participate in the Aurora Programme.<br /> <br />This decision has been warmly welcomed by ESA and unanimously endorsed by the eleven other Aurora Participating States at the 18th Aurora Board of Participants meeting held in Paris on 12 July 2005.<br /><br />“After the recent decisions of France, Switzerland and Canada to increase their contributions, this decision further strengthens the Aurora Programme and creates a positive momentum for the upcoming decisions at ministerial level”, said Daniel Sacotte, ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration. “With researchers from other countries currently not yet participating in Aurora, such as Denmark, Finland and Norway having also shown interest to take part in ExoMars related scientific teams, there are good chances that the number of ESA member states finally joining Aurora will increase even further”.<br /><br />The Preparatory Phase of the European Space Exploration Programme Aurora started in 2001. It aims at defining a European framework for the exploration of Moon and Mars and to prepare a robust and sustainable European Space Exploration Programme. The ExoMars mission, scheduled to be launched in 2011, features a Mars lander and a rover that will carry out exobiology and geophysical analysis of the Martian environment. The mission is being defined and designed during the Preparatory Phase along with the preparation of the European contribution to a possible international Mars sample return mission and other studies and technology developments to prepare for further exploration missions of the Solar system. <br /><br />A propos

 

[tap_sa]

<font color="yellow">"Germany Joins Aurora Exploration Programme<br />"</font><br /><br />Does this mean sightings of mysterious hypersonic planes over Berlin??

 

[zavvy]

The name's a bit confusing. This is a different project..

 

[wvbraun]

3 million euros per year. I'm not impressed.

 

[nacnud]

This is still at the study stage, once they have decided what to do the money will go up. (hopefuly)<br /><br /><font color="yellow">1. What is Aurora?<br /><br />A European Space Exploration Programme based on a road map culminating in a voyage<br />by European astronauts to Mars by 2030, with a return to the Moon in the meantime!<br />Aurora was presented as a response to the mandate from Ministers, received by ESA in<br />2000, to prepare for the next steps in human exploration. The programme and its<br />principle were unanimously approved at the ESA Council at Ministerial Level held in<br />Edinburgh in 2001.<br /><br />Conceived after a broad survey conducted with the scientific and industrial communities,<br />Aurora defines and will implement the European strategy for the exploration of the Solar<br />System and of those planets that may harbour life forms. Aurora is currently in its<br />preparatory phase.<br /><br />Between now and 2015, Aurora will feature robotic missions both to the Moon and to<br />Mars, in preparation for human missions to both targets. The final goal is to allow<br />European astronauts to reach Mars as part of an international endeavour by the end of the<br />third decade. The work carried out in the framework of Aurora will provide the basis for<br />defining the European participation in that endeavour, taking due account of Europe’s<br />strategic industrial, scientific and technological interests. It is expected that such a<br />decision will be taken around 2015.</font>

 

[wvbraun]

"I don't think even one second that Europe will launch a manned mission to the Moon, let alone Mars."<br /><br />I don't know. Maybe 10-15 years down the road with Kliper in operation and the ISS program winding down Europe will get serious about manned space exploration...

 

[JonClarke]

This is good news. It means that all the main parties of ESA are now onboard.<br /><br />There is a lot of confusion about Aurora already evident in this thread. So some comments.<br /><br />Why do people find the name confusing? Just because the name has been applied to a probably imaginary US black aircraft program does not put a copyright on it. It is a good name with an appropriate classical allusion.<br /><br />Secondly in the short term the program is about 1) ExoMars, 2) some technology demonstrator missions, and 3) Mars sample return. Further down the track (at least 10 years away) it may (or may not) mean that the program (with lots of additional funding) might not ramp up to human precurssor missions to the moon and Mars. Eventually with manned landings.<br /><br />Lastly ExoMars, the first cab off the rank is not a paper project and some imply. Contracts have let, science instruments and tools are at an advanced selection stage.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[wvbraun]

Yes, ExoMars is real but I'm quite sceptical about Aurora's longterm prospects.

 

[JonClarke]

I think it is an excellent program, starting with a well-defined 5 year goal with very strong committment (Exomars), a still fairly open 10 year goal with reasonably strrong committment (MSR) and a long term goal visisonary goal (human missions for which committment even for precursors is nopt needed for at least 10 years.<br /><br />This is an admirable appraoch that allows evolution of technology, has a commenable vision and has an exit should that be needed.<br /><br />You can be skeptical if you like, but others are working towards making it happen. <br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Yes, I think all the indications are for a steady, long term increase in investment in science and technology. There are many pressures for this, for example Europe currently published more scientific papers than anywhere else. However at current growth rates by 2010 (if I remember today's Nature correctly) China will have a greater research output. for the US, this is a strong incentive to increased R&D in science and technology across the board in Europe both at EU and national level. Aurora and space generally is one such avenue.<br /><br />The releationship between Russia and ESA is constantly being improved, ESA may well decide to invest in Kliper in December. there are also projects with China like Galileo which are likely to only get stronger with time. This akes a very strong financial, technological, and scientific basis for the expansion of Aurora.<br /><br />Also not to be forgotten that there is a strong conguence between the longer term goals and time frame of the NASA MtM vision and Aurora. Lots of opportunities for mutially beneficial colloboration and synergies.<br /><br />Jon <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[zavvy]

<font color="yellow">Why do people find the name confusing? Just because the name has been applied to a probably imaginary US black aircraft program does not put a copyright on it.</font><br /><br />You pretty much answered your own question, except the US Aurora project isn't imaginary. That's a fact.