Current European programmes and operational capabilities
Abstract
The present and future program of the European Space Agency (ESA) is described in the context of its history and mandate. The earth observation program comprises the meteorological satellite METEOSAT and the new coastal and global ocean monitoring satellite ERS-1. The Agency's communications program has evolved from the OTS experimental satellite to the development of operational regional communications satellites for Europe (ECS) and to maritime communications satellites (MARECS) which will be used operationally in the INMARSAT system. ESA's new scientific projects will be EXOSAT, HIPPARCOS and GIOTTO, the latter missions's objective being an encounter with the comet Halley in 1986. Together with NASA, ESA also participates in the International Solar Polar Mission and in the Space Telescope project. The space transportation program comprises the expendable ARIANE launchers and the manned SPACELAB, the European contribution to NASA's Space Shuttle program. Future programs will concentrate on developing the critical technology needed to expand the scope of earth observation, space communications and space transportation systems. Several new scientific projects are also under consideration. To support these missions, the Agency is continuously upgrading its ground station network and the required satellite control and data processing facilities.
- Publication:
-
Space Tracking and Data Systems
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981stds.proc...17S
- Keywords:
-
- Communication Satellites;
- Earth Observations (From Space);
- European Space Agency;
- European Space Programs;
- Satellite Networks;
- Data Systems;
- Ers-1 (Esa Satellite);
- Ground Support Systems;
- Meteosat Satellite;
- Scientific Satellites;
- Space Transportation System;
- Spacelab Payloads;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking