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Waspie_Dwarf

May 31 2007, 02:54 PM

Key meeting on long-term space exploration

30 May 2007

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Aurora Programme - artist's impression

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

Fourteen space organisations from all over the world will gather in Italy to discuss further coordination for long-term space exploration efforts.

From 30 May until 1 June, the 3rd joint ESA / ASI workshop on international cooperation for sustainable space exploration will bring together representatives from 14 space organisations worldwide. The workshop, the third of a series started in 2005, will take place at the XI century Abbey of Spineto in the vicinity of Sarteano (Siena).

Space exploration is a top priority for many space agencies around the world and many other space organisations are interested by the growing number of cooperation opportunities. ESA and ASI have therefore decided to jointly organise a series of regular meetings with the aim of contributing to the discussion on cooperation, and providing an opportunity for exchange of information and coordination.

One first tangible outcome of this collective effort by the many space organisations from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, is a document laying down the common vision of the space exploration leaders. 'The Global Exploration Strategy: the Framework for Coordination', which is the title of this collective paper, will be extensively addressed at the Workshop's opening session, and will form the basis for the ensuing discussions that will focus on the implementation of a coordination mechanism.

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ExoMars rover - artist's view

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

Europe’s Aurora Exploration Programme, the US Vision for Space Exploration, Japan’s plans for future exploration activities, as well as ambitious automatic missions being prepared by nations like Russia, India and China, offer numerous opportunities for scientific and technological cooperation. The very nature of space exploration with its long-term goals and political and technological challenges call for a more structured international cooperation approach.

In this very dynamic context, the workshop convenors, Mrs. Simona Di Pippo, ASI Director of the Universe Observation Programme, and Mr. Daniel Sacotte, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes, will welcome a number of space Agency leaders, including Mr Sun Laiyan, Head of the Chinese National Space Administration, and ASI's President, Prof. Giovanni F. Bignami.

Today's opening session, between 09:00 and 13:00, will feature space leaders' keynote address, a presentation of the Global Exploration Strategy document, as well as interventions from space exploration programmes leaders from several space agencies.

The Global Exploration Strategy framework document identifies a common set of exploration themes and values that are common to several possible exploration targets and destinations in our Solar System, including the Moon and Mars.

These themes include increasing our scientific and technical knowledge; expanding human presence in space; exploring global partnership and economic benefits; and finally promoting the inspirational and educational value of space exploration activities.

The space agencies' representatives who produced the document share the view that it is only through sustainable international cooperation that the enormous challenges of human exploration of the Moon and Mars can be overcome.

The complete document will be available upon request as of 31 May. It will also be published at http://www.globalspaceexploration.org

Source: ESA - News

Waspie_Dwarf

May 31 2007, 03:05 PM

NASA, 13 Space Agencies Release Exploration Strategy Framework

The press release is reproduced below:

May 31, 2007

Melissa Mathews/Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1272/1979

RELEASE: 07-126

NASA, 13 Space Agencies Release Exploration Strategy Framework

WASHINGTON - NASA and 13 space agencies from around the world are releasing the latest product of their Global Exploration Strategy discussions. The document, "The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination," reflects a shared vision of space exploration focused on solar system destinations where humans may someday live and work.

The framework document allows for the establishment of a voluntary, non-binding mechanism by which space agencies can exchange information on their respective space exploration plans. This coordination mechanism will play a key role in helping to identify gaps, overlaps and synergies in the space exploration plans of participating agencies.

The framework document is an important step in an evolving process toward a comprehensive global approach to space exploration. Although the document is non-binding, its contents are consistent with ongoing bilateral and multilateral discussions that NASA intends to lead to cooperative agreements for specific projects. In addition to NASA, representatives from agencies in Australia, Canada, China, the European Space Agency, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine participated in the Global Exploration Strategy discussions. Many participants are meeting this week in Spineto, Italy, to discuss the development of the coordination mechanism and other issues.

The framework document is available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/178109main_ges_framework.pdf

To learn more about NASA's future space exploration plans, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

- end -

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Source: NASA Press Release 07-126

Waspie_Dwarf

May 31 2007, 05:07 PM

The Japanese Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) press release is reproduced below:

The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination

May 31, 2007 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

This is to inform that an informal 'Global Exploration Strategy (GES)' team which was created among 14 space organizations*, releases a document entitled "The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination". This document is to elaborate a shared long-term view of space exploration and to propose an international coordination mechanism.

Since GES Kyoto workshop in last March, the draft document had been consulted in each organization and resulted with no major changes except wording and a supplement of its executive summary. May 31st is the day when each space organization is free to publish the Framework Document at a time and manner that best suits its needs.

*ASI(Italy), BNSC(UK), CNES(France), CNSA(China), CSA(Canada), CSIRO(Australia), DLR(Germany), ESA(Europe), ISRO(India), JAXA(Japan), KARI(Korea), NASA(USA), NSAU(Ukraine), Roscosmos(Russia)

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[Supplement] Global Exploration Strategy: Framework for Coordination

1. Purpose of this document

This document summarizes the common understanding of the 14 space organizations to study the long-term prospects and mechanism of international collaboration for space exploration.

2. Background of the document

Following a space exploration conference held in Washington in April 2006, the 14 organizations created an informal 'Global Exploration Strategy' team. This group has interacted through workshops and teleconferences in order to prepare a long term perspective for space exploration. The team focused mainly on the unmanned and manned exploration of solar system destinations â€” especially the Moon, Mars and near-Earth asteroids.
At the Kyoto Workshop for Global Space Exploration Strategy (GES) held in Kyoto, Japan, from March 7 to 9, 2007, intense discussions were held with the aim of reaching an agreement to compile the document. The contents of the document were agreed on at the persons-in-charge level. (The agreed upon contents were previously reported at a press conference after the Kyoto Workshop on March 9, which all delegates from the 14 organizations attended.)
Following the discussion, the document was reviewed by each organization. As a result, it was finalized, and today, it has been released.

3. Meaning of the document

This document expresses the principle and common understandings of the GES international collaboration, and does not have any legally binding.

4. Summary

Please refer to the executive summary attached to this document.

5. Future Schedule

The team is now discussing how to create a mechanism to achieve specific international collaboration and common tools at the ESA/ASI workshop on Sustainable Space Exploration in Spineto, Italy, from May 29th to June 1st 2007.

[Attachment]
Global Exploration Strategy: Framework for Coordination [PDF 180KB]

For inquiries:
JAXA Public Affairs Department
Tel: +81-3-6266-6413 to 7, Fax: +81-3-6266-6910

Source: JAXA press release

Waspie_Dwarf

May 31 2007, 05:27 PM

New era for space exploration as 14 space agencies take historic step

The British National Space Centre (BNSC) press release is reproduced below:

31 May 2007

Ref No: 03/07

In an unprecedented move, 14 of the world’s leading space agencies today revealed their agreed vision for globally co-ordinated space exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Following months of intensive discussions, they published their common ideas for space exploration: The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Co-ordination.

The document outlines the rationale for society to explore space, defines the current focus and process of space exploration, the current interest in returning to the Moon and exploring Mars, and proposes a framework for the future co-ordination of global space exploration.

Welcoming the publication of the document, Science and Innovation Minister Malcolm Wicks said:

“This document marks the start of a new era of space exploration. Since the launch of Sputnik in 1957, we have learnt much about how to explore space and have experienced the benefits of scientific discoveries in our everyday lives. Innovations such as exploiting space for global communications, weather forecasting and helping emergency services have all flowed from the first half-century of space exploration.

“During this century we are sure to see some fantastic voyages of discovery as robots and humans venture further into our Solar System. What they learn will excite and inspire new generations to get involved in science and create new technology that could benefit the whole economy.

“The Framework for Co-ordination sets out a common vision for a new era of international collaboration. I welcome the fact that the UK can use this to inform our national plans while joining together in a truly global endeavour. ”

British National Space Centre - which co-ordinates UK civil space activities and represents the UK at the European Space Agency - was fully involved in shaping this document. Following its publication, it is expected that a voluntary, non-binding forum (the International Co-ordination Mechanism) will now be established so that all 14 nations can share their plans for space exploration, and collaborate to strengthen both individual projects and the collective effort.

This is an exciting time for UK space exploration:

The UK was heavily involved in the recent and highly successful SMART-1 mission to the Moon;
The UK is building cutting edge technology to survey the geochemistry of the Moon aboard the Indian Chandrayaan-1 mission which is due for blast off in 2008;
It is also the second largest contributor to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Aurora space exploration programme;
UK industry has recently started work on the BepiColombo mission to Mercury, a joint European/Japanese mission to be launched in 2013.

The UK space sector is worth £4.8 billion per annum, supports 70,000 jobs and makes an overall contribution to UK GDP of almost £7 billion per annum.

NOTES

1. The document The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Co-ordination was published today at the 3rd ASI/ESA International Co-operation for Sustainable Space Exploration Workshop which is meeting in Sarteano, Italy (29 May to 01 June 2007). It can be found on the BNSC website at www.bnsc.gov.uk

2. The British National Space Centre was among the 14 space agencies that developed the document. These were: ASI (Italy); BNSC (UK); CNES (France); CNSA (China); CSA (Canada); CSIRO (Australia); DLR (Germany); ESA (European Space Agency); ISRO (India); JAXA (Japan); KARI (Republic of Korea); NASA (USA); NSAU (Ukraine); and, Roscosmos (Russia).

3. The British National Space Centre (BNSC) is a partnership of nine Government Departments and research councils and is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and exploit space. BNSC co-ordinates UK civil space activities to benefit science, enterprise and the environment and represents the UK at the European Space Agency and at other international fora.
4. The Science and Technology Facilities Council is the BNSC partner that invests in space science and exploration on behalf of the UK. For more information, visit www.scitech.ac.uk

Source: BNSC Press Release

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