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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 3753.PDF
SPACEFLIGHT EUROPEAN BUDGETS TIM FURNISS / LONDON Ministers block ISS cash until 2003 Europe is holding back more than half of the budget approved earlier this month until concerns about NASA are resolved Europe's space ministers have blocked until 2003 release of 60% of the budget they approved earlier this month for the International Space Station (ISS) due to concerns about NASA's management of the programme and its plans. At the same time, European Space Agency (ESA) members agreed to Arianespace's request for more backing for Ariane launch vehicles to allow them to compete with US boosters. At their meeting in Edinburgh in mid-November, Europe's space ministers approved €847 million ($742 million) for the continuation of the ISS exploitation programme, designed to develop European operational capabilities in key areas for long-term human space exploration and to support ISS use by Europe. Around 60% of the ISS funding is blocked, however. Although Europe remains committed to its ISS obligations, it wants to see how NASA will resolve ongoing ISS bud get and management problems, says ESA. No money was approved for the ISS commercialisation pro gramme, with ministers to discuss that project in March when the future of the space station is clearer. The ISS budget was part of a €7.84 billion five-year programme approved - below the €10 billion requested by the agency. Included in this is €1.55 billion - slightly less than the €1.67 billion requested - for the Ariane 5 Research and Technology Accompaniment pro gramme, Ariane 5 infrastructure and future development of the launch vehicle Flight International, 20-26 November). Jean-Marie Luton, chairman of Arianespace, says the support of European states is necessary to guarantee Ariane boosters "fair conditions of competition". Arianespace has always criticised as unfair the fact that new US launch ers are part-funded by the US Air Force and then enter the commer cial market. Ariane boosters were, however, funded initially by European governments. Ministers agreed to reduce the charges for Ariane launches at the Kourou launch site to bring fees closer to those charged by the US Air Force for the use of Cape Canaveral for commercial Delta and Atlas launches. They also agreed to streamline the Ariane programme with the goal of appointing a single industrial prime contractor by the end of 2002. Ministers also agreed that further studies are needed before a decision can be made on the launch of Russian Soyuz boosters from Kourou. In a surprise move, France agreed to invest in the Italian-led Vega low Earth-orbit launcher after having withdrawn from the pro posed project in 1999. Major decisions about the agency's Future Launcher Prepara tory Programme have been defer red until June, but ministers did agree to start a three-year pro gramme to address technologies for experimental vehicles. In addition, €83 million was allocated for a Global Monitoring for Environment and Security pro gramme; the science programme received €1.86 billion - less than requested, with the result that a Cornerstone mission may be can celled; and the Earth observation budget at €926 million is less than requested which will result in cuts to the Earth Watch programme. Some €40 million goes to a new Aurora planetary, technology and manned spaceflight research programme and €133 million has been allocated for developing a larger, more powerful communica tions satellite bus. COMMUNICATIONS Russians team on upgrade Russian space company Khrunichev and national satel lite operator Russian Satellite Communications have agreed to co-operate on upgrading the country's communica tions satellite systems. Russia has 30 unoccupied positions in geostationary orbit which must be filled by 2006 or they could be given to other countries by the International Telecommunic ation Union. Russia's parliament has agreed to the launch of seven communications satellites and will subsidise up to 30% of the costs. Khrunichev has designed a new small-class satellite plat form, Yakhta, on which the satellites will be based and launches are planned for the new Angara fleet and current Rockot boosters. LAUNCH VEHICLES H2A commercial flight put back Japan's National Space Development Agency has postponed the first opera tional mission of the new H2A satellite launch vehicle from July/August next year to November at the earliest. The flight, the third by the launcher, will carry the Advanced Observation Satellite (Adeos 2) and three microsatel- lites, including the Australian-built FedSat 1. The delay to the H2A-3 flight is intended to allow further analysis of the first test flights. The second test flight of the H2A is planned for 31 January, carrying the MDS-1 technology satellite. The fourth flight in 2003 will launch the first Data Relay Test Satellite and an Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System, while the fifth mission will carry the Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT1R) meteorology and navigation satellite. Delivery of the Space Systems/Loral-built MTSAT is believed to have been delayed six months by tighter US controls on technol ogy exports. MTSAT 1 was lost in the failure of the original H2 booster in 1999. NOISY ISS Noise on the International Space Station (ISS) is the most serious issue about living in space, according to ISS crews. They say they are forced to wear ear plugs and headsets due to the continuous noise, largely attrib uted to cooling and circulation fans. Most noise comes from the Russian Zvezda service module, but the US Destiny laboratory is also noisy. To meet the ISS schedule, two Russian modules were accepted for flight despite not meeting safety limits for noise. SIRIUS LAUNCH Sirius Satellite Radio will intro duce its radio services to three US cities on 14 February but does not intend to extend the broadcasts until the third quarter of the year. The company says it has $375 million - enough to fund operations until the third quarter of next year. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 NOVEMBER - 3 DEC EM BER 2001 25
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