The European Space Agency was formed out of.

and took over the L 'Agence Spatiale Europeenne est issue des deux Organisations spatiales
rights and obligations of. the two earlier European Space Organisations: europeennes qui I'ont precedee .- I'Organisation europeenne de recher-
the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) and the European ches spatiales (CERS) et I'Organisation europeenne pour la mise au
Organisation for the Development and Construction of Space Vehicle point et la construction de lanceurs d'engins spatiaux (CECLES) -
Launchers (ELDO). The Member States are Belgium. Denmark. France.
dont elle a repris les droits et obligations. Les Etats membres en sont:
Germany. Italy. Netherlands. Spain. Sweden. Switzerland and the
United Kingdom . I'Allemagne, la 8elgique, le Danemark, I'Espagne. la France, I'ltalie. les
Pays-8as, le Royaume-Uni, la Suede et la Suisse.
In the words of the Convention : The purpose of the Agency shall be to
provide for and to promote. for exclusively peaceful purposes. co- Selon les termes de la Convention : L'Agence a pour mission d'assurer et
operation among European States in space research and technology de developper, a des fins exclusivement pacifiques, la cooperation entre
and their space applications. with a view to their being used for scient- Etats europeens dans les domaines de la recherche et de la technologie
ific purposes and for operational space applications systems. spatiales et de leurs applications spatiales, en vue de leur utilisation a
des fins scientifiques et pour des systemes spatiaux operationnels d'ap-
(a) by elaborating and implementi ng a long-term European space
policy. by recommending space objectives to the Member States.
plications:
and by concerting the pol icies of the Member States with respect
to other national and international organisations and institutions; (a) en (Haborant et en mettant en oeuvre une politique spatiale euro-
peenne a long terme, en recommandant aux Etats membres des
(b) by elaborating and implementing activities and programmes in the objectifs en matiere spatiale et en concertant les politiques des
space field; Etats membres a I'egard d 'autres organisations et institutions
nationales et internationales:
(c) by co-ordinating the European space programme and national
programmes. and by integrating the latter progressively and as (b) en elaborant et en mettant en oeuvre des activites et des pro-
completely as possible into the European space programme. in grammes dans le domaine spatial:
particular as regards the development of applications satellites;
(c) en coordonnant le programme spatial europtien et les programmes
(d) by elaborating and implementing the industrial policy appropriate
to its programme and by recommending a coherent industrial nationaux, et en integrant ces derniers progressivement et aussi
policy to the Member States. completement que possible dans le programme spatial europeen,
notamment en ce qui concerne le developpement de satellites
The Agency is directed by a Council composed of representatives of d'applications:
Member States. The Director General is the chief executive of the
Agency and its legal representative. (d) en elaborant et en mettant en oeuvre la politique industrielle
appropriee a son programme et en recommandant aux Etats
The Directorate of the Agency consists of the Director General; the
Director of Planning and Future Programmes; the Director of Admini -
membres une politique industrielle coherente.
stration ; the Director of Scientific and Meteorological Satellite Pro-
grammes; the Director of Communication Satellite Programmes; the L 'Agence est dirigee par un Conseil, compose de representants des Etats
Director of the Spacelab Programme; th e Technical Inspector; the membres. Le Directeur general est le fonctionnaire ext!cutif superieur
Director of ESTEC and the Director of ESOC. de I'Agence et la represente dans tous ses actes.
The ESA HEADQUARTERS are in Paris (Neuilly -sur-Seine). Le Directoire de I'Agence est compose du Directeur general, du Direc-
The major establishments of ESA are: teur des Programmes futurs et des Plans, du Directeur de I'Administra-
tion, du Directeur des Programmes de satellites scientifiques et meteo-
EUROPEAN SPACE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE rologique, du Directeur des Programmes de satellites de communica-
(ESTEC). Noordwijk. Netherlands. tions, du Directeur du Programme Space lab. de I'Inspecteur technique,
du Directeur de I'ESTEC et du Directeur de I'ESOC.
EUROPEAN SPACE OPERATIONS CENTRE (ESOCl. Darmstadt.
Germany. Le SIEGE de I'ASE est aParis (Neuilly-sur-Seine).
EUROPEAN SPACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ESRINl. Frascati.
Italy .
Les principaux Etablissements de rASE sont:

LE CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHE ET DE TECHNOLOGIE

SPA TlALES (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Pays-8as.

LE CENTRE EUROPEEN D'OPERATIONS SPATIALES (ESOC),

Darmstadt, Allemagne.

L'INSTlTUT EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHES SPATlALES (ESRIN),

Frascati, Italie.

Chairman of the Council for 1976: Dr . W. F inke (Germany). President du Conseil pour 1976: Dr. W. Finke (Allemagne ).

Director General : Mr. R . Gibson. Directeur general: M. R. Gibson.

No.4 February/Fevrier 1976 Contents/Sommaire
Director General's Message 3
The ESA Bulletin is published by the European Message du Directeur general
Space Agency .
Individual articles may be reprinted provided The New European Space Agency 4
that the credit line reads 'Reprinted from the La nouvelle Agence spatiale europeenne
ESA Bulletin ' plus date of issue, and two
voucher copies are sent to the Editorial Office. Ireland to become 11th Member of ESA 11
Signed articles reprinted must bear the author's L'lrelande deviendra 11 e membre de I'ASE
name.
La structure des Comites de l'Agence spatiale euro-
peenne 12
Le Bulletin ASE est une publication editee par
Last Orbit for HEOS-1, ESA's Longest-Living
rAgence Spatiale Europeenne. Satellite 14
Les articles peuvent Dtre reproduits a condition The International Magnetospheric Study 16
d'Dtre accompagnes de la mention 'Reproduit
du Bulletin ASE' en precisant la date du nume- The GEOS Data Stream - How is it generated and
ro. Deux exemplaires jqstificatifs devront Dtre how will it be handled? 20
envoyes au Bureau de la redaction. Les articles
signes ne pourront Dtre reproduits qu'avec la COS-S Operational 26
signature de leur auteur. The European Space Effort in the Light of Global
European Policy 32
For availability of ESA scientific and technical The Accounting Unit and its Problems 34
publications, see page 73.
L'unite de compte et ses problemes
All requests for general information on ESA Projects under Development 37
activities (literature, photographs, films, etc.)
should be addressed to the Public Relations Projets en cou rs de real isation
Branch, ESA, 114, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle,
92522 Neuilly-sur·Seine, France. The Organisational Framework of the Spacelab Pro-
gramme 59
Pour obtenir les publications sCientifiques et
techniques de rASE, voir page 73. Joint ESA/NASA Spacelab Experiment Simulation
Toutes autres demandes de renseignements con- Programme 65
cernant les activites generales de rASE (docu- Utilisation of Spacelab for Life-Science Experiments 68
mentation, photographies, films etc.) doivent
Dtre adressees au Service des Relations publi- ESA Scientific and Technical Review 71
ques de rASE, 114, avenue Charles-de-Gaul/e,
92522 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Revue scientifique et techn ique ASE
Publications 73

Editorial and Circulation Office/Bureau de la

redaction et distribution
ESA Scientific and Technical
Information Branch,
ESTEC, Noordwijk,
Netherlands.
COVER/COUVERTURE: P.T. Stevens, ESTEC Graphics, from photo-
Editors/Redacteurs graph by E. Hartmann (MAGNUM). Both cover and frontispiece show a
B. Battrick VHF antenna at ESA's Redu ground station .
T.D . Guyenne

Art Editor/Maquettiste PHOTOGRAPHS/PHOTOGRAPHIES : Erich Hartmann (page 2);

S. Vermeer NASDA (page 11); ESA/ESTEC Photographic Department (pages 15,
19, 40, 48, 71) ; BAC (page 21); Canadian Department of Communi-
Printer/lmprimeur cations (page 31); NASA (pages 43, 65, 67); M.P. Hubrecht ESA P.R.
ESTEC Reproduction Services 760058 (pages 53, 56); SEP (page 58); lan Berry for MAGNUM (page 59).
2
Director General's Message
Message du Directeur general

Je saisis f'occasion de ce premier bulletin de la nouvelle annee Let me take this opportunity of thanking all ESA staff for
pour remercier f'ensemble du personnel de f'Agence du travail their efforts in 1975. It was an extremely busy year, but it
qu'il a accompli en 1975. L'annee ecoutee a certes ete pour ended happily at the Council meeting in mid-December when
nous une annee de tres gros efforts mais qui ont ete couronnes the Agency's budgets for 1976 were approved. Council dele-
par f'approbation des budgets de I'Agence pour 1976, donnee gates on several occasions during the year paid tribute to the
par le Conseil a sa session de la mi-decembre. A plusieurs work of the Agency's staff, and, on the occasion of the formal
reprises, les delegues au Conseilont, f'an passe, rendu hommage acceptance of the 1974 accounts, the Council Resolution for
au travail du personnel de f'Agence, notamment lors de f'ap - the first time included thanks to staff for 'their efforts in
probation officielle des comptes de f'exercise 1974 ou, pour la ensuring efficient management of the Organisation's affairs'.
premiere fois, le Conseil a remercie dans une Resolution les
membres du personnel de f'Agence des 'efforts qu'ils ont faits During talks to staff at our various locations I have tried to
pour assurer une gestion efficace des affaires de f'Organisation ~ explain what the year ahead holds for us, and it is perhaps not
appropriate here to go into much detail. I WOUld, however, like
Au cours des conversations que j'ai eues avec le personnel dans to emphasise that it will be another busy and important year.
nos divers etablissements, j'ai essaye d'expliquer ce que f'annee One from time to time hears the doom-laden predictions of
qui s'ouvre nous reserve et il n'est donc peut-etre pas utile d'y our home-produced soothsayers. The versions vary , but many
revenir ici en detail. J'aimerais toutefois souligner que cette contain stark descriptions of the Agency's decline and fall. I
annee sera, elle aussi, importante et chargee de travail. De am fully aware of the dangers which face us in the coming
temps a autre des 'augures maison' font circuler dans nos murs year, and particularly of the need for us not simply to restrict
des rumeurs alarmantes. Les versions varient mais beaucoup de our attention to our immense on-going programme, but to be
ces propheties s'accompagnent de sombres descriptions du actively looking to the future. I and my colleagues in the
declin et de la chute de notre Agence. Je suis pleinement Directorate are already addressing ourselves to this subject and
conscient des dangers auxquels nous serons confrontes cette many of you are associated with the various studies that are
annee et en particulier de la necessite dans laquelle nous under way; I frankly find it difficult to be othe r than
sommes de ne pas limiter uniquement notre attention a optimistic about our future.
!'immense programme que nous avons en cours mais aussi
d'envisager dynamiquement I'avenir. Mes collegues du Direc- But, however important it may be to assure the medium-term
toire et moi nous sommes deja atteles a cette tache et plusieurs future of the Agency, it must be clear that our first respons-
d'entre vous sont associes aux diverses etudes qui ont ete ibility is to the existing programmes. It is by our performance
entreprises; en toute conscience, je pense que I'on peut on these programmes that we will be judged. For this I need
difficilement ne pas se montrer optimiste devant notre avenir. the help and enthusiasm of every single staff member. As a
return for this help, I have tried to show that the management
Mais, quelque important que puisse etre le fait d'assurer of the Agency truly has the interests of staff at heart and I
f'avenir a moyen terme de notre Agence, il doit etre clair que believe that we can all see one or two major achievements in
notre responsabilite porte au premier chef sur les programmes th is field. In 1976 I intend to continue to give staff the
existants. C'est sur la far;on dont nous executerons ces pro- opportunity of understanding and participating in the activ-
grammes que nous serons juges. J'ai besoin pour cela de I'aide ities of the Agency, both through meetings with the Staff
et de I'enthousiasme de chacun d'entre vous. J'espere avoir Association Committee and in larger get-togethers with staff. I
montre qu'en retour la Direction de I'Agence prend reellement shall on these occasions be frank and expect you to be the
a coeur les interets du personnel et je pense qu'a cet egard same. Your contribution to the achievement of the Agency's
nous pouvons tous reconnai'tre qu'un ou deux grands resultats objectives is very much needed.
ont ere acquis. Mon intention est de continuer en 1976 adonner
au personnel la possibilite de comprendre le sens des activites de A happy and successful 1976 to you all.
I'Agence et d'y participer, tant au cours de reunions avec le
Comite central de f'Association du Personnel que d'assemblees
plus nombreuses. Je me montrerai franc en ces occasions et j'en
attends autant de vous. Je compte sincerement sur votre co-
operation active a la realisation des objectifs de f'Agence.

Je vous souhaite a tous une bonne et heureuse annee 1976. R. GIBSON

3
The New European Space Agency
La nouvelle Agence spatiale europeenne
G. Geens, Belgian Secretary of State for Science Policy
SecnJtaire d'Etat a la Politique scientifique de Belgique

Monsieur le President, Mesdames, Messieurs,

The following text is extracted from the speech made by Mr. Je suis tres sensible a !'invitation que votre President m'a faite
Gaston Geens before the Parliamentary Assembly of the de vous parler aujourd'hui des activites spatiales europeennes
Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 2 October 1975, in his et en particulier de I'Agence spatiale europeenne.
capacity as Chairman of the European Space Conference.
La creation de cette Agence ne peut certes pas laisser indif-
ferente votre Assemblee qui, depuis de nombreuses annees
Le texte suivant est extra it du discours que M. Gaston Geens a deja, s'est activement interessee aux problemes spatiaux de
prononce devant I' Assemblee parlementaire du Conseil de I'Europe. Ce fut, en effet, des I'automne 1960, que votre
l'Europe a Strasbourg le 2 octobre 1975, en sa qualite de Assemblee adopta pour la premiere fois une recommandation
President de la Conference spatia le europeenne. proposant la creation d'une organisation europeenne de
I'espace. Les idees n'etaient apparemment pas encl)re mDres a
cette epoque en faveur de I'integration totale des efforts, car
deux organisations furent creees, I'une appelee a s'occuper des
lanceurs, I'autre de la recherche scientifique.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Cependant, vous etes intervenus depuis lors avec constance en
faveur de la mise en place d'une seule Agence spatiale euro-
I very much appreciate your President's invitation to talk to peenne et d'une politique aussi integree que possible. Voila 'vos
you today about European space activities, and in particular efforts finalement couronnes de succes en cette annee du
about the European Space Agency. quinzieme anniversaire de votre premiere recommandation.

Your Assembly certainly cannot be indifferent to the creation La voie de I'unification de I'Europe, qui est un des principaux
of that organisation, since you have taken an active interest in objectifs poursuivis par le Conseil de I'Europe, est parsemee
European space problems for many years. In fact, it was in the d'obstac/es; dans le domaine des activites spatiales, ce fut
autumn of 1960 that your Assembly for the first time adopted peut-etre davantage le cas qu'ailleurs. La creation de I'Agence
a recommendation for the creation of a European space spatiale europeenne est en realite le denouement d'une longue
organisation. At that point it would appear that the time was crise qui a commence deja en 1966 par la controverse au sujet
not yet ripe for the idea of complete integration of effort, for de I'opportunite de continuer le projet de lanceur Europa I. Ce
two organisations were set up, one to deal with launchers, and n'est que pas a pas que toutes les hesitations politiques, tech-
the other with scientific research. niques, voire psychologiques furent vaincues. Le resultat est
neanmoins tres encourageant, I'Europe possede maintenant un
However, since then you have never wavered in your demand outil, elle dispose des moyens financiers et techniques pour
for the establishment of a single European Space Agency and realiser ses programmes et ses objectifs. Mais if reste beaucoup
as integrated a policy as possible. And now your efforts are at a faire. La volonte politique qui s'est manifestee doit etre cuI-
last crowned with success on this fifteenth anniversary of your tivee et renforcee afin de garantir I'avenir de I'Europe spatiale.
first recommendation .
Je souhaiterais d'abord rappeler ce que la Convention qui vient
The road to European unification, which is one of the Council d'etre signee apporte de vraiment nouveau par rapport aux
of Europe's prime objectives, is strewn with obstacles, perhaps deux conventions existantes. Ensuite, je tacherai de mettre en
more so in the space field than anywhere else. The creation of lumiere brievement les perspectives que nous offre cette Con-
the European Space Agency is actually the final phase of a vention et je pense qu'il serait egalement interessant de
long crisis which began as early as 1966 with the argument souligner dans quelle mesure la nouvelle Convention est un
about the desirability of continuing with the Europa I launch- element important dans I'ensemble de la construction de
er project. It was only very gradually that all the political, I'Europe. Je terminerai par un bref commentaire des pro-
technical and even psychological misgivings were overcome. grammes en cours qui demontre a la fois I'ampleur de I'effort
The result is nevertheless very encouraging, and Europe now deja entrepris et la demarche qu 'il faut entreprendre pour
has its instrument and the financial and technical means for encore I'harmoniser.
carrying out its programmes and reaching its objectives . But a

4
great deal remains to be done. The political will which has NOUVELLES IDEES CONCRETISEES DANS LA NOU-
made itself apparent must be cultivated and strengthened so as VELLE CONVENTION
to guarantee Europe's future in space.
(a) Les deux conventions existantes ne prevoyaient pas I'insti-
I want to begin by reminding you that the Convention which tutionalisation de la deliberation au niveau politique. C'etait
has just been signed really has something new to offer as une lacune reelle qui fut d'ailleurs combJee partiellement par la
compared with the two existing conventions. Then I shall try creation en 1967 de la Conference spatiale europeenne, qui a
to point briefly to the prospects this new Convention opens up depuis lors ete le forum ou les grandes options politiques de
for us, and I think it may also be important to stress how I'Europe ont ete debattues. Mais il fallait doter cette Confe-
important the Convention is to the whole construction of rence d'un veritable statut juridique lui permettant de prendre
Europe. I shall end with a brief commentary on the pro- des decisions directement executoires. C'est desormais chose
grammes under way, which show both the magnitude of the faite dans la Convention de I'ASE.
effort already undertaken and the steps needed to harmonise it
still further. L 'accord qui a ete realise dans ce domaine est a mon avis
capital. Les activites spatiales ont, en effet, pour chaque pays
pris separement et pour I'Europe consideree globalement, un
FRESH IDEAS MADE CONCRETE IN THE NEW CON- impact direct sur la politique scientifique, sur la politique de
VENTION promotion des technologies avancees ainsi que sur la politique
industrielle. Les decisions a prendre revetent donc un caractere
(a) The two existing conventions did not provide for the de politique globale, c'est-a-dire qu'elles interessent les respon-
institutionalisation of political discussion. That was a real sables au niveau gouvernemental.
gap which was partially bridged, however, by the creation
in 1967 of the European Space Conference which has, (b) Une autre innovation est I'acheminement progressif d'un
since then, provided a forum where Europe's political systeme de coexistence de programmes europeens et nationaux
options have been debated. But it was essential to give the vers un systeme de veritable communaute spatiale europeenne
Conference real political status which would allow it to ou il n'y ait plus que des programmes europ(jens. C'est cela
take decisions for direct action. That has been done in the I'objectif de I'europeanisation par etapes successives des divers
ESA Convention. programmes nationaux, objectif qui ne manque certes pas
d'ambition. Ici encore, il ne faut pas sous-estimer les difficultes
The Convention concluded in this field is, in my view, of auxquelles on sera confronte. Ce serait mal connartre nos pays
capital importance. For each country separately, and for de I'Europe occidentale que de s'imaginer que les programmes
Europe as a whole, space activities have a direct impact on nationaux seront faciles a integrer dans un vaste ensemble
science policy, on the policy for promoting advanced europeen.
technology and on industrial pol icy. The decisions that
have to be taken thus affect overall policy, which means Mais I'effort doit etre tente. Sans cette integration, I'activite
that they are of concern to those responsible for govern- spatiale me parart impossible a soutenir et a rentabiliser. 11
ment. s'agit en effet, d'une part, de realiser I'economie des moyens et
d'eliminer les duplications; d'autre part, de s'assurer qu'une
(b) Another innovation is the way in which the system communaute suffisamment grande s'interesse au produit et
whereby EUropean and national programmes 'co-existed' s'applique a I'utiliser.
alongside each other is progressively giving way to the
creation of a real European space community whose only Par ailleurs, la Communaute spatiale europeenne, rassembJee
programmes will be European ones. That is the aim of the dans I'ASE, sera prete a accorder son assistance, en installa-
gradual Europeanisation of the various national pro- tions, en materiel et meme en personnel, aux Etats membres
grammes, an aim that certainly cannot be described as qui le solliciteraient pour des activites spatiales a des fins
unambitious. But here again the difficulties must not be pacifiques.
underestimated. To imagine that the integration of our
national programmes into an overall EUropean scheme will (c) Les deux conventions existantes mentionnaient, plutot
be an easy task would be to display great ignorance of our timidement, la possibilite d'une exploitation commerciale des
western European countries. equipements developpes en commun. Ces dispositions etaient

5
 Still the effort must be made. Without such integration trop vagues, bien qu'annon9ant dlHa la phase des applications
the pursuit, let alone the economic pursuit, of space pratiques de I'espace. Depuis le debut des annees 1960, on a
activity seems to me impossible. Two things are needed: assiste a une evolution tres caracteristique des activites spa-
firstly, to economise the means at our disposal and to tiales.
eliminate duplication; secondly, to ensure that a suf-
ficiently large-scale community will interest itself in the La mission spatia le, initialement vouee a la recherche scienti-
product of such activity and apply itself to making use of fique et a la performance technologique, s'est progressivement
it. axee sur des finalites economiques plus directes. Je citerai
simplement I'exemple des satellites de telecommunications,
Moreover, the European Space Community, in the d'aide a la navigation maritime et aerienne, de meteorologie,
material form of ESA, will always be ready to provide enfin de detection des ressources terrestres. Ces applications
assistance, in the shape of installations, material and even jouent desormais un role essentiel dans I'ensemble des activites
personnel, to any Member States asking for it in con- spatiales.
nection with space activities for peaceful purposes.
Aussi fallait-il inserer dans les statu ts et dans la mission de la
(c) The two conventions already in existence both referred, if nouvelle Agence des dispositions specifiques a cet effet:
somewhat timidly, to the possibility of the use on a com-
mercial basis of material developed jointly. These provi- la Convention nouvelle assigne formellement aux activites
sions, however, were worded too vaguely, although they de I'Agence, a cOte des finalites scientifiques, une finalite
did foreshadow the stage of practical application. Since debouchant sur des systemes operationnels d'application;
the early 1960's, there has been a highly significant devel - I'Agence a pour mission d'assurer et de developper la coope-
opment of space activities. ration europeenne dans ce domaine;
elle est dotee des moyens de s'y mouvoir avec une indepen'
The exploration of space, undertaken at first for purposes dance relative, notamment par la disposition de ses propres
of scientific research and technological development, has moyens de lancement et elle devra s'assurer la rentabilite de
been progressively directed towards more purely eco- cet effort par une priorite relative donnee a I'utilisation de
nomic ends. I need only mention the example of tele- ses propres developpements;
communications satellites, navigational aids for ships and el/e a competence et vocation d'organiser les rapports avec
aircraft, meteorology, and the search for underground les futurs usagers des systemes qu'elle developpe et de leur
minerals, all of which will from now on have an important apporter son appui technique ainsi que I'utilisation de ses
role in space activities as a whole. instal/ations.

For these reasons we have felt it necessary to include in (d) Par rapport aux conventions existantes, la Convention
the statutes and objectives of the new Agency a number ASE renforce le principe de la continuite de la politique
of specific provisions: menee. Ainsi la planification budgetaire portera desormais sur
cinq annees; par ail/eurs, les possibilites de retrait ont ete
the new Convention explicitly includes among the rendues plus difficiles et le financement des engagements pris,
Agency's activities, alongside its scientific aims, one d'un commun accord, avant le re trait eventuel, devra etre
relating to operational applications systems honore.
the task of the Agency is to ensure and develop
European co-operation in the space field Bien entendu, aucune convention internationale ne peut don-
the Agency is given the means to act on a relatively ner la garantie absolue que tous les programmes seront execu-
independent basis, by the possession inter alia of its tes jusqu'a leur terme sans defaillance aucune. Tout ce que je
own launching equipment, and it is to ensure the peux dire a ce sujet c'est que la volonte politique existe chez
viability of this side of its work by a certain degree of tous les partenaires in distinctement, a I'heure actuelle, et
priority for the use of its own productions j'estime que ceci est tout a fait reconfortant, eu egard aux
it has the necessary powers and is responsible for hesitations du passe.
arranging its relations with those who may in future
make use of the systems it develops, as well as for (e) Un dernier domaine dans lequella Convention ASE innove
affording them technical support and allowing them est celui de la pol itique industrielle. Dans le passe, la politique
the use of its installations.

6
(d) So far as the existing conventions are concerned, the ESA industrielle de certaines organisations europeennes de techno-
Convention upholds the principle of a continuing policy. logie de pointe, que ce soit dans le domaine de I'espace ou
Hence, budgetary planning will in future cover five-year dans d'autres domaines, s'est trop souvent limitee au probleme
periods; the possibility of withdrawal from the Agency de ce qu'il a ete convenu d'appeler 'le juste retour~
has been rendered more difficult and any financial obli-
gations arising out of jointly agreed projects must be Sans meconnartre !'importance de cette notion, les redacteurs
carried out before any such withdrawal takes place. de la Convention ont cependant estime qu'il fallait I'englober
dans un ensemble plus vaste. On a pris conscience du fait que
Obviously, no international convention can give an abso- la competitivite de !'industrie europeenne sur le plan mondial
lute guarantee that all the programmes will be carried doit etre sauvegardee a tout prix et que I'amelioration de cette
through in their entirety. All I can say is that the political competitivite doit etre un objectif fondamental de la politique
will exists at present in all the participants without industrielle. Un autre objectif est la recherche des debauches
distinction, a fact I regard as highly encouraging, given the capables de rentabiliser les efforts financiers considerables
doubts manifested in the past. consentis par les Etats membres. Enfin, la rationalisation et la
specialisation de nos industries seront indispensables si I'on
(e) One other field in which the ESA Convention breaks new veut maintenir leur competitivite vis-a-vis de la concurrence
ground is that of industrial policy. In the past, the indus- mondiale. Ainsi la politique industrielle de I'Agence couvrira
trial policy of certain advanced European technological un domaine tres vaste dans lequel des exigences vitales pour
organisations, in space and other fields, has too often been I'avenir de nos industriels, mais procedant parfois d'interets
restricted to the question of what it has been agreed to contradictoires, devront etre satisfaites.
call the 'fair return'.
PERSPECTIVES OFFERTES PAR LA CREATION ET LA
Without failing to recognise the importance of this idea, MISE EN ROUTE DE L'AGENCE SPATlALE EUROPEENI'JE
those who drafted the Convention thought it should be
made part of a larger whole . It was realised that the com- (a) L 'oeuvre de cooperation que nous avons entreprise est une
petitiveness of EUropean industry in the world must be oeuvre pacifique. Elle a pour but de mieux connaitre I'espace
safeguarded at all costs, and that increasing this compe- et de mieux utiliser les possibilites particulieres qu'i! nous offre,
titiveness must be a basic objective of industrial pol icy . notamment dans les domaines de I'observation et de la propa-
Another objective is the search for markets which can gation des signaux. Precisement parce que notre oeuvre est
make the considerable financial effort undertaken by the pacifique, ses fruits ne doivent pas etre limites cl I'Europe
Member States economic. Finally, our industries will have seulement, mais devraient pouvoir etre mis a la disposition
to be nationalised and specialised if we want to keep them d'autres pays dans un but de cooperation pacifique. Cette
abreast of world competition. So the Agency's industrial ouverture me parait importante pour les relations de I'Europe
policy will cover a very wide field in which certain vital spatiale avec le reste du monde et je me rejouis des perspec-
future requirements for our industries, sometimes deriving tives qu'elle offre.
from contradictory interests, will have to be satisfied.
Bien entendu, il faudra dans ce domaine une approche qui
PROSPECTS OPENED UP BY THE ESTABLISHMENT AND reponde aux besoins reels des utilisateurs et tienne compte de
OPERATION OF THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY leurs aspirations propres. Dans ce contexte, il est d'une impor-
tance capitale de pouvoir fournir des systemes operationnels
(a) The task that we have undertaken is one of peaceful co- complets, de preter I'assistance necessaire cl leur entretien et
operation . Its aim is to gain a better knowledge of space leur mise en oeuvre, enfin d'assister ces utilisateurs dans
and to make better use of the special opportunities which I'acquisition des techniques nouvelles dans la mesure de leurs
it affords us, particularly in the fields of observation and besoins.
signalling. Precisely because of the peaceful nature of our
work, its fruits should not be confined to Europe alone La commercialisation reste, evidemment, au premier chef, le
but ought to be made available to other countries in a role de l'industrie elle-meme. Celui de I'Organisation consiste cl
spirit of peaceful co-operation. This seems to me to be of susciter au sein de I'industrie les activites repondant cl ces
importance for the relations of space-age Europe with the exigences, a faire connartre la capacite technologique de
rest of the world and I welcome the prospects which it I'Europe, a etablir des contacts et a preter son assistance tech-
opens up.

7
 In this field, of course, we must adopt an approach which nique. Dans ce but, des seminaires d'inforrnation sont organi-
will meet the real needs of users and take their own aspira- ses et des echanges de stagiaires auront lieu pour que ceux-ci
tions into account. In this context, it is vital for us to be puissent se perfectionner dans les technologies nouvel/es.
able to provide complete operational systems, to give the
assistance necessary for their maintenance and use, and to (b) Une deuxieme perspective ouverte par la creation de
help the users to acquire any new techniques which they I'Agence spatiale europeenne concerne le developpement
may need. d'une activite originale propre a l'Europe. Jusqu'a present,
I'Europe a trop souvent ete reduite a s'interesser a des syste-
Marketing obviously remains primarily the role of the mes deja developpes ailleurs dans le monde.
industry itself. The Agency's role is to stimulate within
the industry activities which meet the above demands, to Ce decalage technologique, cette arrivee tardive sur le marche
gain recognition for Europe's technological capacity, to et, tres souvent, cette dependance de produits et de services
establish contacts and to give technical assistance. To this fournis ail/eurs dans des conditions commercialement attrayan-
end, information seminars are held and exchanges will be tes, constituent un handicap serieux pour l'industrie euro-
organised between trainees to enable them to perfect their peenne. 1/ est donc d'une importance majeure d'identifier des
knowledge of the new techniques. voies originales. La mutation economique que la societe mon-
diale commence cl subir sous I'effet de la limitation des ressour-
(b) A further vista opened up by the creation of the European ces doit certes offrir des opportunites cl ceux qui ont !'imagi-
Space Agency is the development of an original activity nation, I'experience et I'esprit d'entreprise necessaires.
specific to Europe. Up to now, Europe has too often been
reduced to taking an interest in systems already developed Je crois que la politique de I'ASE doit consister a amorcer et cl
elsewhere in the world. soutenir pareil/e demarche. L 'Europe me semble intel/ectuel/e-
ment et materiel/ement a meme de tenter cet effort. Pour que
Its technological time-lag, its late arrival in the market celui-ci ait des chances reel/es d'aboutir, il doit cependant etre
and, very frequently, its dependence on products manu- prepare et accompagne d'une suffisante independance techno-
factured and services provided elsewhere on commercially logique: cl cet egard, je songe notamment aux efforts que nous
attractive conditions are serious handicaps for the Euro- consacrons a disposer de moyens de lancement propres et a
pean industry. It is therefore most important that we produire des composants de haute qualification. 11 faut aussi
should find some new paths to tread. The economic une suffisante integration des activites spatiales tant sous
changes that are beginning to be felt throughout the world I'aspect de la communaute des objectifs que sous celui de la
with the limitation of resources must surely afford many concentration des moyens et de la haute specialisation.
opportunities for those with the necessary imagination,
experience and enterprise. (c) La Convention de I'ASE, comme je I'ai deja indique, insti-
tutionnalise la concertation au niveau gouvernemental. Cet
I think that the policy of ESA should be to trigger off instrument de deliberation commune aura bien entendu la
and back up action of this kind. To my mind, Europe is valeur et I'utilite que les gouvernements europeens voudront
intellectually and materially capable of making this effort. bien lui donner. Les probtemes qui seront soumis cl cette
If there is to be any real chance of success, however, deliberation seront, en effet, tres importants et ardus. En
preparatory work must be done and adequate technolo- premier lieu, il y a /'objectif eloigne, mais realisable, de
gical independence secured; in this context, I am thinking I' europeanisation des programmes nationaux.
particularly of the efforts which we are making to obtain
our own launching facilities and produce high-quality L 'experience nous apprend, en effet, que plutOt que de
components. It is necessary, too, to integrate our space susciter une saine emulation, ces programmes n'aboutissent
activities sufficiently, with as common objectives a con- trop souvent qU'cl la duplication et cl la fragmentation des
centration of resources and high specialisation. efforts ainsi qu'au cloisonnement des debouches. Par ail/eurs, il
faudra progressivement tendre vers des programmes dans
(c) As I have already mentioned, the ESA Convention puts lesquels les activites communes, decidees et entreprises en
consultation at government level on an official footing. Of commun par tous les Etats membres, prendront le pas sur les
course, this instrument of common discussion will only be activites facultatives. Toujours dans le meme ordre d'idees,
as valuable and useful as the governments of Europe make nous devrons veil/er cl ce que les programmes europeens soient

8
 it. The problems to be discussed will be very crucial and le moins possible soumis cl ce qu'on a appele dans le passe 'le
thorny ones. First and foremost there is the remote, but leadership'. L 'histoire des debuts de I'Europe spatiale nous a
nevertheless attainable, objective of Europeanising appris que dans des programmes techniques complexes, le
national programmes. leadership ne peut etre laisse sans inconvenient aux differents
Etats membres mais que la maftrise d'oeuvre doit au contraire
Experience has taught us that, rather than stimulating etre confiee cl I'Organisation e/le-meme, qui est I'emanation de
healthy rivalry, such programmes all too often lead only la volonte commune de ces Etats. Enfin, il est important que
to duplication and dissipation of effort and to compart- I'Europe soutienne son effort de developpement par I'utili-
mentalisation of outlets. In addition, we should work sation de ses propres produits. Pour atteindre pareil objectif
increasingly towards programmes in which common activi- dans des conditions economiques et commerciales justifiables,
ties planned and put into action jointly by all the Member I'ensemble de la communaute doit etre interesse cl la produc-
States will outweigh optional projects. Still in the same tion. A cet egard, un double effort doit etre fait pour identifier
line of thinking, we must ensure that European pro- cl longue echeance les besoins du marche europeen et, correla-
grammes are marked as little as possible by what has been tivement, pour concevoir la satisfaction de ces besoins en fonc-
known in the past as 'leadership'. The story of the begin- tion des disponibilites prop res de I'Europe.
nings of European space projects has taught us that, where
complex technical programmes are involved, no Member Je crois que I'ASE, te/le que nous I'avons organisee, est doMe
State may safely be left to lead the project, but that the sur les plans humain et materiel des moyens necessaires pour
organisation itself must control it, being the expression of entreprendre I'effort dans ces perspectives. Je crois par ai/leurs
the common will of the States. Lastly, Europe must que les principes deposes dans la Convention et les structures
continue its efforts at development through the use of its de concertation et de decision que nous y avons prevues
own products. To attain this objective in reasonable permettront cl I'Agence de progresser, pourvu que la volonte
economic and commercial conditions, the community as a politique qui a inspire ces principes et ces structures persiste et
whole must be involved in production. In this context an se developpe.
effort must be made both to identify the long-term needs
of the European Market and at the same time to plan how Tel/e est la tache importante et stimulante que la nouve/le
to meet these needs with the resources available in Agence spatiale europeenne aura devant el/e. EI/e aura de
Europe. nombreuses missions, dont je voudrais souligner cel/e qui
consiste cl etre un element de I'unification politique de
think that ESA, as we have organised it, has the necessary I'Europe.
resources in terms of manpower and material to make the
effort. I also think that the principles set out in the Con- Je citerai cl cet egard le rapprochement des legislations. Les
vention and the system of consultation and decision-making conditions generales des marches publics elaborees par les deux
provided for in it will enable the Agency to progress, provided organisations spatiales precedentes ant joue un role de cata-
the political will which underlies the principles and the system Iyseur pour les reglements nationaux. L 'Agence pourra plus
is sustained and grows. efficacement encore poursuivre cet effort.

Such is the important, stimulating task which lies before the Je pense egalement cl la politique industriel/e, dont je viens de
new European Space Agency. It will have many missions, one vous entretenir. Par ail/eurs, je suis persuade que la formation
of which, its ability to contribute to the political unification d'equipes de techniciens de I'Europe entiere, travail/ant pour
of Europe, I should like to dwell on. relever les memes detis techniques, sera un element tres actif
de rapprochement de nos pays dans une ambition commune.
In this context I would mention the job of harmonising legis-
lation. The general conditions created by the two previous Enfin, cl I'egard de I'exterieur, I'Agence sera le lieu ou s'elabo-
space organisations for public tendering acted as a catalyst for reront des attitudes communes ou harmonisees entre nos pays.
national regulations. The Agency will be able to perform this Je pense ici, notamment, cl la concertation des Etats europeens
function even more effectively. en vue de la preparation des debats sur les problemes spatiaux
aux Nations Unies.
I am thinking, too, of industrial policy, of which I have just
been speaking. I am also convinced that the formation of Mais c'est essentiel/ement par ses exigences propres sur le plan

9
teams of technologists from all over Europe to face the same des performances scientifiques, techniques, industrielles et
technical challenges will be one very positive factor in bringing economiques que I'action spatiale est par excellence I'etement
our countries closer together in a common ambition. moteur d'une collaboration et d'une integration a la dimension
des exigences de notre epoque.
Lastly, as far as the outside world is concerned, the Agency
will be the place where our countries can work out common or LES PROGRAMMES DE L' ASE
more closely harmonised attitudes. Here I am thinking in
particular of the consultations between European States with a Ce programme, malgre les peripeties qui ont marque sa genese,
view to the discussions on space problems at the United constitue - pour reprendre une qualification de la Conference
Nations. It is, however, mainly because of the high scientific, ministerielle de 1968 - un ensemble relativement 'complet,
technical, industrial and economic performance which activity equilibre et coherent~ Complet, en tant qu'il do it s'adresser
in the space field demands that such activity is par excellence aux differents domaines actuellemnt identifies de I'activite
an i.,centive to co·operation and integration on a scale com- spatiale. Equilibre, en tant qu'il doit faire une juste part aux
mensurate with the needs of our age. motivations scientifiques, technologiques et economiques de
cette activite. Coherent, en tant qu'il doit etre axe sur I'acqui-
ESA PROGRAMMES sition de I'experience necessaire aux technologies a mettre en
oeuvre et sur une politique de valorisation maximale de ces
Despite the difficulties of its birth, this programme forms - to moyens dans I'ensemble des programmes.
take up a phrase used by the 1968 Ministerial Conference - a
'complete, balanced and coherent whole': complete in that it Ce resultat n'a cependant ete atteint que de f890n fort empiri-
covers the various presently identified fields of space research; que. 1/ est moins le fruit d'une analyse collective des objectifs
balanced in that it takes due account of scientific, technolo- et des moyens que d'une Slirie de propositions emanant des
gical and economic considerations; coherent in that it is based differents Etats membres et detendue avec conviction par
on the acquisition of the experience required by the tech- chacun de ceux-ci.
nologies to be employed and on a policy of making the fullest
use of these resources in all programmes. Que cette maniere de proceder ait abouti a un programme tres
valable demontre le desir de tous les pays membres de resserrer
However, this result has been achieved by very empirical leur collaboration et la conscience qu'ils ont de leur inter-
methods. It is not so much the outcome of collective analysis dependance. 1/ en resulte cependant des disparites notables
of objectives and means, as of a series of proposals put forward dans la repartition des charges et une definition encore insuf-
by individual Member States and resolutely defended by each. fisante des objectifs cl poursuivre au-dela du programme
actuel. Nous devrons y etre attentifs dans les annees qui
The fact that this approach should have produced a very satis- viennent. Dans sa configuration generale et plus particuliere-
factory programme shows the desire of all the member coun- ment dans les modalites de financement des differentes
tries to collaborate more closely as well as their awareness of activites, ce programme reffete les trois principales etapes
their interdependence. As a result, however, there are marked parcourues au cours des negociations europeennes.
disparities in the apportionment of expenditure, and objectives
beyond the present programme have not yet been adequately M. Geens poursuivit son discours en traitant de I'histori -
defined. Careful attention will have to be given to this in the que, de la structure et du budget des programmes
scientifiques et d'applications de I' ASE, et plus particu·
years ahead. In terms of its general shape and, more particu-
lierement de la nipartition des charges entre les Etats
larly, the arrangements for financing the various activities, this membres participant a differents programmes. II termina
programme reflects the three main stages covered in the course son discours en exprimant des voeux de succes pour
of the European negotiations. l'Europe spatiale.

Mr. Geens then went on to outline the structural, histo- Monsieur le President, Mesdames, Messieurs, apres des annees
rical and financial features of the Agency's scientific and d'hesitations et de tergiversations, L 'Agence spatiale unique,
applications programmes, paying particular attention to que votre Assembtee a reclamee avec insistance, est maintenant
the distribution of funding between programmes and the
apportionment of programme expenditures between
devenue une realite. Certes, seul I'avenir nous apprendra si les
Member States. He closed his speech with a word of instruments politiques et techniques que nous avons mis au
encouragement for Europe's future in space: point seront meilleurs que ceux qui furent forges il y a presque
quinze ans.

10
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, after years of shilly- Nous pouvons vous assurer cependant que dans I'elaboration
shallying, the single space agency which your Assembly has de ces instruments, nous avons tout fait afin que les erreurs du
consistently advocated has now become a reality. Admittedly, passe ne se reproduisent pas. Dans la mesure ou la determi-
only the future will show whether the political and technical nation des dix partenaires actuels continuera a se manifester,
instruments we have devised are better than those forged un espoir raisonnable de succes est desormais permis.
nearly fifteen years ago. But we can assure you that in devising
these instruments we have made every effort to avoid past
mistakes. Provided that the determination of the ten present
partners is maintained, there is now reasonable hope of suc-
cess .

Ireland to become 11th Member of ESA

L'lrlande deviendra le 11e membre de I'ASE

The Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland in Paris signed the L 'ambassadeur de la Republique d'lrlande a Paris a signe la
Convention of the European Space Agency on 31 December Convention de I'Agence spatiale europetmne le 31 decembre
1975. The signature took place at the Quai d'Orsay and will 1975. Par cette signature, qui a eu lieu au Quai d'Orsay,
make Ireland the eleventh member of ESA, once the Agency's I'Irlande deviendra le onzieme membre de I'ASE lorsque la
Convention comes into effect after ratification by the Parlia- Convention de I'Agence entrera en vigueur apres sa ratification
ments of the existing Member States - Belgium, Denmark, par les Parlements des Etats qui en font actuel/ement partie:
France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzer- AI/emagne, 8elgique, Danemark, Espagne, France, Italie, Pays-
land and the United Kingdom. 8as, Royaume-Uni, Suede et Suisse.

Ratification may take one or two years. In the meantime, ESA La ratification pourra prendre un a deux ans. En attendant,
operates under the old ESRO Convention and Ireland retains its I'ASE fonctionne sous le regime de I'ancienne Convention du
observer status in the Agency. CERS et I'Irlande conserve son statut d'observateur a I'Agence.

Launch of First NASDA Satellite

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDAI.

with whom ESA has an information exchange agreement, suc-
cessfully launched its first satellite JETS-1 (KIKU) on Sep-
tember 9, 1975. The spacecraft carries several technological
experiments and has a design lifetime of three months .

The launch was effected by a three-stage N Launch Vehicle

No . 1, also developed by NASDA. Their next launch, using the
second N Launch Vehicle, is planned for early 1976. 0

11
La structure des Comites de I'Agence spatiale europeenne

H. Kaltenecker, Chef du Departement des A ffaires internationales et juridiques, ASE, Paris

(b) En dehors du cadre de la Convention: les Conseils direc-

teurs de programmes ont re~u competence, sur la base d' Arran-
La Resolution No. 1 attachee aI' Acte final de la Conference des gements conclus au titre de l'Article VIII de la Convention du
Plenipotentiaires pour I'etablissement d'une Agence spatiale CERS, pour assurer la direction de programmes facultatifs
europeenne, signe a Paris le 30 mai 1975 recommande, afin que (Aerosat, Meteosat, Telecom, Spacelab, Ariane, Marots). Bien
I' Agence puisse fonctionner 'de facto' des le jour suivant la date qu'ils soient exterieurs a la Convention du CE RS, une liaison
de signature de I' Acte final, 'que dans I'application des Conven- est etablie avec le Conseil; pour les matieres interessant plus
tions portant creation du CERS et du CECLES, les dispositions d'un programme, ces Conseils directeurs jouent le role d'orga-
de la Convention portant creation d'une Agence spatiale nes consultatifs du Conseil. En outre ces Conseils directeurs de
europeenne soient prises en consideration dans toute la mesure programmes peuvent etablir des organes consultatifs ou groupes
du possible'. L'un des domaines interesses par cette disposition de travail, possibilite qui a ete utilisee par certains d'entre eux
eta it celui de la structure des Comites de I' Agence. (par exemple le STAG, le MARTAG).

LES DISPOSITIONS DE LA CONVENTION ASE

L'Article XI.8(a) de la Convention ASE prevoit que 'le Conseil

LASTRUCTUREDUCERS cree un Comite du programme scientifique qu'il saisit de toute
question relative au programme scientifique obligatoire .. .'.
La structure des Comites du CERS trouve son origine soit dans En outre selon I'alinea (b) du me me article, 'le Conseil peut
la Convention du CERS, soit en dehors de cette Convention, creer tous autres organes subsidiaires necessaires a I'accom-
c'est-a-dire dans les Arrangements conclus entre certains Etats plissement de la mission de I' Agence'.
membres du CERS et le CERS sur la base de l'Article VIII de la
Convention. Cette structure est la suivante: Dans la Resolution No. 3 attachee a I' Acte final de la Confe-
rence des Plenipotentiaires, la Conference 'considere que
(a) Dans le cadre de la Convention du CERS: le Conseil du I'assistance apportee au Conseil par de tels organes
CERS etait assiste du Comite administratif et financier (AFC) (subsidiaires) doit s'exercer notamment dans les domaines de
dont la creation etait rendue obligatoire par le Protocole I'administration et des finances, specialement du point de vue
financier* du CERS (Art. IV) et du Comite mixte des pro- des aspects economiques et financiers, et dans les domaines des
grammes et de la politique generale (JPPC) (ESRO/C/LlI/ activites de base, du programme scientifique et de la politique
Res. 3) . Le Conseil avait mis fin au mandat du Comite industrielle'. En consequence, la Conference 'invite le Conseil a
scientifique et technique et avait etabli, a I'image des Conseils creer les organes subsidiaires necessaires en sus du Comite du
directeurs de programmes fondes sur les Arrangements, un programme scientifique mentionnee dans la Convention
Conseil directeur du programme scientifique (ESRO/C/LlI/ portant creation d'une Agence spatiale europeenne'.
Res. 2) .
Cette invitation a mettre en application dans toute la mesure
Les or.qanes subsidiaires pouvaient a leur tour creer des groupes du possible les dispositions de la Convention ASE a ete suivie
de travail (par exemple, le Groupe des Finances cree par par le Conseil des sa premiere session. Toutefois, I'action du
I'AFC; le TAG, le SCCG, le SBAG crees par le JPPC). Ces Conseil se trouvait sou mise a certaines contraintes dues a la
organes subsidiaires, composes de delegues de tous les Etats necessite de respecter les dispositions de la Convention du
membres, assistaient le Conseil qui pouvait leur deleguer CERS qui constitue jusqu'a I'entree en vigueur ' de jure' de la
certains de ses pouvoirs. De me me ils pouvaient etre saisis par Convention ASE le support juridique du fonctionnement de
les Conseils directeurs de programmes (dans le cas d'une I' Agence ainsi que celles des Arrangements en vigueur relatifs
decision sur un programme facultatif, iI etait convenu que les aux programmes facultatifs de I' Agence.
Etats membres ne participant pas a ce programme ne faisaient
pas usage de leur droit de vote).
LES DISPOSITIONS TRANSITOIRES
• Par contre, l'Annexe 11 de la Convention ASE sur les dispositions
financieres ne prevoit pas I'obligation de creer un AFC . Le seul Le Conseil de I' Agence lors de sa premiere session a adopte une
organe subs idiaire dont la creation est rendue obligato ire par cet: e Resolution (ESA/C/1. Res. 2 en date du 25 juin 1975) qui
Convention est le SPC. tient a la fois compte des contraintes juridiques precitees et

12
 CONSEILS DIRECTEURS DE PROGRAMMES

JCB*
(ECS + Marots)
r- - - PB -AERO-;- - -
(Aerosat)
f - - - - - - < ---PS-MET - -
NIVEAU CONSEIL (Meteosat)
r- - PB--:-SL - -
Organes composes de (Spacelab)
delegues
- -pS:-ARlANE - -
(Ariane)
--- ------ ---
Organes subsidiaires
composes de delegues
(avec pouvoi r de decision
ou a caractere consultatif) I
I
FSLP*** I
I
l'RAG I SPC I I AFC
I
IPC
I

-- --- I ---
Groupes consultatifs, crees par les organes subsidiaires I
ou les Conseils directeurs de programmes et
composes de delegues
IOAG** I I TAG*" J lSTAGJ l
MARTAGI

--- --- --
Groupes d'experts
I FIN I
La reunion commune des Conseils directeurs des programmes de satellites de communications est appelee ulterieurement a traiter aussi du
Programme Aerosat.
Ce groupe a ete cree par le Conseil au cours de la reunion du 16 decembre 1975. Sa place exacte dans I'organigramme des Comites reste a definir .
*** Ce rattachement, propose par le Directeur general, a ete approuve par le Conseil lors de sa 3e session a titre d'essai pour 6 mois.
Remarque : II existe egalement un Comite consultatif des Programmes pour le Projet Special ESRANGE qui n'entre pas dans le cadre de la structure
ci-dessus.
JCB Conseil directeur commun des programmes de satel - IRAG Groupe consultatif des Relations internationales .
lites de communications. SPC Comite du programme scientifique.
PB-AERO Conseil directeur du programme de satellite aeronau- AFC Comite administratif et financier .
tique . IPC Comite de la Politique industrielle.
PB-MET Conseil directeur du programme de satellite meteoro- DAG Groupe consultatif de la Documentation.
logique. TAG Groupe consultatif pour la Technique.
PB-SL Conseil directeur du programme Spacelab. MARTAG Groupe consultatif technique maritime.
PB-ARIANE Conseil directeur du programme de lanceur Ariane. STAG Groupe consultatif scientifique et technique.
FSLP Groupe de travail sur la 1ere charge utile Spacelab. FIN Groupe des Finances.

met en application les regles de la Convention ASE. Les competences qui avaient ete affectees a ce Comite. Le
dispositions suivantes ont ete prises: Directeur general a propose que certaines soient retenues par le
Conseil, d'autres attribuees a I'IPC ou a I' AFC. 11 s'ensuit que
(a) Le Conseil constate I'existence du Comite administratif et les groupes consultatifs qui avaient ete crees par le JPPC seront
financier, confirme son mandat et la delegation de pouvoirs ·rattaches soit au Conseil, soit aI'IPC, soit au Directeur general.
consentie anterieurement sous certaines reserves. Le Conseil a convenu d'appliquer cette proposition pendant
une periode de six mois a I'issue de laquelle il reexaminerait
Le Comite du programme scientifique (SPC) est egalement cette question. La question de la redistribution des competen-
maintenu et son mandat confirme (il s'agit en effet de I'organe ces entre I' AFC et I'IPC en matiere de passation des contrats
cree par le Conseil sous I'appellation de Conseil directeur du est egalement a I'etude.
programme scientifique (ESRO/C/LII/Res. 2) et vise a l'Article
XI.8(a) de la Convention ASE) . (c) L'une des contr:jintes juridiques etait I'existence d'Arrange-
ments creant des Conseils directeurs de programmes. La
11 est mis fin a I'existence du Comite mixte des programmes et Convention ASE integre dans la structure de I' Agence I'execu-
de la pol itique generale (JP PC) . tion des programmes optionnels; aussi ne prevoit-elle pas des
Conseils directeurs de programmes, le suivi des programmes
(b) Pour donner effet aux dispositions de la Convention ASE, le etant de la competence generale du Conseil.
Conseil cree un Comite de la Politique industrielle (lPC) , et
pour tenir compte de I'elargissement de la mission de l'Agence Les Conseils directeurs existants continuent a remplir leurs
(Art. Il(a)), le Conseil a decide de creer un Groupe consultatif attributions. Toutefois a I'invitation du Conseil, les Conseils
des Relations internationales (lRAG). directeurs des programmes de satellites de telecommunications
et de satellite maritime siegent ensemble au sein d'une
La suppression du JPPC impliquait une redistribution des 'Reunion commune des Conseils directeurs des programmes de

13
 a laquelle il est
satellites de communications' (JCB), reunion delegation un pouvoir de decision, soit n'avoir qu'un caractere
prevu que se joigne ulterieurement le Conseil directeur du consultatif. lis adoptent leur reglement interieur sur la base de
programme de satellite aeronautique. celui du Conseil, et sont auto rises a creer, selon le cas, des
groupes de travail ou d'experts auxquels participent soit des
CONCLUSION delegues, soit des experts designes pour leur competence
personnelle.
Lors de I'elaboration de la Convention ASE, I'accent a ete mis A noter enfin la place particuliere du Bureau qui assiste le
sur le fait que le Conseil constitue I'instance supreme habilitee President du Conseil * dans la preparation materielle des
a connaitre de toutes les questions et le depositaire de travaux du Conseil.
I'ensemble des attributions et pouvoirs. Le Conseil peut
deleguer, s'il le souhaite, une partie de ses pouvoirs. Mais tout
organe subsidiaire procede de lui et ne tire aucune competence * Selon la Convention du CERS (Art. X.3), le Bureau est compose du
directe de la Convention ou de ses Annexes. Dans cet esprit, fe President et des deux vice-presidents. La Convention ASE (Art. XI.
nombre des organes subsidiaires doit se limiter au minimum 3(b)) renvoie au Conseil le soin de decider de sa composition. Le
Conseil, dans la Resolution prElcitee du 25 juin 1975, a demande au
necessaire. Ont qualite d' organes subsidiaires les organes qui President d'inviter aux reunions du Bureau les Presidents de I' AFC,
sont composes de delegues et qui peuvent, soit recevoir par du SPC, de 1'1 PC et des Conseils directeurs de programmes.

Last Orbit for HEOS-1, ESA's Longest-Living Satellite

K.-P. Wenzel, Space Science Department, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

operated continuously from launch. Its full payload gave

excellent scientific data for about 16 months, exceeding the
ESA's longest-living satellite, HEOS-1, re-entered the Earth's design lifetime of the satellite by four months. Subsequently, a
atmosphere over Antarctica on 18 October 1975. Launched on gradual failure in the satellite's attitude-measurement system
5 December 1968 (ESRO/ELDO Bulletin No. 4,January 1969) supplying the trigger pulse for the operation sequence of
into an orbit extending almost two-thirds of the way to the several experiments seriously affected their operation. In
Moon, the satellite carried seven experiments designed to 1973, two experiments were still operating, with the magnetic-
explore the outer regions of the Earth's magnetosphere and the field experiment continuing to work until re-entry, thus pro-
interplanetary l11edium. These experiments have made signif- viding an unprecedented record of the interplanetary magnetic
icant contributions to our understanding of the Earth's magnetic field for almost seven of the eleven years of a solar cycle.
environment and its response to changes on the Sun, as well as to
our knowledge of the interplanetary medium between Sun and Among the technological 'firsts' accomplished by the mission
Earth over a major part of a solar cycle. can be counted the first release of an artificial barium cloud in
the distant magnetosphere, the first use of a cold-gas spin-axis
re-orientation system on an interplanetary spacecraft, and the
first use of a re-programmable event-detecting memory system
for recording fast transient events far from Earth.
HEOS-1 was the third of ESRO/ESA's eight scientific satellites
to be launched, all of wh ich have ach ieved very successful The continuing flow of scientific data for almost seven years
missions (ESA Bulletin No. 3, October 1975). It completed (in spite of the very low rate of only 12 bps) has provided a
542 highly eccentric orbits in nearly seven years and was rich scientific harvest. To date, more than 90 scientific publi-

14
cations have originated from HEOS-1 results. A particularly contemporary data from H EOS-2, solar-cycle changes in the
rewarding aspect has been the correlation with data from other level of low-frequency turbulence in the interplanetary
ESRO/ESA, European, American and Russian spacecraft. medium. The mean interplanetary field strength, however, was
More detailed descriptions of these results and a complete found to be independent of the level of solar activity.
bibliography appear each year in the ESA report to COSPAR.
Cosmic-ray observations over the past three decades have
The 'harvest' commenced with the demonstration of the shown that there is a marked variation in intensity near the
plasma properties in the outer magnetosphere provided by the Earth during the solar cycle. This variation had been inter-
spectacular barium release. (This experiment can be considered preted in terms of changes in the interplanetary field structure
as a forerunner of the class of 'active' experiments planned for and solar wind during the sunspot cycle. The interplanetary
future satellites and for Spacelab.) The charged-particle detec- observations to which H EOS-1 contributed so significantly are,
tors on HEOS-1 were able to measure the intensity and the however, incapable of accounting for the observed change in
arrival directions of the solar-flare-produced particles in inter- cosmic-ray intensity. The cosmic-ray modulation therefore
planetary space directly. It was then possible through the remains something of a puzzle. There are now serious doubts
combined efforts of experimenters on HEOS-1 as well as on as to whether the measurements of the interplanetary mag-
ESRO-II and ESRO-I (these spacecraft were in near-Earth netic field and the solar wind that have all been made near the
orbits at the same time) to understand the manner in which plane of the ecliptic are representative of interplanetary space
these solar particles enter the magnetosphere and find their in general. To solve the puzzle one needs to investigate how
way down into the polar-cap regions of the Earth. the interplanetary structure changes with heliographic latitude.
The puzzle left unanswered by HEOS is a challenge for an
The long life of HEOS-1 was ideally suited for studying the out-of-ecliptic mission now being studied by ESA.
long-term behaviour of various interplanetary parameters. The
solar-wind detector, in conjunction with previous American The HEOS-1 magnetic-field data, in combination with con-
measurements, was able to establish long-term changes in the temporary measurements from HEOS-2, have provided a
density of the solar-wind plasma over the solar cycle. It did unique record of the structure of the near-Earth interplanetary
not, however, find a significant variation in the solar-wind magnetic field. These data have now been made available to a
velocity. The magnetic-field data have revealed, together with world-wide scientific community and are frequently used for
correlation with ground-based, balloon, rocket or other satel-
lite data . The measured sector polarity (the interplanetary
field points towards the Earth for some days, then reverses and
points towards the Sun for a further few days) confirmed the
validity of a recently developed method of predicting this
polarity on a day-to-day basis from ground-based data.

The magnetospheric data have also proved very valuable. The

data taken inside the various regions of the magnetosphere
have been used to refine and improve existing magnetospheric
models. Correlations of the plasma and magnetic-field data
have revealed several interesting features of the interaction
between the supersonic solar wind and the geomagnetic field
at the standing shock in front of the Earth's magnetosphere,
the bow shock .

Conceived in the early days of ESRO and injected into orbit

seven years ago, HEOS-1 has been a true European 'pioneer' in
interplanetary space. Although technically it has been a 'past
project' for many years and has now lost its voice from orbit,
the analysis of HEOS-1's particle and field measurements will
continue to provide a source of new information for many
HEOS- 1 scientists for some time to come. 0

15
The International Magnetospheric Study

K. Knott, Space Science Department, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

with its dipolar magnetic field, represents a tiny obstacle in the

stream of the solar wind. The planet's magnetic field acts as a
The magnetosphere is that part of space surrounding the Earth screen, preventing the solar wind from coming nearer than
which is dominated by our planet's magnetic field. It has been 10 Earth radii (average) to the Earth's surface. The plasma
studied intensively and successfully in the last two decades and stream is deflected, causing deformation of the dipolar con-
scientists have begun thinking of the magnetosphere as their figuration and creating the famous teardrop-shaped 'bottle'
'little backyard universe'. ESRO/ESA has played a major role in which we call the magnetosphere (Fig. 1). In as far as the
its exploration with the scientific satellite programme oriented approaching solar wind cannot a priori enter the mag-
primarily toward magne"tospheric research. The results that have netosphere, by the same token plasma cannot escape from
been achieved to date have provided us with a reasonably within this cavity.
detailed picture of our immediate spatial environment. Never-
theless, we are still far from achieving even a rough explanation The Sun is not burning steadily at its surface, and strong
of some of the basic mechanisms that create and maintain the variations occur in the intensity of the solar wind, leading in
near-Earth plasma environment. turn to variations in the magnetosphere's shape. Under 'quiet'
solar-wind conditions, the magnetosphere expands; when the
Guided by the many phenomenological descriptions and observ- solar wind blows harder, it is compressed.
ations that now exist, we are at last able to concentrate our
measurements at points of particular interest and to devise The magnetosphere contains three distinctly different types of
missions aimed at discovering processes thought to play a major particle popUlation: the near-Earth environment is dominated
role in the general behaviour of the magnetosphere. Fully by cool dense plasma of the ionospheric type; further out (but
realising these possibilities, scientists from all countries involved only to regions where the dipolar configuration of the mag-
in the exploration of near-Earth space have joined forces in a netic field is roughly preserved), we find very energetic
common effort which is known as the 'International Magneto- particles, trapped magnetically in the well-known Van Alien
spheric Study' (I MS), to be conducted in the years 1976-78. belts; further out still, and particularly within the tail of the
magnetosphere, a large reservoir of medium to low-energy
This article describes the objectives of and the tools available for particles is stored. By and large, magnetospheric particles have
the IMS. To put them into perspective, it is necessary first to sum a much higher energy than solar-wind particles.
up briefly and very simply what we know so far about our
magnetospheric environment. The overall particle content of the magnetosphere is remark-
ably constant for long periods of time, although high and
medium energy particles are lost continuously by precipitation
into the high-latitude atmosphere.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ALREADY? Precipitation and the degree of general disturbance in the mag-
netosphere increase during substorms and become exceedingly
Long before the scientific exploration of space with the aid of high during geomagnetic storms. Substorms seem to be gener-
satellites began, astronomy had establ ished many facts about ated as a result of small discontinuities in the solar wind,
the solar system. It consists of the Sun, as an ordinary star, while geomagnetic storms appear to be caused by strong solar
and nine revolving planets. The Earth, the third but nearest of eruptions which not only cause the solar wind to increase, but
these planets, revolves at a distance of 1.5 X 10 8 km from the also release high-energy particles toward the Earth. Never-
Sun. Our central star is generating power by nuclear fusion at a theless, steady-state conditions are always quickly restored in
rate of 3.7 X 10 26 Wand, despite this immense production the magnetosphere, in a matter of hours following a substorm
rate, still has an expected lifetime of 10 7 years. It emits most and within a matter of days after a magnetic storm.
of its power in a radiative manner, but it also releases ionised
gas which expands radially into the solar system. Many other small-scale phenomena, such as waves and plasma
instabilities, have been discovered and studied, but in spite of
It is at this point that measurements conducted from satellites several hundred satellite missions the relationship between the
have taken over and such parameters as flow speed, temper- various observations has not been established and therefore the
ature, density and composition of the expanding solar plasma, dynamics, in terms of cause and effect, of our immediate space
or 'solar wind', have been recorded directly. The planet Earth, environment are not yet wholly understood.

16
Figure 1 - Artist's impression of the average state of rhe terresrrial magnerosphere which will be rhe subject of co-ordinated explorarion during the IMS.

SHORTCOMINGS OF PREVIOUS OBSERVATIONS magneto pause were n!::eaea before its characteristics and
approximate location could be established. An observation
Before going on to describe what remains to be done and is in during a single satellite crossing is shown in Figure 2.
fact planned for the IMS, the limitations of a single-satellite
experiment may be demonstrated with a simple example. Let If we now want to go on to study the behaviour of the mag-
us assume that a satellite's magnetometer shows a reduction in netopause, we need to know the speed of motion of that
magnetic field strength at a certain moment in time, then at boundary when subjected to an increasing solar-wind strength.
least two different conclusions are possible: (i) the magnetic It should be clear immediately that this parameter, although of
field has undergone a temporal change, or (ii) the spacecraft fundamental importance for the understanding of mag-
has moved from a region of higher to a region of lower mag- netospheric dynamics, cannot be derived from a single-satellite
netic field strength. Using a single-satellite experiment as a pass. Only two satellites orbiting together with a suitable
basis, the choice between 0) and Oi) can only be decided distance between will be able to determine the magnetopause's
statistically. The discovery of the magneto pause, the boundary motion. This simple example should serve to demonstrate that
between magnetosphere and solar wind, has come about in this multisatellite missions will give us access to entirely new
way and a great number of individual satellite crossings of the magnetospheric parameters. Many other more complicated

17
 en
w 90
w
a:
(!)
Cl w
....J
W
Cl 0
U.
(J
I-
w -90
z 100
(!)
«
~
en«
~
50
~
«
(!)

0
4 8 12 16 20 24
GEOCENTRIC DISTANCE (EARTH RADII)

Figure 2- Magnetometer data from the HEOS-2 satellite showing an outbound crossing of the magnetopause (MP). Both theintensity and direction
of the magnetic field change during the crossing. Data from a single satellite crossing do not allow one to decIde whether a spatIal or
temporal variation has occurred.

examples can be cited: each requires simultaneous obser- netosphere, 235 Earth radii upstream in the solar wind, at a
vations at two or more points inside (mainly) or outside the point where the gravitational forces of Sun and Earth cancel
magnetosphere. one another. Further satellites, such as the HEllOS solar fly·
by mission, EXOS, a Japanese magnetospheric satellite, and a
It is intended during the IMS to make optimum use of all Russian near-Earth satellite, will complement the in situ
available tools, not only satellites but also rocket-borne or measuring network. All of these satellites will be equipped with
ground-based observational platforms, in a single co-ordinated sophisticated instrumentation for the measurement of particles,
and concerted attack on the outstanding problems. Only a fields and waves.
combined effort of this nature will h"elp us to obtain answers
to such questions as: How does the solar-wind plasma gain It is planned to complement the satellite programme with
entry to the magnetosphere? How is it accelerated to the extensive rocket and balloon launching programmes. Such
energies observed in the Van Alien belts? What are the neces· launches will be carried out primarily at higher latiWdes,
sary conditions for a quiet magnetosphere and under what within the auroral zones where the particle precipitation from
circumstances do instabilities develop? the magnetosphere takes place. Rocket·borne particle detectors
will measure this precipitation just before it strikes the Earth's
atmosphere. Balloon payloads will mainly measure X-rays
MEASUREMENTS DURING AND PLANNING FOR THE generated by the interaction of the energetic particles with the
IMS atmosphere.

The International Magnetospheric Study is built around two

major satellite missions, GEOS and ISEE. GEOS, a purely ESA Last, but by no means least, there will be the contribution of
mission, will be the world's first scientific geostationary satel- geophysical observations from the ground. These will consist,
lite and has been adopted as the reference spacecraft for the for example, of magnetometer recordings and auroral record-
IMS. The ISEE mission is a combined NASA/ESA venture ings by scanning photometers tuned to different characteristic
comprising three satellites: ISEE-A and B will be launched by emission frequencies. Magnetospheric disturbances are re-
one vehicle and will acquire identical orbits (perigee 400 km; flected by strong currents in the lower ionosphere and these in
apogee 20 R El. with a variable spacing between the A and B turn cause a magnetic field which can be recorded on the
craft; ISEE-C will be positioned far outside the mag- ground. Scanning photometers will reconstitute the patterns of

18
 corded by rocket- and balloon-borne instrumentation and will
be monitored continuously from the ground.

To make the IMS a success and to repay the effort that is

being invested, planning and co-ordination on a worldwide
scale is mandatory. Spacecraft orbits and payloads ' must be
carefully matched and the most suitable operating modes for
complementary experiments must be worked out in order to
seek the expected phenomena at the correct time and at the
correct location. Satellite and ground-based experimenters
must be fully aware of the possibilities and limitations of their
respective measuring capabilities. Nor can the data handling
and distribution aspects be neglected. A satellite like GEOS
generates data at a rate of 100000 bps, which is equivalent to
an output of one full computer tape every 30 min. Needless to
say, such a wealth of data can only be analysed efficiently if
high-quality summaries are produced from which periods of
geophysical significance can be identified for further study.

IMS OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED SCIENTIFIC RETURN

In summarising the objectives and possible benefits of an

extensive undertaking like the IMS, it must be postulated that
the exploration and understanding of the near-Earth part of
the Universe is a fully justified venture in itself. Wider know-
ledge of regions outside the solar system will only be achieved
by combining collective information from these regions, such
as their radiation at various wavelengths, with detailed infor-
mation on fundamental processes observed in situ in the solar
system. Another stimulus stems from the possibility of using
the magnetosphere as a 'laboratory' for studying fundamental
plasma physics, an approach that may promote discoveries
related to high-density plasma physics and controlled nuclear
Mass model of ISEE-B prior to vibration tests_ fusion. Study of instabilities and wave-particle interactions
would seem to be of major importance in this context.
auroral displays, and both magnetometers and photometers
will be used in extended networks to derive the morphology of It has been discovered that magnetospheric processes have
precipitation patterns. direct influence on our immediate environment. Short-wave
radio communication and electrical power distribution net-
In summarising the tools available to us for the IMS, we note works can be seriously affected by strong geomagnetic storms.
that plasma disturbances transmitted from the Sun can be The amount of energy injected into our atmosphere by pre-
detected by interplanetary probes such as HEllOS and cipitating magnetospheric particles is such that they may play
ISEE-C. The interaction of such disturbances with the magne- a role in establishing its heat balance and hence may well
tosphere will be studied by the ISEE-A and B satellite pair_ In influence its dynamics. Striking relationships between solar
its equatorial orbit, at a distance of 6.6 Earth radii, GEOS will processes and climatic conditions such as temperature and
study a region of the magnetosphere which is of particular rainfall, and thence food production, famines and even eco-
interest because it is linked by magnetic field lines to both the nomic wealth, still await an explanation, an explanation that
northern and southern auroral zones. The ultimate effect of could well prove to be of untold benefit to all the inhabitants
solar-originated disturbances on our atmosphere will be re- of our 'magnetically bottled' planet Earth. 0

19
The GEOS Data Stream - How is it generated
and how will it be handled?

K. Knott, Space Science Department, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Table 1 summarises the transmission requirements of the

various GEOS experiments. The average data rate from the
All sever1 of the scientific experiments that make up the GEOS four particle experiments (S-302, S-303, S-310, S-321) is of
payload are dedicated to magnetospheric research, four to the the order of 1 kbps. Considering the sophistication of these
measurement of particles and three to the measurement of experiments, such a data rate is by no means abnormally high
electric and/or magnetic fields. Here, our interest in the seven and quite comparable with the output of particle experiments
experiments is to be focused on their data output, an output on other satellites currently under development, such as
such that when all transmission requirements are totalled, the ISEE-A and B. Experiment S-329 must be seen as a special
data rate from the satellite amounts to 107 160 bps. case; it attempts to measure the electric field in space by
monitoring the deflection of an electron beam by this field.
The following example may demonstrate what this means in Identification of the beam within the natural electron back-
terms of information flow. A normal book carries about 2000 ground can only be assured by a very high sampling rate in the
letters per page; in binary coding each letter can be represented electron sensor of this experiment. The magnetometer (S-331)
by a 5-bit code (32 different characters). Consequently, a full again has a very moderate bit rate, one which is dictated by its
typewritten page is equivalent to 10000 bits. An average book measuring accuracy (9 bits) and its time resolution, which
has something like 600 pages, which brings its total information extends to 5 Hz.
content to 6000 000 bits. Thus, turning on GEOS's telemetry
for only 1 min is equivalent to filling a complete 600 page book. Table 1 clearly shows that it is the wave/field experiment
If, finally, we realise that GEOS is designed to operate and (S-300), the most comprehensive satellite wave experiment
transmit more or less continuously for two years, it takes but a that has so far been built, which consumes more than 90% of
little multiplication to conclude that during GEOS's lifetime we GEOS's bit rate. S-300 performs a 6-component measurement
may fill 1 million books. There are few libraries in the world (3 orthogonal magnetic and 3 orthogonal electric) and
which have this number of books on their shelves. provides frequency coverage to 80 kHz in the electric domain
and to 30 kHz in the magnetic domain. It therefore requires
This article is intended to explain why such a high data rate is the transmission of three 80 kHz (bandwidth) analogue chan -
required from GEOS, how it will be generated, and how ESA is nels and three others with a 30 kHz bandwidth.
dealing with the somewhat daunting prospect of handling this
formidable data stream - perhaps 'torrent' would be a more Previous wave experiments on satellites have mainly employed
fitting descriptor. one wideband analogue channel. Transmission was achieved by
modulating the transmitter carrier by this wideband signal. In
the case of GEOS, a total of six wideband channels were to be
transmitted and as the relative phase between all six channels
was to be maintained, direct analogue transmission invoking
SCIENTIFIC REQUIREMENTS such techniques as FM/FM multiplexing was very soon found
to be impractical.
GEOS will be launched at a time when progress in the field of
magnetospheric research will only be possible if several so far The only solution that appeared feasible was digitisation of the
unexplained dynamic phenomena can be studied in detail. analogue signals and transmission at a very high bit rate.
Such studies require particle experiments with both wide Straight 8-bit digitisation of the six S-300 channels, at a rate of
spatial coverage and high temporal and spatial resolution. say three times the upper frequency limit, results in a total bit
There is also a need for wave measurements that provide com- rate to be transmitted of 8 Mbps. It was clear from th e
plete vector information in both the electric and magnetic beginning that such a bit rate - although technically feasible -
domains and cover a wide frequency range. was too demanding in terms of satellite transmission power. It
was, however, realised that a bit rate of the order of 0.1 Mbps
For the particle experiments, large spatial coverage and reso- could be allocated to the wave experiment without stretching
lution can only be achieved by employing a number of detec- the satellite's power budget.
tors, each viewing in a different direction and with a narrow
field of view. Each detector requires a separate data channel. After considerable study, the experimenters proposed to
High temporal resolution is achieved by reading these channels circumvent their data transmission problem by employing
at a very high sampling rate into the spacecraft telemetry. sophisticated onboard processors to compress their data flow

20
 into a manageable bit rate. It was decided to use six swept-
frequency analysers and a digital correlator for that purpose.

A swept-frequency analyser is a device that transposes fre-

quencies from a higher to a lower frequency band; e.g. from
the band between 60 000 and 60 450 Hz into that from 0 to
450 Hz. The information contained in this band is then trans-
mitted at a reasonable bit rate. The six S-300 swept-frequency
analysers can be commanded into 256 different, but partly
overlapping bands between 300 Hz and 80 Hz. The disad-
vantage, compared to direct transmission, stems from the fact
that the total frequency interval (0-80 kHz) cannot be looked
at simultaneously, but must be explored in steps.

A correlator is a device that effectively averages an analogue

wave form signal over a given period of time. It preserves the
wave information to the extent that the frequency spectrum
of the wave over the averaging interval can be reconstituted
from the correlogram. In other words, using a correlator as a
preprocessor means maintaining broadband frequency cover-
age at a limited bit rate, but at the expense of high time
Development model of GEOS undergoing electromagnetic-cleanliness resolution .
tests.
TABLE 1 - Scientific data generation by GEOS

Experiment Main data output Output generated by Format* Number of channels** Bit rate
(kbps)

S-302 Electron/proton data Direct sampling of 2 detectors LS 4D 7A 1.02

S-303 Proton and heavy-ion data Internal multiplexer LS 2D 1A 0.40

S-310 Electron/proton data Direct sampling of LS 9D 1A 1.62

10 detectors

S-321 Electron/proton data Internal multiplexer LS 2D 4A 1.27

S-329 Electron beam data High-rate sampling of beam LS 2D 10A 1.66

detector

S-300 DC electric-field data Waveform sampling LS 1D 4A 0.63

U LF magnetic-field data Waveform sampling LS 10 6A 1.23
Filter-array output Sampling of wave power LS 16D 16A 0.81
detector
Wideband data Six swept-frequency analysers HS 6A 71.52
Averaged wideband Auto-and cross-correlation HS 10 17 .70
information

• LS = low speed ; HS = high speed. • * A = analogue ; D = digital.

21
 TM-DATA TC-DATA
(110 K BITS/SEC) (100 BITS/SEC)

~ t
100 K BITS/SEC I
I DECOM. J
1 10 K BITS/SEC L
FNCODE{
J
. i
HS-DATA - LS-DATA TC AND DISPLAY
PROCESSOR PROCESSOR PROCESSOR
./ ../

•
DD
REALTIME
COMPR. HS-DATA MESSAGE
ROUTER
ID DIDDI
/£7/£5'/
---
.. -_ ....
+

iDISPLA ysL.. ./
LS t LS 1
, DISPLAY + KEYBOARD
(REAL TIME OPERATIONS)

®1® @I® ®I@ • NEAR REAL TIME

PROCESSOR
./ .i,
ID DIDDI
+
DISK
ALL
HS
SURVEY
HS
ALL
LS FILE /fJ/EJ/
.... .... -- .. ..

DATA
../
DATA
../
DATA SUMMARY
PRODUCTION
STHF
~
l./ DISPLA Y + KEYBOARD
(NEAR REAL TIME OPERATIONS)

Figure 1- Schematic of GEOS spacecraft-control and data-handling facili ties available at ESOC, Darmstadt.

The outputs of the six swept-frequency analysers and the out- out during the GEOS feasibility -study stage. There was a clear
put of the correlator are transmitted in a separate 'high speed' policy decision not to implement complicated onboard pro-
telemetry format (95.25 kbps). All other GEOS data, the cessors, but to use online computer control on the ground, a
output from the particle experiments, the beam experiment, solution that appeared more promising because of the constant
the magnetometer data, some low-frequency channels from visibility of a geostationary spacecraft from its ground station .
the wave experi ment, and the necessary spacecraft house-
keeping data, are transmitted in 'Iow-speed' telemetry format PROBLEMS OF DATA PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION
(11.91 kbps).
At the time when the GEOS design was finalised and the
It must be emphasised at this point that the data from all stringent data-handling requirements emerged, preparations
experiments could be further compressed by suitable onboard were started at the European Space Operations Centre
processors. In fact this compression could be such that no (ESOCl. Darmstadt, for the handling and distribution of the
scientific information is lost. This solution was, however, ruled data. The hardware, handling and distribution needs have since

22
been established and installation of the necessary facilities is TABLE 2 - Tape production rate during GEOS's lifetime
now in progress (Fig. 1).
Experiment Tape content Number of days Number of
Upon receipt at the ground station and transmission to ESOC, to fill 1 tape tapes in 2 yr
the satellite's data stream will be divided into its low- and S-302 Raw data 2.4 304
high-speed components. The processing tasks to be conducted S-303 Raw data 5.9 124
in the high-speed branch are listed below. S-310 Raw data 2.0 365
S-321 Raw data 2.1 348
1. Continuous recording on magnetic tape of the high-speed S-329 Raw data 1.8 406
data in full, but without any data preprocessing. A total of S-331 Raw data 4.4 166
some 26 000 tapes is forecast for the two-year mission. S-300 DC electric-field
raw data 3.9 187
2. Recording on magnetic tape of 'survey data', a task similar U L F magnetic-
to (1), but recording takes place only for 3 min in every field raw data 2.1 348
hour, on the hour. Filter-array raw
data 3.0 243
3. Real-time display of some of the high-speed data channels. Compressed
HS data 2.0 365
4. Real-time compression of high-speed data. This compres- Survey data 1.0 730
sion consists of averaging several successive correlograms Status for
and computing the average power contained in the outputs HS data 10.0 73
of the swept-frequency analysers. The compressed data are Raw HS data 0.028 2628*
routed to a very large disk file for temporary storage.
Total to experi menter ±6500
The low-speed data are to be treated in the second branch,
where key channels are to be displayed in real time. They are * Only 10% of the HS data are archived and forwarded to experimenters.
also to be analysed in real time and can be used for the auto-
matic generation of telecommands. The low-speed data will be
stored temporarily on disk but, in contrast to the high-speed Table 2 summarises the distribution of GEOS data. Except for
data, without prior compression. the high-speed data, the data flow to the various scientific insti-
tutes will average one tape per three days, which can be digested
The main disk file has a capacity. of 24 h and will be emptied by the recipient with reasonably adequate data-handling fa-
with this frequency. Three different 'products' are to be drawn cilities. Nevertheless, there has been some apprehension from
from it: the outset about whether processing will keep abreast of input
(j) A tape with all low-speed data in raw form and the and it was therefore decided to emphasise data summary
compressed high-speed data. production within the overall concept of GEOS data handling.
(ji) Daily summaries consisting of plots of key experiment
channels on a 24 h time scale (1 cm/h). The need for such summaries is especially acute in the case of
(jij) Experiment summaries consisting of plots of key experi- the high-speed data, which will fill one computer tape every
ment and housekeeping channels, but on a time scale that 40 min. Here, it was decided several years ago, for various
allows better time resolution. reasons, that it would not be practicable to archive and distri-
bute all the high-speed data tapes produced during G EOS's
Product (j) is to be transferred to an offline computer where lifetime. The experimenters concerned will · have to make a
further decommutation of the data will take place and where selection from these data based on the summaries provided. It
the tapes for individual experimenters will be prepared. has been agreed that the raw high-speed data are to be stored
Product (jj) appears as hard copy and will be made available in a temporary buffer with a three-month capacity. Overflow
either in this form, on microfilm, or on magnetic tape, to from this buffer must be avoided by the experimenters
other data centres for worldwide distribution during the IMS. deciding which data to keep for further analysis. Ultimately,
A Iimited number of hara copies can also be distributed direct- not more than 10% of the high-speed data will be kept and
ly. Product (jii) will go only to the experimenters concerned. distributed.

23
 O -r!I!~"'ii'i:t
PFUrDNS

12000·

"1' .•.. 2' .... 3' .... ~ ... .. s' .... S· .... " .... s· .... s· ... '10' ... '1'1' .•. '12' ... '1~

HOURS IN DAY q1 OF 1970

Figure 2 - Ex ample of a spectrogram representing particle data. Particle energy is plotted on the vertical ax is, and time on the horizontal. The flux at a
particular energy and time is presented in grey scaling (Iow fluxes dark, high fluxes white).
[Example taken from De Forestetal.)

ESA is committed to generate, and to forward to its custom- In addition to these tapes, various summaries must be produced
ers, approximately 6500 computer tapes during the lifetime of and distributed. The latter task is of negligible magnitude
GEOS (see Table 2). Bearing in mind: (i) that the purchase compared to the raw-data distribution. The summary generation
price per tape is about 10 AU, and (ii) that the handling and is, however, a step beyond the normal ESOC practice of
distribution charges are of the same order, the data distri - forwarding raw experiment data, but it had to be undertaken as a
bution costs compare favourably with the total cost of the direct and mandatory consequence of GEOS's high data
mission . production rate.

24
 MLT: 17.10 HR : 17.49 HR
INV: 78.5- :78.6-
ALT:2071 KM :2029 KM
-... I I
-
:I:
~

>-
U
Z
w
::::>
o
w
a:
~

:50 25es:OO UT :50 1554:00 : 50 25 . . :00

Figure3- Presentation of WBV., dBtB in highly compressed form. Frequency is plotted on the vertical Bxis, and time on the horizontal. The wave's
energy flux at a particular moment is indicated by an 'intensity code' (red or green). The two colours allow discrimination between waves
propagating in different directions.
[Example taken from Gurnettetal. ~

A WORD OF REASSURANCE

In the introduction, we painted a disturbing picture of what a Wave data can be presented in similar fashion by plotting
bit stream of 100000 bps can produce in terms of transmitted frequency along the vertical axis, time along the horizontal
information, a picture that must have been in the minds of axis and the wave intensity at a particular time and at a part-
those who have in the past expressed strong doubts as to the icular frequency as a point of varying intensity. An example
manageability of the GEOS data, in particular the digestibility of a 'sonogram' is given in Figure 3. It should be clearly under-
of the high·speed data. Manageability, the prime obligation of stood that both the spectrogram and the sonogram give only a
ESA with respect to the GEOS data, has been achieved by rough indication of particle and wave behaviour as a function
limiting the final distribution of high-speed data to only 10% of time. Nevertheless, displays are of great value for 'digesting'
of the total received. the data and selecting interesting periods for further study
using higher time resolution.
Digestibility of the data is a question of suitable presentation.
The basic content of the GEOS data stream is particle flux in In order to realise how many bits a human brain can digest
different energy ranges and wave intensity in different fre- when they are presented in such a highly compressed form, we
quency intervals, both dependencies as a function of time. can consider the example of a television picture, which also
Such relationships are presented most meaningfully in a three- involves grey scaling to present information. Very roughly, a
dimensional display. In the case of a particle experiment, this TV screen consists of 625 lines and similar number of re-
means generating a diagram with energy plotted along the solvable features per line, or in total 625 X 625 points. Each
vertical scale and time along the horizontal. The particle point may assume 16 different levels of grey shading. Per second
flux at a particular energy at a particular time is then pre- 25 such pictures are presented, which leads to a bit flow of
sented by a point of varying grey scaling in such a diagram. 40 Mbps. Looking at the GEOS data in such perspective, we
Figure 2 shows an example, called a 'spectrogram', in which realise that it can, in principle, be digested within a few days of
particle data are presented in a highly compressed but easily receipt.
digestible form. o

25
COS-8 Operational

G. Lichti, B. G. Taylor and R. D. Wills, for the COS-B Caravane Collaboration

COS-B, ESA's first satellite (ESRO's eighth) was launched on 9

August 1975 from Western Test Range, USA by a Thor Delta
vehicle into a nominal eccentric ' orbit with a 37 h period and
an apogee of nearly 100000 km. In orbit, all satellite sub-
systems were found to be functioning satisfactorily. Experi-
ment switch-on started on 11 August and by 17 August the se
experiment units had been thoroughly checked out, the
satellite directed to observe its first target, the Crab Nebula,
and the first observation period begun. Thus ended the long
and arduous task of the COS-B 'Caravane' Collaboration in
building the COS-B experiment for gamma-ray astronomy and
getting it operational. In parallel with the production of the
hardware, the collaboration completed extensive calibrations,
including tests at the accelerators of DESY and CERN, a
high-altitude balloon flight and prepared and tested the suite
of computer programs needed to analyse and interpret the
orbital data. Through the 'Fast Routine Facility', established
at the Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, some
20% of the data from each observation period h,ave been
analysed in a manner sufficient to demonstrate that the
experiment is working according to specification (or rather to
expectations generated via the calibrations). The preliminary
results presented here on the basis of this small data sample
indicate that COS-B, given its planned two-year operational 10 CM
lifetime, will produce an unprecedented picture of the
gamma-ray sky.

Figure 1 - Schematic of the central experiment package.

MISSION OBJECTIVES (B 1/C/B2) defining the field of view of the instrument and a
plastic-scintillator anticoincidence counter for the rejection of
The principal objective of the COS-B mission is the study of charged particles. A proportional counter with an effective
the fluxes, energy spectra, spatial distribution and temporal area of 80 cm 2 and sensitive in the range 2-12 keV, collimated
0 0
characteristics of extraterrestrial gamma radiation in the to a 1 flat top and an extinction half angle of 10 , records the
20 MeV to several GeV energy range. Of particular interest are arrival time of X-ray photons. The instrumentation was
the emission from the plane of the Galaxy, the diffuse provided by the groups of the COS-B Caravane Collaboration
radiation from high galactic latitudes and known or postulated listed in Table 1.
point sources. Secondary objectives include study of the
long-term variability of X-ray sources and cosmic gamma-ray The scientific instrumentation makes up 120 kg of the satel-
bursts. lite's 280 kg total. The craft is spin -stabilised at 10 rpm with
the experiment's 'optical axis' co-linear with the spin axis. It is
The central experiment package described extensively by equipped with a nitrogen-gas attitude-control system,
Bignami et al., and shown in Figure 1, features a 0.5 radiation permitting the experiment to be pointed in any desired
length, 16-gap spark chamber (SC) for the identification and direction, with the proviso that the solar cells remain illumina-
determination of the arrival direction of the gamma quanta, a ted and the attitude-measurement sensors still view the Sun
caesium-iodide energy calorimeter (E) of 4.7 radiation lengths and the Earth. The attitude of the satellite at any instant can
0
thickness for energy determination, a three-level telescope be determined to better than 0.5 . The telemetry link margin

26
 is such that the satellite can be operated at 320 bps through-
10- 6
out the orbit. Sufficient consumables, namely attitude-control
and spark-chamber gases, are carried to support an operational
lifetime in orbit in excess of two years, the spark chamber being
0° evacuated and refilled with gas every six weeks.

nO_spectra INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION

The overall response of the gamma-ray experiment to photons

and to charged particles was determined empirically by
exposing the engineering and flight models to beams at particle
accelerators. A tagged photon beam facility with energies
between 20 MeV and 6 GeV was established in 1972 jointly by
>.
:lO the COS-B Collaboration and the group at DESY in Hamburg
~
A
and has been described in detail by Christ et al. This beam has
~
been used subsequently by other experimenters for calibrating
~ 10- 7
.3 gamma-ray instruments. The effect of the charged-particle
environment in orbit was investigated by means of proton
beams set up at CERN and electron beams at DESY. Analysis
of the engineering model has been completed in great detail
and presently the 'calibration curves' for this model are
'folded' with the orbital data to yield the preliminary results
presented below. Analysis of the flight-model calibration data
is not yet complete, but the data are essentially the same as for
the engineering model and these will, of course, be used for
the ultimate analysis of the orbital data. The physical charac-
10-' '----'---L...L..L-'-UJ..L._L-L...L.L.Uc.ll.L-:-II'-L--'--L..L.L.LL;""'-::-----'.----'.--'--'LLL.LU
10 ~ ~ ~ ~ teristics of the COS-B experiment have been discussed at
Energy (MeV) length by Bennett et al. and, as an example of the results,
Figure 2 gives the lower limits of point-source intensities,
Figure 2 - Lower limit of detectable point sources of gamma radia- detectable at a 5 a level, as a function of the energ'l threshold .
2
tion. Results are given for point sources emitting an E- spectrum
and for n O-decay sources in the isotropic background given by
Fichtel et al. (derived from measurements by the pioneering
TABLE 1 SAS-II satellite) observed at 0° , 15° and 30° to the optical
The research groups of the COS-8 Caravane Collaboration axis, assuming a 2 x 10 6 s effective observation time.
Spark Chamber SC· Max Planck Institut fur Extraterres-
trische Physi k, Garching-bei-Munchen In-orbit tests have demonstrated that the triggering rate, for
the telescope mode selected, is typically 0.24 triggers per
Triggerin g Telescope B1/C/B2 Space Science Department, ESTEC second, which is very close to that predicted by the beam
calibrations. With operation throughout the orbit at 320 bps,
Anticoincidence A Service d' Electronique Physique,
Counter Centre d' Etudes Nucll~aires de Saclay
the typical dead-time figure is 10% and, with the experiment
operated for some 31 h of the 37 h orbital period, the
Energy Calorimeter E/D Cosmic Ray Working Group, sensitivity indicated by Figure 2 is realised with one calendar
Huygens Laboratory, month observation of each source, as was the intention .
. University of Leiden

Pulsar Synchroniser Istituto di Scienze Fisiche dell

QUICK-LOOK DATA ANALYSIS
and Experiment Universita di Milano and Istituto di
Electronics Fisica, Universi ta di Palermo The orbital parameters, mainly the apogee, enable some 95%
of the data transmitted when the experiment is switched On
• These abbreviations relate to Figure 1. (above the radiation belts) to be recovered in real time by the

27
ESTRACK stations at Redu (Belgium) and Fairbanks (Alaska). TABLE 2 - The COS-8 observation programme
Data recovered at Redu can be transmitted to ESOC in real
time or 'post pass' and some 40% of this Redu data, i.e . 20% Start of Target Right Declina- I" b ll
of the total, can be processed in the Fast Routine Facility Observation Ascension tion
0
(FRF) to give preliminary scientific results. The facility h m 0 0

incorporates computer programs contributed by the COS-B 17 August Crab

Collaboration to perform: 1975 NP-0532 05 31 +21 58 184.5 - 5.8
detector calibration from measurements on cosmic-ray 17 September GX5-1 17 58 - 25 4 5.1 - 1.0
protons 20 October Vela X 08 33 -45 0 263.6 - 2.8
spark-chamber picture analysis 8 November Vela X -1 09 00 -40 21 263.1 3.9
28 November Cygnus
gamma-ray energy estimation region 20 18 +36 74 0
derivation of arrival-direction distributions
statistical summaries of scientific housekeeping data . 24 December· Cen X -3 11 19 - 60 19 292 .1 0.4
23 January Cen A (NGC
1976 5128) 13 22 - 4247 309 .5 19.4
The end product of the FRF analysis chain is a 'sky map'
23 February Cir X-1 15 16 - 56 59 322 .1 0.1
giving the gamma-ray flux per unit area within the experiment
field of view in selectable energy ranges. Predicted orbit and 24 March·· 'VI 6 '\.()
attitude data are used in the FRF . Preliminary results are thus 12 April '\.Q6 '\.()
1 May '\45 '\.()
available within a day or so of receiving the data from the
ground station. • Foreseen continuation
** Poss ible extension
THE OBSERVATION PROGRAMME

The dates of the attitude manoeuvres and the target directions

observed so far are given in Table 2, together with the ~13. 5m.s.---+
intended short-term future programme. In a little more than 1350
the first year of operation, it is anticipated that COS-B will
complete a survey of the galactic plane and observe one or two
extragalactic objects, at the same time determining the
'isotropic' background. 1300

Target directions in the galactic plane are chosen firstly on the

basis that there is a known or potential gamma-ray emitter in
that direction, and secondly on the basis of providing a
uniform survey of the plane after one year of operation. The ~1250
ID
.....
satellite will be directed to view a particular X-ray source only
~
if compatible with these two constraints. COS-B was directed Z
to observe known gamma sources early in its orbital life to :::>
o
provide better statistical information, spectra and to detect U1200
temporal variability.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE FAST ROUTINE

FACILITY 1150

Due to 'teething' problems with the FRF system and some

program ' bugs' when subjected for the first time to real orbital
data, a sky-map of the Crab region was not produced in the
1100 L-'-F5----.~-.._---;;;:.-L-~;r'_-~_=__=_
F R F before the data were purged to make way for those of
the second observation period. However, an example of results
from the small X-ray detector is indicated in Figure 3, which F igure 3 - Light curve of the Crab pulsar NP-0532.

28
shows the 'light curve' of the Crab pulsar NP-0532 at the the total available. The vertical scale represents the gamma-ray
well-known pulsar frequency. The main pulse and interpulse flux in arbitrary units. The dotted histogram represents the
3
are clearly resolved in this particular 4 x 10 s data sample. The results obtai ned by SAS-II, as publ ished by Fichtel et al., this
bin width chosen is 1 ms. X-ray arrival times are determined to being the target direction studied in the greatest depth by that
an accuracy of better than 0.25 ms, and given the total instrument. The COS-8 and SAS-II histograms are 'almost
observation time of 2 x 106 s the light curve and its possible normalised' at the peak to show the general agreement, yet to
long-term variation will be determined to very high precision. avoid confusion by overlapping of the lines.
The result shown here is intended to demonstrate the correct
operation of the instrument and the software.

The second observation target was the galactic centre region, I

in particular the strong X-ray emitter GX5-1. Figure 4 shows
the profile of the gamma-ray emission above 100 MeV as a
---SAS 0
"l.«J-<IIt<270-
+--,I
I
I
-COSB
25r< ID <273-
I ENERGY:> 70 IoO.V ,
ENERG"i>100 IoIoV I I N2v-36J(CLASS
function of galactic latitude, summed over the longitude I I
22)
... I
interval from 339° to 21° (42° total). A total of 270 gamma I
I
rays make up this histogram, the rays being positively identi- I
fied by the very clear signature of the resolved positron- ;;; I
I
t:
negatron pair in both projections of the spark chamber (class
z
::>
,I
22 events). The number of gamma-rays per bin is indicated.
Statistical errors are shown for each latitude bin: it must be ~
in 4
remembered that the data shown represent less than 20% of ...
IX

...3 J

,
T
r'

!' ~
"

--- SAS 11 G.C. -cos B G.C.

330°<111<30° : 339°<1 11<21°
ENERGY'V >lOOMeV
irrJ 4 ': ENERGYY >100MeV
No. Y - 270 (CLASS 22) I

:1 :1 - - - SAS n
'58 -COSB
,,I L..
,, bll <100
ENERGV>,OOM.V
r-
I
I
,
I
T
I
b D < 12°
ENERGY> 70M.V
17
I
I
I ,
I
I
:
I
,
I
I
I
NO Y 334 (CLASS 22)

~--t--,
II 'I I
I I I
I : I I I
I I
,
I
i :
,,
I T
I .l. :
I
I I I
I
TI
J ,L ___ _ ---_ . . . . -+
I
I

i I
I
,I
~

VELA x
POINTING DIRECTIONS rT OOS-B
COS-B POINTING DIRECTION GX5-1
270" 280"
Figure 4 - Profile of gamma-ray emission from the galactic centre
region. Figures 5/6 - Profiles of gamma-ray emission from the Vela region.

29
The third observation period was devoted to the Vela region of
the galactic plane. The payload was pointed to the Vela pulsar
PSR 0833-45 for the first part of the period and to Vela X-l,
an eclipsing binary, for the second. Figures 5 and 6 show the
profile of gamma emission, this time for gamma energy in 60
excess of 70 MeV, requiring a clear pair in both projections. It
should be noted that these histograms for Vela result from the VELA
integration of gamma rays over the two parts of the observa- U < <
258 QII 270
w
tion period. In fact the separate histograms for the two Cl)
......
Cl)
r CLASS 22
pointing directions are identical within the statistics, showing I-
Z
there is no bias to the actual pointing direction and that no ::>
distortions are introduced, even though the engineering-model 0
u 40
calibration results were used on flight-model data. '"
b
The vertical scale represents the flux in arbitrary units and the x
SAS-I I results from Thompson et al. are indicated, again f'
> 100 MeV,
almost normalised at the peaks. Clearly, these preliminary co 185 COUNTS
N
COS-B data outline the structural features of this area to a 0 I > 200 MeV,
significant degree even though only some 20% of the data have C I 134 COUNTS
Cl)
I
been util ised. No attempt was made in the F R F to extract I- 20 I I >1000 MeV,
...J L_
temporal information from the Vela pulsar. Z 26 COUNTS
::>
0
Figure 7 shows essentially the same plot as Figure 5, but in u I
L_
terms of counts per second for each bin, i.e. not corrected for
exposure. The exposure is, however, reasonably uniform
0
with in 10 of the pointing direction. The count rate for three
integral energy intervals, approximately > 100, > 200,
> 1000 MeV, are shown, indicating clear evidence for the o
-12 -9 -6 -3 6 9 12
existence of gamma-ray emission from th is region in excess of
1000 MeV. These data are too rudimentary to deduce a
meaningful energy spectrum at this stage . The preliminary data
are to be submitted for publication in Nature in the near Figure 7 - Profile of emission from the Vela region in three energy
future. intervals.

POSTSCRIPT Information concerning the COS-B observation programme has

been circulated to many experimenters and astronomers in
Data tapes containing all data from the first observation period gamma-ray astronomy and related disciplines to enable correla-
(Crab) with actual attitude and orbit information were ted measurements to be undertaken. Anyone interested in
supplied to the collaboration by ESOC by the end of December. further information should contact Dr. R.D. Wills, the COS-B
It is anticipated that tapes for subsequent periods will be sup- Project Scientist.
plied at monthly intervals.

A symposium entitled 'Recent Advances in Gamma-Ray REFERENCES

Astronomy' is being organised, on behalf of the COS-B
Caravane Collaboration, by the Space Science Department of Bennett, K. et al., ESLAB Symposium, Frascati, June 1974
ESA, and will be held at ESTEC, Noordwijk, in the week 25 - (ESRO SP-106).
29 October 1976. Results of the analysis ofthe COS-B data will Bignami, G.F. etal., SpaceSci. Instr. 1,245-268 (1975).
be available from the first year of operation, at least in prelimi- Christ, H. etal., Nucl. Instr. & Meth. 116,447-485 (1974).
nary form. Further information can be obtained from one of the Fichtel, C.E. et al., Ap. J. 198,163-182 (1975).
authors, Dr. B.G. Taylor, the symposium organiser. Thompson, D.J. etal., Ap. J. (Lett.) 190, L51 (1974).

30
New European Technology aboard
Canadian/US Communications Satellite

The Communications Technology Satellite (CTS). developed

jointly by Canada and the United States, was launched into a
near-nominal transfer orbit from Cape Canaveral on 17
January_ It carries a number of novel hardware items devel-
oped by European industry which represent major advances in
space technology_

Under a technical co-operation agreement with the Canadian

Department of Communications, ESA has supplied two 20 W
travelling-wave-tube amplifiers (from Thomson-CSF, France)
with power supplies (from FIAR, Italy) and a special low-noise
parametric amplifier (from GTE, Italy) to the CTS project,
free of charge. In addition, large, lightweight solar-array blan- sound broadcasts to small, low-cost ground terminals. It
kets developed by ESA and providing a power output in excess represents the first significant space application of the
of 1 kW have been purchased from European industry (AEG, 12/14 GHz frequency band. ESA's interest in participating in
Germany) by the Canadians. th is project is to test on-board equipment for possible use in
satellites to be developed within the European Communi-
cations Satellites programme. The Agency's own experimental
CTS is a high-power, three-axis stabilised satellite, intended to and pre-operational communications satellite, OTS, is due to
provide experimental colour television transmissions and be launched next year.

Obituary Dr. A. W. Lines took up a senior post in the Science Research Council in
London.

Dr. A.W. Lines, generally referred to - though not generally to His death at the age of 61 will be deeply felt by the many staff
his face - as 'Freddie', was one of the pioneer figures in members who worked with him in those formative years. They
ESRO's history. He came to ESRO in 1961 from the Royal are well placed to know how great a debt the European space
Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, and became the Orga- effort owes to Dr. Lines and to his determination and persever-
nisation's first Technical Director. He was simultaneollsly ance. Although many suffered the sharpness of his tongue,
Director of ESTEC and was personally involved in creating the none will remember with anything but pride the years of
Establishment. Dr. Lines left ESRO on 31 March 1968 and common effort under his rugged direction. RG

31
The European Space Effort in the Light of
Global European Policy

C. Lay ton, Directorate for Industrial and Technological Affairs, Commission of the European Communities

a major preoccupation. We have seen the initiation of a first,

and now a second, environmental programme, the introduc-
Mr. Christopher Lay ton is Director responsible for the develop- tion of a regional policy, with a budget now fixed at 1300 mil -
ment of policies for the data-processing, telecommunications lion Units of Account over three years; at the beginning of
and aerospace industries in the Commission of the European 1975 the Community signed the Lome agreements with
Communities. The address that follows was delivered at ESTEC 48 countries from African, Caribbean and Pacific areas,
last year on the occasion of the 'European Space Days', a marking a major new development in the Community's rela-
meeting/exhibition organised by ESA with a view to providing tionships with the developing world. Today the Commiss ion
an opportunity for representatives of the industrial and devel- and the EEC Member States are working on the preparation of
oping nations to form an accurate impression of the overall further joint European policies, particularly in the fields of raw
competence and capabilities of the European space effort. materials policy and energy. All these new dimensions ma rk
the awareness of the Community's Member States that col -
laboration with a common accent is necessary in a widening
range of areas in which the modern state is involved, as they
Mr . Chairman, first may I thank the European Space Agency work their way with pain and difficulty, but still steadily ,
for the opportunity given to a representative from the Com- towards the goal of economic union, indeed a 'European
mission of the European Communities to address this distin- union' as it is called. These new dimensions due to the
guished audience; in particular Mr. Spinelli, the Commissioner awareness of common need lead the Community to see a new
responsible for Industrial and Technological Affairs, has asked potential as a user of the tool of space applications.
me to send his best wishes and those of the Commission to the
new Agency for its future work. REMOTE SENSING AND DATA PROCESSING

EEC INTEREST IN ESA'S APPLICATIONS PROGRAMMES I want to say a few words about the particular fields in which
we see the Community having a real user interest in some of
I believe the Commission feels very confident in the ability of the areas where work is developing in the Agency here and in
the Agency, an equal partner of other world organisations, to space activities in the world as a whole. The first area where
work in sharing the benefits of space exploration and exploit- the Community may and could become a significant user is
ation and to put its capabilities at the disposal of other that of remote sensing. The services of the Commission are
regions of the world. This confidence is inspired both by the currently exploring how best remote sensing may serve the
creation of the Agency, and by the realistic and wise way in Community. There are possible areas of application interest in
which the long debate about the objectives of the European agriculture, regional policy, environmental policy, resources
space effort has been resolved in the present programme. In and raw materials policy, and certainly in our whole rela-
the past, the interest of the European Communities in space tionship with the developing world, always provided in this
affairs and of the Commission in particular has been modest. last respect that the key principle of the Lome Convention ,
Since there already existed specialised European agencies equality between the Community and the developing coun-
implementing space programmes, there seemed no need to tries, is respected. At present most of the information on
develop a competence within the European Community to space-borne remote sensing comes from NASA. Here the
implement space activities . The European Economic Com- Community's interest, which is also in the interest of our data
munity is, however, a major potential user of operational space processing policy, is in the systematic collection and archiving
systems. Our concern with space grows as space becomes a of this information at a Community level, prior to dissemina-
way to solve practical problems of economic importance. The tion to the different European users. In the future, if the
fact that the European Space Agency's programme gives high European Space Agency were to develop a remote-sensing
priority to applications enhances its interest to the Com- capability, then of course the Community might also be inter-
munity, as well as the need to develop a close partnership ested as a user.
between our two organisations.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
First may I say a little about the development of the Com-
munity today . In its first 15 years the Community's major A second area where the Community's larger economic inter-
achievements were the development of a customs union and an ests are relevant to your activities is that of telecommun-
agricultural policy. But since 1972, indeed since the enlarge- ications. The Community is following with great attention the
ment of the Community, more and wider themes have become OTS, Marots and Aerosat programmes to speak only of the

32
 Space Agency projects, which we believe pave the way for nisations can work together. In March 1975 the Council of
operational telecommunication systems needed in the next Ministers passed a resolution calling for co-ordination of
decade. In telecommunications, the basic forum for European policy; indeed the development of a strategy for the European
collaboration hitherto has been the CEPT. And, of course, aircraft industry. Once again a clear area of common interest.
OTS is designed as an experiment which can lead on to opera- The development of a powerful space industry in Europe is
tional satellites satisfying future CEPT requirements. The closely linked with the development of a strong aircraft
Community, however, is now taking the first steps towards a industry, and the policies toward the structure of the industry
larger development of a European telecommunications policy. which the Commission is considering to promote for the air-
Our first interest is in the opening up of markets for tele- craft industry in Europe. May I say that here also you provide
communications equipment, but we've also encouraged the us with interesting models; you are creating a European Space
telecommunications administrations to embark on a major Agency today; perhaps one day in the future we may find it
programme of harmonisation in the field of future services and necessary to create a comparable organisation to lead the
technical standards, which was decided at the April conference European aircraft industry and its programme.
of the CEPT, and this could clearly lead on to a greater degree
of European planning of the future electronic trunk network SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
of telecommunications in Europe over the next 20 years, with
a greater coherence and definition of European telecom- One final theme concerns scientific and technical information,
munication requirements, all highly relevant to the future use which again your Agency has pioneered in Europe. Here I'd
and development of the European Telecommunications Satel- like to say that Mr. Appleyard, our Director General respon-
lite. In rather more detailed practical terms, we also see some sible in this field, much regrets his inability to be here and has
interest in perhaps performing satellite data transmission tests asked me to say a few words. In the Commission we attach
making use of OTS in the framework of our data pro- great importance to the dissemination, protection and exploi-
cessing programme and in connection with the European tation of the results of research and development, especially in
Informatics Network. Another subject worth exploring is a the publ ic sector and especially in those areas where the
network of oceanographic and meteorological measurements Community, Space Agency and other international organisa-
in European waters which could conceivably use Meteosat as a tions have a responsibility. We believe that here, at a European
data relay system. The Commission's services are also looking level, we must co-operate as closely between ourselves (that is
carefully at the opportunities Spacelab may provide in the to say between our different European organisations) as we
foture to perform man-supported scientific activities in space, must with the Member States. We believe in the Community
possibly including the development of space-borne manufac- that one of the first obligations on us as an international
turing capabilities, like large single crystals, new alloys, pure organisation, and perhaps on you here in the Agency, is to set
vaccines, and so on ; that is for the future but it is none- an example, to put our own house in order. I believe that we
theless relevant to the long-term capabilities of the European have a lot to learn in the Commission from your Agency and
advanced technology industries. ESRO in the past. We are therefore very happy in the Com-
mission that it's been possible to prepare a concrete and
INDUSTRIAL POLICY mutually profitable scheme of co-operation between the
European Space Agency and the European Community, in
In the area of industrial policy the European space agencies connection with our respective plans for scientific and tech-
have been pioneers and Professor Levy has elaborated widely nical information services. We in the Commission hope that all
on this theme. In the Community, following the work of the our Member States will accept this idea as enthusiastically as
Coal and Steel Communities and Euratom, certain new we do ourselves, and that our joint projects will go far to
beginnings have been made on policy for advanced technology facilitate the work of many in Europe who care for science
industry. In July 1974 the Council of Ministers passed a reso- and technology in general and for space in particular.
lution on data processing with two main objectives; developing
collaboration within, and the development of, the European- A final word. The Community in the coming years, we hope,
based industry, and also developing collaboration in the field will make steady progress towards a European union, which
of applications of Community interest. Here ESRO has means that it will develop a widening range of policies for a
become a faithful customer of the European data processing widening range of industries. You have been pioneers in this, and
industry, and data processing is clearly a key part of all space we look forward to a close partnership in our future work. 0
systems, a clear area of common interest where our two orga-

33
The Accounting Unit and its Problems
L'unite de compte et ses problemes

H. Frank, Administrative Directorate, ESA, Paris

Lors de la signature de la Convention du CERS, le 14 juin

1962, le Protocole financier annexe a celle-ci definissait ainsi,
European organisations such as ESA, which accept and disburse en son Article VI, 1, cette unite monetaire commune ou unite
their funds in the many currencies of their Member States, de compte:
require a pre-defined monetary or accounting unit by which to 'Le budget de I'Organisation est exprime en unites de
relate these different working currencies and so ensure the fast compte definies par un poids de 0,88867088 gramme d'or
accounting in a single transaction of, for example, German fin'.
Marks, French Francs and Pounds Sterling, as a matter of daily
routine. L 'Organisation aurait pu, comme les Nations Unies, I'OCDE ou
le CERN, prendre pour unite de compte une monnaie reelle,
Les Organisations internationales comme I' ASE (et avant elle le par exemple le dollar des Etats-Unis; mais elle prefera suivre
CERS et le CECLES), dont les depenses se font dans les I'exemple des Communautes europeennes, qui avaient adopte
multiples monnaies de leurs Etats membres, ont besoin d'une une unite de compte basee sur I'or, afin de reduire au
unite monetaire commune qui permette de rattacher ces minimum les risques de perturbations en cas de devaluation ou
differentes monnaies a un meme etalon de valeur et d'addition- de reevaluation de monnaies nationales.
ner, par exemple, des francs fran~is, des livres sterling et des
marks allemands. La definition de I'unite de compte par rapport a I'or presentait
un autre avantage: elle permettait d'operer la conversion des
unites de compte en monnaies nationales ou vice versa sur la
base des parites officielles de ces monnaies notifitfes par les
At the time of signature of the ESRO Convention on 14 June Etats membres au Fonds monetaire intemational, de sorte que
1962, this monetary unit or Accounting Unit was defined in les operations financieres de I'Organisation n'etaient pas affec-
Article VI.1 of the Financial Protocol annexed to the Con- tees par les fluctuations quotidiennes des marches des changes.
vention as follows:
'The budget of the Organisation shall be expressed in Ce systeme a fonctionne de far;on assez satisfaisante jusqu'a la
accounting units defined by 0.88867088 grams of fine fin de 1971, c'est-a-dire aussi longtemps que le systeme
gold' . monetaire international fonde sur les accords de Bretton
Woods (1944) est demeure stable. Les modifications officielles
Although the Organisation, like the United Nations, OECD or des parites monetaires des Etats membres ont en effet ete peu
CERN, could have chosen a hard currency, such as the US frequentes puisque, entre 1962 et 1971, trois annees seule-
Dollar, as its fundamental unit, it followed the example of the ment en ont connu: 1967 (devaluation de la livre sterling, de la
European Communities in adopting an accounting unit based couronne danoise et de la peseta), 1969 (devaluation du franc
on gold, in order to minimise the risk of complications in the franr;ais, reevaluation du deutsche mark) et 1971 (reevaluation
event of revaluation or devaluation of national currencies. du franc suisse).
Definition of the Accounting Unit in terms of gold had the
further advantage that Accounting Units could be converted
into national currencies, or vice versa, on the basis of the UNE NOUVELLE DEFINITION PROVISOIRE
official par values of currencies notified by Member States to
the International Monetary Fund. The financial transactions of Le systeme des parites officielles ayant ete suspendu de facto
the Organisation would therefore be unaffected by the daily par I'accord signe en decembre 1971 au Smithsonian Institute,
fluctuations of exchange markets. qui permettait a certains Etats membres d'adopter des taux
centraux differents de leurs parites officielles et a d'autres
This system worked reasonably well until the end of 1971, as Etats membres de laisser flotter leurs monnaies, il a fallu
long as the international monetary system based on the redefinir I'unite de compte utilisee par I'Organisation. Celle-ci,
Bretton Woods agreement of 1944 remained stable. Official apres des discussions qui se deroulerent en 1972 et 1973,
changes of par value of Member State currencies were rather adopta en 1974 une nouvelle formule dans laquelle la valeur de
the exception, and between 1962 and 1971 such changes I'unite de compte etait determinee par rapport a une monnaie
occurred only three times; in 1967 (devaluation of £, DKr and de reference, la conversion des monnaies flottantes en unites
Peseta). in 1969 (devaluation of FF, revaluation of DM). and de compte s'effectuant aux taux de change moyens pratiques
in 1971 (revaluation of SF) . sur les marches des changes officiels pendant un mois donne.

34
TEMPORARY NEW DEFINITION Quant aux monnaies basees sur des taux centraux, la valeur
retenue etait cel/e correspondant aces taux.
The de facto suspension of the system of official par values by
the Smithsonian Agreement in December 1971 allowing some LA NOUVELLE UNITE DE COMPTE EUROPEENNE
Member States to adopt central rates different from their
official parities and others to let their currencies float, requir- Le systeme provisoire ainsi etabli par le CERS devait etre
ed a new definition of the Accounting Unit used by the Orga- perfectionne et institutionnalise par la decision prise le 30
nisation. After discussions during 1972 and 1973, the juil/et 1975 par le Conseil de I'Agence d'adopter a partir du
Organisation finally adopted a new concept as from 1974, in 1er janvier 1976 I'unite de compte europeenne creee par les
which the value of the Accounting Unit was determined by its Communautes europeennes. L 'Article VI, 1 du Protocole
relation to one reference currency and conversion of floating financier a ete modifie comme suit:
currencies into Accounting Units was effected at the average
exchange rate of official exchange markets during a given 'Le budget de I'Organisation est exprime en unites de
month. Currencies based on central rates were valued at these compte. La valeur de I'unite de compte est equivalente a
rates. cel/e de I'unite de compte panier-type instituee par la
decision du Conseil des Communautes europeennes du 21
THE NEW EUROPEAN ACCOUNTING UNIT avril 1975, sauf s'il en est autrement dispose dans un
arrangement conclu ou a conc/ure par /'Organisation~
The temporary ESRO-devised system was finally refined and
formalised with the decision of the Agency's Council on Le panier-type qui constitue la base de la nouvel/e unite de
30 July 1975 to adopt the European Accounting Unit, estab- compte europeenne comprend les neuf monnaies des Commu-
lished by the European Communities, as the new Accounting nautes avec les ponderations suivantes:
Unit for the Agency, from 1 January 1976. Article VI.1 of the
Financial Protocol was amended as follows: Deutsche mark 27,3%
'The budget of the Organisation shall be expressed in Franc fran(:ais 19,5%
Accounting Units. The value of the Accounting Unit shall Livre sterling 17,5%
be equivalent to that of the standard basket unit of account Lire italienne 14,0%
created by the decisions taken by the Council of the Euro- Florin neerlandais 9,0%
pean Communities on 21 April 1975, unless otherwise Franc beIge 7,9%
decided in an arrangement concluded, or to be concluded, Couronne danoise 3,0%
Livre irlandaise 1,5%
by the Organisation'.
Franc luxembourgeois 0,3%
The 'standard basket', which forms the basis of the new Euro-
pean Accounting Unit, includes the nine currencies of the
Communities in the following 'percentage weights': La valeur du panier est consideree comme egale a la somme des
German Mark 27.3% Belgian Franc 7.9% valeurs des neuf monnaies. On calcule d'abord le panier en
French Franc 19.5% Danish Crown 3.0% francs beIges en utilisant les taux de change de Bruxel/es entre
Pound Sterling 17.5% Irish Pound 1.5% le franc beIge et les autres monnaies du panier selon leurs
Italian Lira 14.0% Luxemburg Franc 0.3% ponderations respectives. Une fois etablie la relation entre
Dutch Florin 9.0% I'unite de compte et le franc beIge, la relation entre I'unite de
compte et toutes les autres monnaies peut etre determinee sur
The value of the basket is considered equal to the sum of the la base des taux de change entre le franc beIge et les autres
values of the nine currencies. The basket is first calculated in monnaies tels qu'ils sont cotes sur les marches des pays
Belgian Francs using the Brussels exchange rates between consideres.
Belgian Francs and the other basket currencies at their pro-
portional weights. Once the relation between the Accounting Conformement au principe adopt(} par I'Organisation en 1974
Unit and the Belgian Franc has been established, the relation de fixer d'avance pour une annee des taux de change stables,
between the Accounting Unit and all other currencies can be les taux de change entre I'unite de compte et les monnaies
determined on the basis of the exchange rates between the nationales qui seront utilises par I'Agence en 1976 ont ete
Belgian Franc and other currencies as quoted on their national calcutes sur la base des taux pratiques en juin 1975, ce qui donne
markets. la tableau suivant:

35
Following the principle adopted by the Organisation in 1974 1 unite de compte = Franc beIge 45,50638
of fixing stable exchange rates in advance for each coming Couronne danoise 7,08200
year, the exchange rates between the Accounting Unit and the Franc fran9ais 5,21657
currencies to be used by the Agency for 1976 have already Deutsche mark 3,04823
been calculated on the basis of national exchange rates in June Livre irlandaise 0,57122
1975, as follows: Lire 814,75285
Florin neerlandais 3,13769
1 ESA Accounting Unit = Belgian Francs 45.50638 Peseta 72,60213
Danish Crowns 7.08200 Couronne suedoise 5,09688
French Francs 5.21657 Franc suisse 3,24651
German Marks 3.04823 Livre sterling 0,57084
Irish Pounds 0.57122 Couronne norvegienne 6,37908
Italian Lire 814.75285 Schilling autrichien 21,53649
Dutch Florins 3.13769 Dollar des Etats-Unis 1,30241
Spanish Pesetas 72.60213 Dollar canadien 1,33604
Swedish Crowns 5.09688
Swiss Francs 3.24651 PROBLEMES
Pounds Sterling 0.57084
Norwegian Crowns 6.37908 L 'utilisation de I'unite de compte europeenne cl I'ASE ne pose
Austrian Schillings 21.53649 pas de problemes importants, mais un certain nombre de
US Dollars 1.30241 modalites techniques d'application devront etre examinees
Canadian Dollars 1.33604 plus cl fond et peut-etre donner lieu, dans I'avenir, cl des
solutions differentes. Par exemple, les statistiques sur la repar-
PROBLEMS tition geographique des contrats, etablies en unites de compte
au moment ou ceux-ci sont attribues, ne tiennent pas compte de
There are no major problems associated with the use of the la depreciation que les monnaies f/ottantes ont subie au
European Accounting Unit in ESA, but a number of technical cours des annees jusqu'au reglement final des contrats. Autre
aspects of its implementation will require further thought and probleme: pour la comparaison des soumissions presentees par
perhaps different solutions in the future. There are, for les entreprises, on utilise des taux de change fixes jusqu'cl 18
instance, the statistics on geographical distribution of con- mois apres leur determination, alors que les relations entre
tracts expressed in Accounting Units at the time contracts are certaines monnaies ont pu ch anger considerablement entre-
awarded, which do not take into account depreciation of temps. Certains Etats membres ont egalement fait observer que
floating currencies over the years until the contracts have been la valeur externe d'une monnaie, telle qu'elle est exprimee par
paid off. les taux de change, ne ref/ete pas necessairement le pouvoir
d'achat reel de cette monnaie cl l'interieur du pays, et qu'il
Another problem lies in the use of fixed exchange rates for up faudrait donc concevoir un systeme permettant de calculer
to 18 months after they have been determined for the com- differemment la valeur d'une monnaie en unites de compte
parison of bids from industry, although the relations between selon que les fonds sont depenses dans le pays considere ou
certain currencies may have changed considerably in the mean- utilises cl I'exterieur pour acheter d'autres monnaies. L'Agence
time. Some Member States have also raised the point that the etudiera ces probtemes en 1976, ce qui pourra conduire cl
external value of a currency as expressed by exchange rates modifier I'application actuelle de la formule de I'unite de
does not necessarily reflect the currency's real purchasing compte europeenne sans toucher, bien entendu, cl son principe.
power in its own country, and a system should therefore be o
devised to allow different valuation of a currency in terms of
Accounting Units depending on whether the money is spent in
the country concerned or used outside to buy other currencies.
These problems are to be studied by the Agency in the course
of 1976 and will possibly lead to modification of the present
system, without changing the basic concept of the European
Accounting Unit. 0

36
Projects under Development
Projets en cours de realisation

THE ESA DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION PROGRAMME (as at December 1975)

1976 1977 1978 1979 BEYOND 1979

GEOS ---
'~-----
----- ----- ~~

IUE ~ ~~

ISEE-B {§:y ~ ~ lifetime - 3 years

EXOSAT •••• •••• 0 launch - Sept. 1980

lifetime - 2 years

METEOSAT ."'~ ~C" ~ lifetime - 3 years

launch FU 2-
AEROSAT 0 ~ 1st Otr 1980
lifetime - 5 years
.~ ~~~
MAROTS ~ lifetime up to 7 years
OTS ~ ~ ~ lifetime up to 7 years
launch - early 1980
ECS •••••••• 0 lifetime - 7 years
~IIIIIIIIIIIIIIUUlIIIIII
1st flight - mid 1980
SPACE LAB
. 2nd fl ight -late 1980

ARIANE ~ test flights 2, 3 and 4

• ••••• =phase B (design definition) o = award of hardware contract

= phase CID (development) /::). = launch
1111111111111111111111111
= sustained engineering support @] = delivery to NASA
= operation \l = test fl ight

Important progress has been made ana all prototype experiment units have
GEOS now been qualified and integrated, the European thrusters have successfully
completed a mission simulation test, and the European apogee motor has
been qualified.

Scientific payload

The complete prototype payload of seven experiments has been qualified,

while electromagnetic-cleanliness and some environmental-exposure tests are
being performed at IABG, Ottobrunn, and at ESTEC. All seven experiments
were delivered to BAC for installation and testing in the qualification model.
Because of delays in delivery of the prototype electronic subsystems, correct
operation of the experiments was verified by utilising hardware from the
development model. Preliminary EMC tests on the ensemble have shown low
noise performance. Acceptance testing of flight experiments has also been
commenced.

37
 Spacecraft

Technical progress on the spacecraft's equipment continues. The AEG solar

array has been successfully qualified over a wide temperature range (-85 to
+11 QOC) and the Fokker interconnection technique for grounding the optical
solar reflectors has passed qualification tests. Antenna-pattern tests con -
ducted at ESTEC have shown that no problems with command operation
should be encountered during the critical transfer-orbit phase .

Propulsion system

The hydrazine auxiliary propulsion system has successfully completed the

'hot-fire' test in Hawker Siddeley's vacuum facility at Stevenage. The
thrusters were subjected to si mu lated life-testi ng with the appropriate duty
cycles, including the critical case of a hot restart. Thruster and system
behaviour. was excellent and it was possible to conduct operations equivalent
to more than the two-year mission in only four weeks of intensive testing .

Furthermore, the first flight-standard thrusters delivered have proved to be

of higher quality than the qualification model, and have very good repro -
ducibility, indicating that a significant improvement over the earlier models
has been achieved. These SEP thrusters are the first completely European
hydrazine thrusters capable of developing a 14N impulse .

Apogee motor

The SN IAS-SEP apogee motor was formally qualified during the Qualifi -
cation Test Review in October, when eight full -scale motors were fired (in
addition to the small-scale firings used for plume heating and outgassing
research) . The GEOS motor is the first European solid -propellant design to
achieve this status; it is not only magnetically clean, but is also the first to
operate reproducibly at subzero temperatures (- 10° C) . Following qualifi -
cation, a special trial was carried out at Colleferro, by a combined team from
SNIA, Dornier and ESA, where a motor firing was initiated by commanding
a spacecraft pyrotechnic control unit; this demonstrated compatibi lity of the
on -board electronics. The firing trials have shown thrust levels consistently
higher than the minimum specified, and as a result it will be possible to
reduce the effective mass of the motor.

Programme management

The main development contract has been signed and agreement reached on
improved acceptance conditions for low-noise electromagnetic cleanliness .
After a review of subsystem schedules, following th4 arrival of hi -rei
components, and the verification of quality, the spacecr~ft programme has
been revised, leading to an April 1977 launch date.

38
 Compatibility of the GEOS telecommunications and data-handling system
with the NASA-ST ADAN stations has been confirmed by tests at Goddard
Space Flight Center, with the special transportable simulator, or 'suitcase'.
The simulator will now be used for spectrum checks at NASA's Madrid
station , to determine whether the S-band transmission could have an impact
upon the deep-space network.

At the ESA ground station in Odenwald, equipment integration is proceed-

ing according to plan. At ESOC, the supporting computer system is opera -
tional. Good progress continues to be made with data-processing activities -
the content and format of experimenter summary displays have been
defined, and work is progressing on the layout and content of real -time data
displays and the definition of automatic command software.

A design review for the Control Centre equipment has been held, and this is
now being manufactured. When the ANS spacecraft operations come to an
end in December, space will available at ESOC for the GEOS-dedicated
control room.

D'importance progres ont ete accomplis dans la realisation du programme:

GEOS tous les prototypes d'experiences ont ete qualifies et integres, les propulseurs
europeens ont subi avec succes un essai de simulation de mission et le moteur
d'apogee europeen a ete qualifie.

Charge utile scientifique

L 'ensemble du prototype de la charge utile, soit 7 experiences, a ete qualifie,

les essais de proprete electromagnetique (EMC) et quelques essais d'ambiance
ayant ete executes dans les installations de I'IABG, cl Ottobrunn et cl
I'ESTEC. Toutes ces experiences ont ete livrees cl la BAC pour etre installees
et essayees dans le modele de qualification cl Filton. En raison des retards
intervenus dans la livraison de sous-systemes electroniques prototypes, le bon
fonctionnement des experiences a ete verifie au moyen de materiels
provenant du modele de developpement. Les essais EMC preliminaires effec-
tues sur I'ensemble ont montre qu'il fonctionnait avec un faible bruit. Les
essais de recette des modeles de vol des experiences ont debute.

Vehicule spatial

Les travaux techniques concernant les equipments du vehicule spatial con-

tinuent de progresser. Le reseau solaire AEG a pu etre qualifie sur une large
plage de temperature aI/ant de -85 cl +110° C, et la technique d'intercon-
nexion Fokker pour la mise cl la masse des reflecteurs solaires optiques
(OSR) a subi avec succes les essais de qualification. Les essais de diagram me
des antennes effectues cl I'ESTEC ont montre que la phase critique de
I'orbite de transfert ne devrait pas presenter de probteme de telecommande.

39
ESA ground station at Odenwald (Germany)!Station sol de rASE a Odenwald (Allemagne).

Systeme de propulsion

Le systeme de propulsion auxiliaire a hydrazine a passe avec succes /'essai de

mise a feu dans I'enceinte sous vide de Hawker Siddeley a Stevenage. Les
propulseurs ant ete soumis a des essais de longevite en service simuJe avec
cycles de fonctionnement appropries, et notamment le cas critique d'un
redemarrage a chaud. Le comportement des propulseurs et du systeme a ete
excel/ent, et il a ete possible, en quatre semaines d'essais intensifs, de simuler
des operations equivalant a une mission de plus de deux ans.

En outre, les premiers propulseurs aux normes de vol qui ant ete livres se
sont reveJes d'une qualite superieure a cel/e du modele de qualification et
presentent d'excellentes proprietes de reproductibilite, ce qui montre qu'une
amelioration notable a ete obtenue par rapport aux modeles anterieurs. Ces
propulseurs SEP sont les premiers propulseurs a hydrazine de realisation
entierement europeenne, capables de fournir une poussee de 14N.

Moteur d'apogee

La qualification officie//e du moteur d'apogee SNIAS-SEP a ete obtenue a la

reunion d'examen des essais de qualification du mois d'octobre, huit moteurs
grandeur nature ayant ete mis,.a feu (en plus des mises a feu sur modeles
reduits utilises pour les recherches de chaleur du jet et de degazage). Le
moteur de GEOS est le premier modele europeen a ergols solides qui ait
atteint ce stade; non seulement il est magnetiquement propre, mais en plus il
est le premier a fonctionner de far;on reproductible a des temperatures
inFerieures a 0 (_10 0 C). A la suite de la qualification, des essais speciaux ant
ete effectues a Col/eferro par une equipe mixte de la SNIA, de Dornier et de
I'ASE; au cours de ces essais, une mise a feu du moteur a ete declenchee par
commande d'un dispositif pyrotechnique du vehicule spatial et a permis de
demontrer la compatibilite de I'electronique de bard. Les essais de mise a feu
ant fait apparaf'tre un niveau de poussee notablement superieur au minimum
specifie, si bien qu'il sera possible de diminuer la masse totale du moteur.

40
 Gestion du programme

Le contrat principal de developpement a ete signe dans sa version definitive

et un accord conclu sur une amelioration des conditions de recette en
matiere de proprete electromagnetique cl faible niveau de bruit. A la suite
d'un reexamen des calendriers des sous-systemes resultant de I'arrivee effec-
tive des composants haute fiabilite et de la verification de la qualite, le
programme du vehicule spatial a ete revise, la date de lancement etant
desormais fixee cl avril 1977.

La compatibilite des telecommunications et du systeme de gestion des don-

nees de GEOS avec les stations STADAN de la NASA a pu etre demontree au
cours d'essais menes au Goddard Space Flight Center, utilisant le simulateur
transportable special dit 'simulateur valise'. La prochaine utilisation de ce
simulateur portera sur des verifications du spectre cl la station NASA de
Madrid afin de determiner si les transmissions en bande S auraient des inci-
dences eventuelles sur le Reseau pour I'espace lointain.

A la station au sol de I'ASE de I'Odenwald, I'integration du materiel se

poursuit conformement aux previsions. Le systeme calcul de soutien de
I'ESOC est operationnel. Les activites de traitement des donnees se pour-
suivent dans de bonnes conditions - contenu et format des affichages
simplifies pour experimentateurs sont deFinis - et le travail se poursuit sur
I'agencement et le contenu des affichages en temps reel ainsi que sur la
definition du logiciel de commande automatique.

L 'equipement du Centre de controle a fait I'objet d'une reunion d'examen de

conception et est desormais en cours de fabrication. Apres achevement des
operations ANS en decembre, on disposera cl I'ESOC de la place necessaire
pour realiser la salle de controle specialisee de GEOS.

Solar array
IUE
The series of tests on the prototype solar array has conti nued successfu Ily.
After completing 50 thermal-cycling tests under Sun-simulation conditions
at ESTEC's facilities, one of the array paddles has been returned to Goddard
Space Slight Center, where it will be subjected to the final series of vibration
and deployment tests, together with the engineering model of the spacecraft.

The Final Design Review for the solar array has been carried out at SN IAS.
The review team, which included representatives from NASA, the U K
Science Research Counci I and ESA, accepted the design concept presented
and praised the contractor (SN IAS) for the high quality of their work.

Manufacture of the flight-unit array and spares is almost complete and the

41
 array will now undergo testing at SN IAS prior to its delivery to ESTEC,
planned for February 1976.

Ground system

Construction work on the I UE building at Villafranca is continuing on

schedule. The outer structure has now been completed and work is pro -
ceeding on the building's interior. The acceptance date for the building has
been set for March 1976.

The S-band antenna has been completely assembled at the Villafranca site
and antenna radiation measurements are now in progress.

In October, the AFC authorised the placing of a contract for ground -station
integration with Plessey Radar (U K). The Agency and Plessey are now in the
final stages of technical discussions and the contract is expected to be signed
soon. The contractor will be responsible for supplying a large quantity of
equipment, for telemetry command, monitor and control, timing etc., and
for integrating it with other equipment supplied under separate ESA con -
tracts (e.g. computer, S-band antenna). This work will continue throughout
1976 and early 1977.

Reseau solaire
IUE
La serie d'essais effectues sur le prototype de reseau solaire s'est poursuivie
avec succes. Apres avoir subi cl I'ESTEC 50 essais de cycle thermique dans
des conditions simulant le rayonnement solaire, I'un des panneaux du reseau
a ete retourne au Goddard Space Flight Center ou il sera soumis cl la serie
finale d'essais de vibrations et de deploiement en meme temps que le modele
d'identificatiofl du vehicule spatial.

L 'examen final de la conception du reseau solaire a ete effectue avec succes cl

la SNIAS. L 'equipe d'examen, qui comptait des representants de la NASA ,
du SRC (Conseil de la Recherche Scientifique britannique) et de I'ASE, a
approuve la conception presentee et a felicite la SNIAS pour la qualite de
son travail.

La fabrication du reseau de I'unite de vol et des rechanges est pratiquement

terminee. Le reseau de I'unite de vol va maintenent etre soumis cl des essais cl
la SNIAS avant d'etre livre cl I'ESTEC, en principe en Fevrier 1976.
Systeme de vol

La construction du batiment de /,/UE cl Villafranca se poursuit dans les

delais. La structure est maintenant terminee et les travaux interieurs progres-
sent. La recette du batiment est prevue pour mars 1976.

42
Engineering model of IUE spacecraft with solar array in
position during optical alignment check/Modele !'identifica-
tion d'IUE equipe du reseau solaire au cours d'une verifica-
tion d'alignement optique.

L 'assemblage complet de I'antenne en ban de S a (ite effectue sur le site de

Villafranca et I'on procede actue//ement aux mesures du rayonnement de
I'antenne.

En octobre, I'AFC a autorise la passation avec Plessey Radar (R-U) d'un

contrat pour /'integration de la station sol. L 'Agence acheve actue//ement de
mettre au point les questions techniques avec Plessey et le contrat doit en
principe etre signe prochainement. Le contractant sera charge de foumir un
important volume d'equipements, tels que les moyens de commande, de
surveillance et de controle de la teJemesure, de synchronisation, etc. et de les
integrer avec d'autres equipements foumis par I'Agence au titre de contrats
distincts (par exemple: calculateur, antenne en bande S). Ces travaux se
poursuivront pendant toute I'annee 1976 et les premiers mois de 1977.

During the last few weeks, the ISEE-B programme has moved from a mainly
ISEE design phase into a hardware phase. In particular, the structural model of the
spacecraft, upon which the major part of the mechanical qualification of the
satellite is to be carried out, has been completely integrated with mass
models of the various electrical subsystems. It is in the process of being
qualified and has already successfu lIy concluded its acceleration tests and
some of the vibration tests.

A mechanical problem has been encountered and solved in the last two
months. A buckling of the hinge booms was observed when they were
prestressed sufficiently for the predicted launch environment. The solution,
which has been introduced without slippage of the overall programme, has
been to incorporate stiffening webs into the interior of the booms in the area
affected. These changes are included in the structural model currently under
test.

43
 Development and production of the various subsystems for the integration
model continues generally on schedule, although two (power and telecom -
munications) are still showing some delay with respect to their target dates.
Active co-operative measures are being evolved at technical and managerial
level to correct the situation.

On the ISEE-A spacecraft and on the experiment side, progress is also

generally satisfactory. A visit has been made to NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center and to the US experimenters during which schedules and
interfaces were thoroughly reviewed. The only potentially serious problem is
the reliability and delivery of CMOS components. These items, which are
widely used in space experiments because of their low power consumption,
have been found to have a low resistance to radiation such as will be
encountered during the ISEE mission and, additionally, there are some
production problems with corrosion of leads. Both of these problems are
under active study and it is hoped that the possible inherent delivery delays
can be avoided.

With the exception of the last point, the project is continuing on schedule
for a launch in October 1977, as planned.

Au cours des derniiHes semaines, le programme ISEE-8 est passe d'une phase
ISEE essentiellement conceptuelle a une phase de realisation des maUjriels. En
particulier, le modele structurel du vehicule spatial, sur lequel s'effectuera la
majeure partie de la qualification mecanique du satellite, a ete completement
integre avec les modeles de masse des differents sous-systemes electriques. Ce
modele structurel est en cours de qualification et a deja subi avec succes ses
essais d'acceleration ainsi qu'une par tie des essais de vibration.

Un probleme mecanique s'est pose et a ete resolu au cours des deux derniers
mois. On a observe un flambage des bras articules au cours de I'essai de
compression, lorsque I'effort a atteint la valeur correspondant aux conditions
de lancement prevues. La solution retenue, qui n'a pas entrafhe de retard
pour I'ensemble du programme, a consiste a introduire des raidisseurs a
I'interieur des bras dans la region interessee. Ces modifications sont incluses
dans le modele structurel en cours d'essais.

Le developpement et la production des divers sous-systemes des tines au

modele d'integration se poursuivent dans I'ensemble comme prevu, sauf pour
deux d'entre eux (puissance et telecommunications) qui ont encore du retard
par rapport aux dates voulues. Des mesures energiques sont actuellement
mises au point en cooperation entre les services techniques et la Direction
pour redresser la situation.

En ce qui concerne le vehicule spatial ISEE-A et les experiences, les travaux

44
 progressent dans I'ensemble de fat;:on satisfaisante. Une visite faite au GSFC
de la NASA et chez les experimentateurs americains a permis d'examiner
soigneusement les calendriers et les interfaces. Les seuls problemes serieux
qui puissent eventue//ement se poser sont celui de la fiabilite des composants
C-MOS et celui de leur livraison. /I s'est revfHe que ces composants, qui sont
largement utilises dans les experiences spatiales du fait de leur faible con-
sommation d'energie, resistent mal aux rayonnements tels que ceux que
rencontrera la mission ISEE; leur production pose d'autre part des proble-
mes de corrosion des conducteurs. Ces difficultes sont activement etudiees et
I'on espere pouvoir rattraper les eventuels retards de livraison.
A I'exception de ce dernier point, le projet continue a se derouler dans de
bonnes conditions et le lancement reste prevu pour octobre 1977.

Study work so far co-ordinated and supervised by the System Studies

EXOSAT Division has been compiled in the form of a preliminary technical baseline
description, comprising requirement specifications, preferred baseline
solutions, and draft work statements. Following appointment of a Project
Manager, working groups have been set up with the aim of reviewing and
analysing the current state of preparation, and organising the documentation
required for the invitation to tender for satellite development. Bearing in
mind that the contract for Phase CID is to be finalised at the end of the
project definition phase (Phase B), the utmost care must be taken in defining
requirements in all areas of project implementation. Provided preparatory
work continues as planned, the invitation to tender will be issued to industry
by the end of February 1976.

Scientific experiment

Definition and development of the Exosat payload has continued satis-

factorily, both in industry and at the institutes of the experimenters.

Industry's task includes provision of the scientific model of the low-energy

image telescope, including development of the X-ray optics, in berYllium
and in replication technologies, the position-sensitive detector and its asso-
ciated electronics . The contract for the detectors for the medium-energy
experiment will be placed in January 1976. Work on the electronics is
proceeding.

At the experimenters' institutes and at ESTEC, studies on other payload

elements, including the channel-multiplier array, the gas-supply system for
the proportional counters, and the transmission gratings and filters, are con -
tinuing .

45
 Mission implementation

ESOC participated in the review of current technical baseline documentation

and has assisted with definition of the system configuration (ground net-
work) and with mission analysis work. The present concept for the satellite
and its mission is fully compatible with the constraints imposed by the use
of the Delta 2914 launcher.

EXOSAT Les etudes coordonnees et supervisees jusqu'ici par la Division Etudes de

systemes ont ete regroupees sous forme d'une description technique prelimi-
naire de reference comprenant les specifications des besoins, les solutions de
reference preferees et des projets de descriptifs des travaux. La nomination
du Chef de projet a ete suivie par la creation de groupes de travail charges
d'examiner et d'analyser en commun I'etat de preparation actuel et de
decider comment sera organisee la documentation necessaire pour !'invi-
tation cl soumissionner pour le developpement du satellite. Etant donne que
le contrat de la phase CID doit etre mis au point cl la fin de la phase de
definition du projet (phase 8), on apporte le plus grand soin cl la definition
des besoins cl satisfaire dans tous les domaines au cours de I'execution du
projet. Si les travaux preparatoires continuent cl progresser comme prevu,
!'invitation cl soumissionner sera envoyee aux firmes industrielles pour la fin
de fevrier 1976.
Experience scientifique

Les activites concernant la definition et la realisation de la charge utile

d'Exosat se sont poursuivies de far;:on satisfaisante dans !'industrie comme
dans les instituts des experimentateurs.

Les travaux effectues dans !'industrie comprennent la fourniture du modele

scientifique du telescope de prise d'images cl faible energie, ainsi que la mise
au point du systeme optique cl rayons X, en technologie 'beryllium' et en
technologie 'replication', du detecteur de position et de I'electronique
assoc;ee cl celui-ci. Le contrat pour la fourniture des detecteurs de I'expe-
rience cl moyenne energie sera passe en janvier 1976. Les travaux concernant
I'electronique se poursuivent.

Les instituts des experimentateurs et I'ESTEC continuent cl etudier les autres

elements de la charge utile, notamment le reseau de multiplicateurs de
canaux, le systeme d'alimentation en gaz des compteurs proportionnels, et
les reseaux et filtres du systeme de transmission.

Execution de la mission

L'ESOC a participe cl I'examen de la documentation technique de reference

46
 sous sa forme actuelle et prete son concours pour la definition de la configu-
ration du systeme (reseau terrestre) et pour /'analyse de la mission. La
conception actuellement retenue en ce qui concerne le satellite et sa mission
est entierement compatible avec les contraintes imposees par le lanceur
Delta 2914.

Space segment
METEOSAT
Owing to late delivery of some subsystems, integration of the satellite
engineering model (P1) had to be slowed down somewhat, and this will
result in a delay in the Development Results Review (DR R), to be held at
the end of the essential P1 tests and required as input for prototype (P2)
integration. If the nominal dates for delivery of the flight hardware (F 1) are
met, which is still feasible at present, the above P1/P2 slippage could be
absorbed by a greater overlap between P2 and F 1 activities.

Development of the radiometer channel-3 package is continuing on schedule

and engineering-model tests conducted to date have been very satisfactory.

Ground segment

The Data Acquisition Telecommand and Tracking Station (DATTS) antenna

has been installed at Odenwald and is now undergoing acceptance testing. In
spite of some delays in the delivery of the receivers, it is expected that
station integration will be completed in July 1976, in time for the space/
ground compatibility tests which are scheduled to start during the second
half of 1976. The Data Collection Platform (DCP) breadboard tests have
been successfully completed. The specifications for the Primary and
Secondary Users' Stations (PDUS/SDUS) are being revised and it is planned
to issue the call for tender in December 1975.

One of the two ICL computers has been installed and is presently being
tested. The ICL operating software is still causing some concern, particularly
with respect to its interface with the SESA software development, which is a
critical-path aspect of the ground-segment planning.

Operations

Work has started on setting up the Meteosat Operations Division at ESOC,

reporting to the Meteorological Programme Office in Toulouse. A per
interim Project Manager for Meteosat Operations has been nominated by the
Director General.

Subject to expected progress in the finalisation and signing of the Meteosat

Protocol, it is planned to start recruitment for Meteosat Operations Division
in mid-1976.

47
 METEOSAT Secteur spatial

En raison de la livraison tardive de certains sous-systemes, /'integration du

modele d'identification du satellite (P1) a dO etre quelque peu ralentie, ce
qui entraihera un retard de /'examen des resultats du developpement (DRR)
qui aura lieu a la fin des principaux essais du modele P1 et dont les conclu-
sions doivent etre utilisees pour /,integration du prototype (P2). Si les dates
nominales de livraison du materiel de vol (F1) sont respectees - ce que
/'analyse actuelle permet d'esperer -, il serait possible de resorber le glis-
sement des modeles P1/P2 mentionne ci-dessus grace a un chevauchement
plus marque des activites P2 et F1.

Le developpement du bloc du troisieme canal du radiometre se poursuit

comme prevu et les essais effectues jusqu'ici sur le modele d'identification
ont ete tres satisfaisants.

Secteur terrien

L 'antenne de la DA TTS (Station d'acquisition des donnees, de te!ecom-

mande et de poursuite) a ete instal!ee dans I'Odenwald et est actue//ement
soumise a des essais de recette. En depit de certains retards dans la livraison
des recepteurs, en espere que !'integration de la DA TTS sera achevee en
juillet 1976, c'est-a-dire en temps voulu pour les essais de compatibilite des
secteurs spatial et terrien qui doivent commencer dans la seconde moitie de
1976. Les essais du modele sur table de la DCP (Plate-forme de co//ecte de
donnees) se sont acheves avec succes. Les specifications des PDUS/SDUS
(Stations prima ire et secondaire d'utilisation des donnees) sont en cours de
revision. On prevoit que I'appel d'offres sera lance en decembre 1975.

L 'un des deux calculateurs ICL a ete instal!e et est actue//ement en cours
d'essai. Le logiciel d'exploitation ICL pose encore quelques probtemes,
notamment en ce qui concerne son interface avec le developpement du logi-
ciel SESA qui est sur le chemin critique du planning du secteur terrien.

Operations

On a commence a constituer, a I'ESOC, la Division 'Operations Meteosat'

(MOD) qui relevera du Bureau du Programme mtfteorologique (MPO) a
Toulouse. Le Directeur general a designe, a titre interimaire, un Chef du
Projet pour les Operations Mettjosat. Si la mise au point dMinitive et la
Engineering model of Meteosat radio ·
meter/Modele d'identification du radio · signature du protocole Meteosat se deroulent conformement aux plans, on
m etre Meteosat. prevoit de commencer a recruter du personnel pour la MOD cl la mi-1976.

48
 Industrial work
SPACELAB
The main development contract for Space lab was signed on 30 September
1975 by Mr. B. Deloffre, ESA Director of the Spacelab Programme and
Mr. Klapwijk, President of V FW-Fokker. The contract covers the industrial
work up to the second launch in 1980 of the Spacelab flight unit, which is
scheduled to be delivered to NASA in 1979. Work under the contract will be
done partly on a fixed -price basis (approximately 35% of the work), partly
on a cost-reimbursement basis with an award-fee provision (65% of the
work). The Agency's limit of liability has been established as approximately
191 MAU, at April 1974 price levels. A cost/profit-sharing arrangement has
been agreed between the Agency and the contractor.

The contractor team charged with the development of Space lab is comprised
of the following industrial companies:

VFW - Fokker/ERNO prime contractor, overall project direction

(Germany)
AEG electrical power distribution
(Germany)
Aeritalia module structure and thermal control
(Italy)
Bell Telephone electrical ground-support equipment
Manufacturing
(Belgium)
INTA mechanical ground-support equipment
(Spain)
Fokker airlock design
(Netherlands)
Hawker Siddeley pallet structure
Dynamics
(United Kingdom)
Dornier System environmental control
(Germany)
Matra command and data management
(France)
SABCA film vault, utility bridge
(Belgium)
Kampsax computer software
(Denmark)

49
 Management

In preparation for European participation in the joint ESA/NASA payload

on the first Spacelab flight, ESA's Space lab payload activities have been
divided into two distinct phases. Planning activities are the responsibility of the
Director of Future Programmes and Planning. The second, 'realisation' phase,
which will start after the payload elements have been chosen, falls under the
responsibility of the Director of the Spacelab Programme.

A group with the acronym SPICE (Spacelab Payload Integration and

Co -ordination in Europe) has been established. Its responsibilities are to
co-ordinate payload development and payload integration activities in
Eu rope, to prepare interface specifications, to approve integration-related
test-compatibility and safety aspects of European payloads, to monitor
schedules, to maintain a technical competence for problem solving, and to
co-ordinate European payload-specialist training programmes.

Pending a final decision by Council, the SPICE group will be located at

DFVLR's Porz-Wahn facility, from where it will establish interfaces with all
Spacelab and payload-related organisations within Europe, and with NASA, at
management level, through a joint NASA/ESA payload accommodation team.

Design review

The next major milestone in the Spacelab development programme will be

the Preliminary Design Review, presently foreseen for May 1976, during
which the space laboratory's design will be frozen to a large extent. In
preparation for this review, the Agency is currently conducting design
reviews for each subsystem with the prime and co-contractors, reviews in
which NASA personnel are also participating.

SPACELAB Travaux industriels

Signe le 30 septembre 1975 par M. Klapwijk, President de la societe VFW-

Fokker, et par M.B. Deloffre, Directeur du Programme Spacelab a I'Agence
spatiale europeenne, le contrat principal de developpement du Spacelab
couvre les travaux industriels a executer jusqu'au second lancement de
I'unite de vol du Spacelab, qui aura lieu en 1980. La livraison de I'unite de
vol ala NASA est prevue pour 1979. Les travaux executes au titre du contrat
seront remuneres en partie sur une base forfaitaire (environ 35% des travaux)
et en partie sur la base des depenses controJees avec interessement (65% des
travaux). La limite de responsabilite de I'Agence a ete fixee a environ
191 MUG au niveau des prix d'avril 1974. Un arrangement sur le partage des
depenses et des profits est intervenu entre I'Agence et le contractant. Le groupe
charge du developpement du Spacelab comprend les societes suivantes:

50
VFW-FokkerIERNO contractant principal, direction de
(Allemagne) I'ensemble du projet
AEG distribution electrique
(Allemagne)
Aerita7ia .' structure des modules et regulation thermique
(Italie)

Bell Telephone equipement electrique de soutien au sol

Manufacturing
(Belgique)
IN TA .' equipment mecanique de soutien au sol
(Espagne)
Fokker conception du sas pneumatique
(Pays-Bas)
Hawker Siddeley structure de la plate-forme porte-
Dynamics instruments
( Royaume-Uni)
Dornier System regulation d'ambiance
(Allemagne)
Matra .' telecommande et gestion des donnees
(France)
SABCA .' chambrea films, sous-ensemble de
(Belgique) servitudes
Kampsax .' logiciel de calculateur
(Danemark)

Gestion

Pour preparer la participation de I'Europe a la charge utile ASEINASA que le

Spacelab emportera a son premier vol, I'Agence a pris certaines decisions en
matiere de gestion. Les activites concernant la charge utile du Spacelab ont
ete reparties en deux phases distinctes.' le planning et la realisation. Les
activites de planning sont placees sous la responsabilite du Directeur des
Programmes futurs et des Plans. La seconde phase, qui debute apres la selec-
tion des elements de la charge utile, releve du Directeur du Programme
Spacelab.

51
 Un groupe designe sous le nom de SPICE (Integration et coordination en
Europe des charges utiles du Spacelab) a ete cree en vue des taches d'execu-
tion. Ce groupe est charge de coordonner les activites de developpement et
d'integration des charges utiles qui ont lieu en Europe, de preparer les
specifications d'interface, de s'assurer que les experiences europeennes sont
compatibles avec les procedures d'essais et satisfont aux conditions de
securite requises pour leur integration dans les charges utiles, de surveiller
I'observation des calendriers, de maintenir la competence technique neces-
saire pour la solution des problemes et de coordonner les programmes de
formation des specialistes europeens des charges utiles.

En attendant la decision finale du Conseil, le groupe SPICE sera instal!e au

Centre de la DFVLR a Porz-Wahn. 11 etablira des liaisons avec tous les
organismes europeens participant a la realisation du Spacelab et des charges
utiles, ainsi qu'avec la NASA, au niveau de la gestion, par l'intermediaire de
I'equipe NASA/ASE responsable de I'agencement des charges utiles.

Examen de la conception

La prochaine grande etape du developpement du Space lab sera I'examen

preliminaire de la conception, actuellement prevu pour mai 1976, ou la
conception du Spacelab sera, dans une large mesure, definitivement arretee.
Pour preparer cet exercice, I'Agence procede actuellement, avec le contrac-
tant principal et les co-con trac tan ts, a des exam ens de la conception de
chacun des sous-svstemes. Des membres du personnel de la NASA V partici-
pent egalement.

VISIT TO THE ARIANE FACILITIES AT LES MUREAUX AND VERNON

ARIANE BY DELEGATIONS TO THE ARIANE LAUNCHER PROGRAMME
BOARD

On 9 December 1975, the delegations to the Ariane Launcher Programme

Board visited the main facilities set up at Les Mureaux and Vernon under the
Ariane programme.

SNIAS (Les Mureaux) is responsible both for launcher integration (as

industrial architect) and for developing the structures of the three stages and
the fairing and integrating them. To this end, SNIAS is setting up the
Launcher Integration Site (Site d'lntegration Lanceur - SIL), the buildings
of which are complete and which is being fitted out according to schedule.
The first operation to be carried out at the site will be the integration of the
various stages intended for the dynamic mock-up of the launcher, on which
tests will start in mid -1976.

52
Visitors to Les Mureaux, with the L 140
first-stage tank in the background/Les
visiteurs aux Mureaux, devant le reservoir
du premier etage L 140.

The visitors were also able to see the construction of the first-stage tank;
three tanks have now been completed and two others are being manufac-
tured.

SEP (Vernon) is responsible for developing and manufacturing the propul-

sion systems for the three stages. At Vernon, the visitors witnessed an 80 s
firing of a Viking-I I engine on test-stand PF2. In addition, they were able to
note progress on the cryogenic test-stands PF41, 42 and 43, intended for the
development and qualification of the third-stage propulsion system. Test-
stand PF41 (intended for turbo-pump and engine tests) and the control
room are practically complete, PF41 being due to enter service in March
1976. The visitors also saw test-stand PF20, which is primarily intended for
firing the complete first stage. After the installation and qualification of the
control and measurement facilities, scheduled for Spring 1976, the first
cluster fi"dng (thrust frame equipped with four Viking-I I engines) will take
place there early in September 1976. It should be recalled that the tests on
the propulsion system of the second stage L33 (engines and stage) will be
carried out by DFVLR at Lampoldshausen in Germany. They will start in April
1976.

APEX PROGRAMME

Proposals received up to 2 December 1975 for the APEX Programme (Ariane

Passenger EXperiments) cover 71 experiments, the breakdown of which is
shown in the table below. The number may be increased by proposals from
Delegations for extending current programmes (e.g. Meteosat or OTS), in
response to suggestions by ESA.
On the other hand, a reduction in the initial number of suggested experi-
ments must be expected, mainly for financial reasons. It is not proposed to
discuss the proposals in detail, but simply to make the following general
remarks.

Germany

The basic concept is to fly an MBB structure equipped with subsystems

(developed or under development) prefiguring the heavy platforms - such as
might be launched by Ariane - of the future three-axis stabilised geo-
stationary satellites. Germany would like to add a propulsion system for
orbital circularisation.

53
 France

CN ES: Several objectives, both scientific and technological. With regard to

the platform, CN ES envisages a satellite derived from OTS in order
to demonstrate Ariane's capacity for launching a three-axis
stabilised geostationary satellite.
SN IAS: Main objective: promotion of its geosynchronous platform struc-
ture suitable in size for Ariane, which is still to be equipped with its
subsystems.
SEP: Propulsion.

Aim common to Germany and France

Low-power propulsion systems (electric propulsion) and the liquid or dry

propellant systems required for circularising the transfer orbit, which are
generally associated with the payload. Such systems can be supplied by
European industry. The choice of the system to be flown will depend on
ESA policy in this matter, due to be defined during the first half of 1976.

APEX experiment proposals as at 2 December 1975

Applications Technological Scientific Total

per
State Self- Self- Non-self- Self- Non-self- State
contained contained contained contained contained

Germany - 1* 21 - 4 26

France
1SEP
eNES
-
- -
2 17
3 -
1 12
- 39
SNIAS - 1* 3 - -

Switzerland
(Bern University) - - - 1** - 1

Austria - - - - 1 1

India 1 - 1 - 1 3

Radio amateurs 1 - - - - 1

Total 2 4 45 2 18 71
* Ariane-type platform. These experiments are listed as selfcontained on the assumption that they will be equipped with the
necessary subassemblies, which is yet to be confirmed .
** Suggestion of flying the GEOS prototype.

54
 India

Aim: telecommunications for national use. The proposed selfcontained satel -

lite system (150 kg) is compatible with the INSAT project (Indian National
Satellite system for TV and Telecommunication). A scientific experiment is
also foreseen.

Radio amateurs

The proposed selfcontained satellite (68 kg) is the eighth in the 'OSCAR'
series, of which seven have already been launched. Aim: public service for
amateurs plus a scientific aspect: introduction of mUltiple access to the
repeater (which would increase the capacity fourfold). Ideal final orbit:
polar elliptical, with 8 to 12 h periodicity.

ARIANE VISITE DES INSTALLATIONS ARIANE AUX MUREAUX ET A

VERNON PAR LES DELEGATIONS DU CONSEIL DIRECTEUR DU
PROGRAMME ARIANE

Le 9 decembre 1975, les delegations du Conseil directeur du programme

Ariane ont visite les principales installations realisees aux Mureaux et a
Vernon au titre du programme Ariane.

La SNIAS (Les Mureaux) est responsable d'une part de !'integration du

lanceur (Architecte industriel) et d'autre part de la realisation des structures
et de !'integration des trois etages et de la coiffe. A ces fins, la SNIAS fait
realiser le site d'integration du lanceur (SI L), dont le gros oeuvre est termine
et I'equipement en voie d'installation suivant le calendrier prevu. La premiere
operation qui sera effectuee au SI L concerne /'integration des differents
etages des tines ala maquette dynamique du lanceur dont I'essai commencera
ala mi-76.
Les visiteurs ont egalement pu voir la fabrication du reservoir du premier
etage; trois reservoirs sont actuellement realises et deux autres sont en cours
de fabrication.

La SEP (Vernon) est charge du developpement et de la fabrication des

ensembles propulsifs des trois etages. A Vernon, les visiteurs ont pu assister a
un tir de 80 secondes d'un moteur Viking-I I sur le banc PF2. En outre, ils
ont pu se rendre compte de I'avancement des travaux sur les bancs cryoge-
niques PF41, 42 et 43 des tines au developpement et a la qualification de
I'ensemble propulsif du 3eme etage. Le banc PF41 (des tine aux essais
turbopompe et moteur) ainsi que le poste de commande sont pratiquement
termines, le PF41 devant etre mis en service en mars 1976. D'autre part, les
visiteurs ont pu voir le banc PF20 qui est des tine principalement au tir du

55
---~~~-~~------------------------------------- -------

premier etage complet. Apres installation et validation des moyens de

commande et de mesure prevues pour le printemps 1976, le premier tir de
groupement (bati-moteur equipe de 4 moteurs Viking-I!) y sera effectue au
debut de septembre 1976. 11 est rappele que les essais de I'ensemble propulsif
du 2eme etage L33 (moteurs et etage) seront effectues par la DFVLR a
Lampoldshausen en Allemagne. lis commenceront en avril 1976.

PROGRAMME APEX

Les propositions ret;ues au 2 decembre 1975 pour le programme APEX

(Ariane Passenger EXperiments) couvrent 71 experiences se repartissant
suivant le tableau ci-apres. A ceci pourraient s'ajouter d'eventuelles proposi-
tions d'extension de projets en cours (Meteosat, OTS par exemple) que des
Delegations feraient en reponse aux suggestions de I'Agence.

Par ailleurs, il faut prevoir une diminution du nombre initial des experiences
proposees, principalement pour raisons financieres. Sans entrer dans le detail
des propositions, on peut faire les commentaires generaux suivants.

Test firing of Viking-I/ engine at VernonlTir au banc du moteur Viking·1/ a Vernon.

56
 Allemagne

L'idee de base est de faire voler une structure MBB equipee de sous-systl!mes
(developpes ou en cours de developpement) preFigurant la plate-forme lourde
- du type susceptible d'etre lance par Ariane - des futurs satellites geo-
stationnaires stabilises 3 axes. L 'Allemagne souhaite que soit adjoint un
systeme propulsif pour la circularisation de I'orbite.

France

CNES: Plusieurs objectifs scientifiques et technologiques. En ce qui con-

cerne la plate-forme, le CNES envisage un satellite derive d'OTS
pour demontrer la capacite d'Ariane de lancer un satellite geosta-
tionnaire stabilise 3 axes.
SN IAS: Objectif principal: promouvoir sa structure de plate-forme geo-
synchrone adaptable a Ariane, dont iI reste a comp/eter /'equipe-
ment en sous-systemes.
SEP: Propulsion.

Propositions d'experiences APEX au 2.12.1975

Applications Technologique Scientifique

Total
Etat Autonome Autonome Non Autonome Non par
autonome autonome Etat

Allemagne - 1* 21 - 4 26

IGNES - 2 17 1 12
France SEP - - 3 - - 39
SNIAS - 1* 3 - -
Suisse (Universite
de Berne) - - - 1** - 1

Autriche - - - - 1 1

Inde 1 - 1 - 1 3

Radio·amateurs 1 - - - - 1

Totaux 2 4 45 2 18 71

* Plate-forme type Ariane. Elle est classee comme autonome en supposant qu'elle sera equipee des sous-ensembles
necessaires, ce qui a besoin d'etre confirme.
** Suggestion de faire voler le prototype de GEOS.

57
Test stand PF20 at Vernan, to be used for test firing the
complete first stage of Ariane/Banc d'essai PF20 a Vernan,
des tine aux essais du premier etage camplet d'Ariane.

Souci commun aI' Allemagne et a la France

11 s'agit des systemes de propulsion a faible puissance (propulsion electrique) et
des systemes de propulsion, a liquides ou a poudre, necessaires pour la
circularisation de /'orbite de transfert et generalement assoCies a la charge utile.
Ces systemes peuvent etre fournis par I'industrie europeenne. Le choix du
systeme a faire voler dependra de la politique de I'Agence en la matiere, qui doit
etre definie au cours du ler semestre 1976.

Inde

Objectif: telecommunications a usage interne. Le systeme du satellite auto-

nome propose (150 kg) est compatible avec le projet INSA T (Indian
National Satellite system for TV and Telecommunication). Une experience
scientifique est egalement prevue.

Radio-amateu rs

Le satellite autonome propose (68 kg) est le 8eme de la serie des 'OSCAR',
dont les 7 premiers ont deja ete lances. But: service public pour les radio-
amateurs, plus mission scientifique: mise en oeuvre de I'acces mUltiple au
repeteur (efficacite multiplMe par 4). Orbite finale ideale: polaire elliptique,
8 a 12 heures.

58
The Organisational Framework of
the Spacelab Programme

c. Reinho/d, Space/ab Directorate, ESA, Paris

In many respects the Spacelab Programme is a unique under-

taking for ESA. Not only does it represent Europe's first venture
in manned spaceflight, it also develops the world's first reusable
space vehicle, thus invoking novel safety and reliability require-
ments. In addition, the development of Spacelab must remain
consistent with two other processes still in the course of evolu-
tion, first the parallel development by NASA of the Shuttle -
the vehicle which will carry Spacelab to and from orbit - and
secondly the scientists' change of approach from automatic
satellite-borne experiments to attended, reusable experiments in
Spacelab. Consequently, flexibility in Spacelab concept and
design must be kept open for much longer than usual in space
projects. Lastly NASA's responsibilities not only for integration
of Spacelab into the Shuttle, but also for devising the most
efficient plan of Shuttle/Spacelab operations, mean that extra-
ordinarily close and detailed technical interfaces with NASA
must be maintained. Never before has a European space project
had to meet so many technical, schedule, financial and political
constraints.

Hence, from an organisational viewpoint, the Spacelab Pro- (iii) On the European side, an 'Arrangement between certain
gramme is undoubtedly highly complicated, making a sound, Member States of ESRO and ESRO concerning the execu-
well-defined organisational and management structure indis- tion of the Spacelab Programme' was opened for signature
pensable for successful implementation of the project, for in March 1973. It established a financial envelope of
ensuring the correct interfaces, and for providing adequate and 308 MAU at mid-1973 prices for the European program-
timely forum for discussion between ESA, NASA and the me and a mechanism for updating this envelope annually.
various contractors. The two Agencies have tried to establish
such co-operation with the underlying but very important The Spacelab Intergovernmental Agreement covers not only the
objective, in the light of the many constraints on the Pro- design, development and manufacture of the first Spacelab flight
gramme, of not compromising a technical Spacelab concept that unit, but also the use of the Shuttle and Spacelab systems, as well
has to be attractive to as many potential experimenters as as the procurement of additional European Spacelabs by the
possible. United States. The present Agreement is intended to remain in
force until at least 1988, but it provides for expansion and
extension of this international co-operation subject to the
mutual agreement of all partners.
FORMAL AGREEMENTS
The Memorandum of Understanding between NASA and
Three formal international agreements provide the basic frame- ESRO (ESA) forms the basis for the tasks to be performed and
work for the Spacelab Programme: for the working relations of the two space agencies. ESA is
responsible for the development of Spacelab and for delivery to
(i) An intergovernmental agreement between the govern- NASA of one engineering model, one flight unit, two sets of
ments of nine European countries and the United States, ground support equipment, and initial spares. With the first
' concerning the development, procurement and use of a mission currently planned for the th ird quarter of 1980, the
Space Laboratory in conjunction with the Space Shuttle engineering model is scheduled to be delivered in 1978, and the
System', was concluded in August 1973. It designates flight unit in 1979. Under the terms of the Agreement, the first
NASA and ESRO as the co-operating agencies. mission will be a joint NASA/ESA mission, with experiments
(ii) A Memorandum of Understanding between ESRO and coming from both sides of the Atlantic. NASA's prime
NASA was subsequently signed in September 1973. responsibility is the operation of the Shuttle/Spacelab system.

59
 ESA SPACELAB BUDGET ALLOCATION

MAU*

Definition Studies 12

Contract Baseline 233

Special Studies,
Modifications and Reserves 83

Support and Internal Cost .&!t

Total 396

Approx. Million US $ 515

* Mid-1975 Prices
1 AU = 1.30 US $

Figure 1 - European countries participating in the Space/ab Programme.

The Arrangement between European Governments and ESA is Director of Planning and Future Programmes
necessary because, in ESA parlance, the Spacelab Programme is Director of Administration
a 'Special Project', i.e. a programme in which participation by Director of Scientific and Meteorological Programmes
all ten ESA Member States is not mandatory, but for which Director of ESTEC.
ESA assistance and facilities can be made available. In this
case, Sweden is the Member State not participating in the The Director of the Spacelab Programme, located at ESA
Programme. Headquarters in Paris and supported by a small staff (:::: 10). is
responsible for implementation of the total programme as
The costs of the European part of the Spacelab Programme are entrusted to ESA. The Spacelab Programme Directorate staff at
met through payment to ESA by the participating states, in Headquarters deal with :
the percentage shares indicated in Figure 1.
budgetary, short- and long-term planning
On the basis of the above formal agreements, both Agencies, policy questions relating to manpower and contracts
ESA and NASA, have established comparable organisations to liaison with the Council and the Spacelab Programme Board
undertake their respective responsibilities in the manner best and other delegate bodies of ESA
suited to their own management structure and philosophy. interface with NASA Headquarters
The following paragraphs outline the organisational frame- planning for the utilisation and follow-on production of
works of the major participants in th is co-operative program- Spacelab.
me.
Reporting to the Programme Director are the Project Manager
ESA ORGANISATION for Spacelab development and the Manager of the SPICE
(Spacelab Payload Integration and Co-ordination in Europe)
The principal governing and executive bodies of the European Group (Fig. 2).
Space Agency are the Council and the Director General,
respectively. The Spacelab Programme Board, composed of The Spacelab Project Manager and his team (:::: -WO staff) are
representatives of the participating states, is responsible for located at ESTEC, Netherlands. The project team handle the
taking key programme decisions and for establish ing the technical and contractual direction and monitoring of the main
annual budget of the Programme. For Spacelab matters that development contract and related studies, and also provide
affect other programmes or are of general concern, the liaison with Marshall Space Flight Center, the NASA lead centre
Programme Board advises and consults with the ESA Council. for Spacelab. Specialist technological and scientific support to
the project team is provided by ESTEC's Development and
The following ESA Directors, all of whom report directly to Technology Department, and ESA's Space Science Department,
the Direc.tor General, carry Spacelab-related responsibilities: also located at ESTEC.

- Director of the Spacelab Programme Whereas the planning of Space lab's European payloads is the

60
 DIRECTOR FUTURE
ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMMES & PLANS

DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME & TECHNOLOGY
COORDINATION
SPACELAB USER
UTILISATION COORDINATION
PROGRAMME
CONTROL
TO APPROPRIATE
AUTHORITIES

INSTRUMENT
DEVELOPMENT
GROUPS

<.:l
ci
Z en a:-1
en Z 00 >-
:::;: a: 0 Oa: t-
w
W W ~ ul- u.
I- W <{ I-Z ..:
en Z a: UO V>
>-
en <.:l W WU 011
Z
W
£l.
0
dol!
a:
Figure 2- Organisation within ESA. £l.

responsibility of the Director of Planning and Future Program- Principal NASA centres involved in the Spacelab Programme
mes, the implementation of agreed pay loads is the responsibility are Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, Alabama,
of the Director of the Spacelab Programme. It is for this latter as lead centre and responsible for development of Spacelab
purpose that the SPICE Group has been established, reporting to peripheral components, Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston,
the Programme Director, and responsible for co-ordinating Texas, responsible for Shuttle development, and Kennedy
payload development and integration activities in Europe. Space Center (KSC), Florida, responsible for Shuttle/Spacelab
Pending a final decision by Council, the SPICE Group will be operations.
located at the DFVL R facility at Porz-Wahn, Germany.
The NASA Spacelab Program Office, located at NASA Head-
NASA ORGANISATION quarters, is under the overall direction of the Associate
Administrator for Space Flight. The Director of the Spacelab
NASA's major research and development effort is furnished by Program, assisted by a small staff of technical personnel, is
five major 'Program Offices', which assign individual research responsible for overall technical and programme direction of
and development projects to NASA research centres for NASA's participation in Spacelab development. Day-to-day
execution. The Spacelab Programme is the responsibility of the management of those elements of Spacelab development for
Office of Space Flight, which is also responsible for development which NASA is responsible has been assigned to the MSFC
of the Space Transportation System, including the Shuttle and Space lab Program Office, under the direction of a Spacelab
advanced elements such as the Interim Upper Stage. Program Manager. He is supported by a group of engineers
responsible for the design and procurement of peripheral flight
While some research is accomplished 'in house' by NASA's hardware, such as the crew transfer tunnel, and for giving
own laboratories, most of the development effort is contracted technical support to ESA (Fig. 3).
out to industry and to universities, with NASA field centres
assuming the role of contract managers for the development While the NASA Spacelab Program Office was originally
contracts. established as the primary focal point, not only for Spacelab
development and testing, but also for developing the required
In addition to being the principal agents for space research and operational capabilities and eventual operation of the Space-
development, the field centres are also responsible for all lab, a recent organisational change at NASA has resulted in a
operational aspects of the Spacelab Programme, including division of operational and development responsibilities. With
launching, mission control, crew training, data processing and the establishment of a Space Transportation System Operations
analysis. Office in the NASA Office of Space Flight, the responsibility for

61
development of Space Transportation Systems operations To keep NASA's Administrator and ESA's Director General
capabilities, and for operating, have been assumed by this office. informed of Spacelab Programme progress and to resolve
As a consequence, the NASA Spacelab Program Office is now top-level management issues, joint annual programme reviews
concerned only with the design, development and procurement, at their level are held. The principal monitoring and
and flight testing of Spacelab hardware and software. This co-ordinating body is, however, the NASA/ESA Joint Spacelab
includes the first two Spacelab missions, which are considered Working Group (Figs. 3 and 4). which is co-chaired by the
'verification' flights. For operational planning and capability NASA and ESA Spacelab Programme Directors. This Group
development, a Shuttle Payload Integration and Development meets every other month, alternately in Europe and the
Program Office has been established at Johnson Space Center, United States, to discuss interface items, problems and solu-
which is responsible for co-ordinating such Spacelab operational tions. The Programme Directors jointly approve and control
requirements as mission planning, mission control and crew key programme documentation, such as the Joint Programme
training. At Kennedy Space Center, a group in the Pay loads Plan, the Programme Requirements Document and other
Integration Office is responsible for planning Spacelab ground 'level-one' interface documents.
operations requirements. This group is developing facilities,
hardware and software for Spacelab pre-Iaunch checkout, All major programme and technical decisions, including the
payload integration, and post-landing refurbishment. As the establishing of requirements and the approval of major design
Spacelab Programme matures, additional organisations will be changes, are taken by this body, based on information
established at other NASA field centres to develop operational provided by ESA, NASA and their contractors. Ad-hoc work-
facilities, and to operate the Spacelab under the overall direction ing groups composed of ESA and NASA personnel are institu-
of the Space Transportation System Operations Office. ted by the Joint Spacelab Working Group to resolve particular
technical interface issues (Shuttle/Spacelab avionics, opera-
ESAlNASA LIAISON tions, etc.).

The need for the closest possible co-operation between the Another important link in the management structure is the
major participants on both sides of the Atlantic has already Joint Users' Requirements Group, composed of representatives
been mentioned. liaison and co-ordination arrangements of NASA and ESA payload offices. Its primary function is to
reflecting this need have been established, with the objective act as a focal point for collecting requirements from potential
of providing a mechanism for achieving agreements and joint users and to ensure that due consideration is given to user
decisions without compromising either performance or cost requirements in Spacelab design and operations. In addition, a
objectives. Joint NASA/ESA Programme Integration Committee has been
established to co-ordinate planning for the first mission, and to
select candidate experiments for the first payload (Fig. 4) .

To ensure maximum co-ordination during the programme-

development phases, NASA and ESA offices interface directly
NASA 'SA
SPACElAB SPACE lAB at corresponding management levels, the major point of
PROGRAM OFFICE PROGRAMME OFFICE
contact being the ESA liaison Office at MSFC and the NASA
liaison Office at ESTEC (Fig. 3). In addition, NASA tech-
nical personnel have been assigned to ESA to promote even
closer co-operation at a technical level. To reduce the cost of
overseas travel, and to improve information flow, direct
communication links (voice, teletype and facsimile) have been
established between NASA, ESA and ERNO (prime contractor
for Spacelab). During the programme-development phase, joint
reviews are being conducted at major programme milestones, to
approve requirements, establish baseline designs, and to verify
test results. All key programme documentation is issued jointly
and changes must be approved by both Agencies. Furthermore,
NASA and ESA provide each other regular access to Space
Figure 3 - Programme management organisation. Shuttle and Spacelab progress reviews by the respective contrac-
tors.

62
INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATION In addition, monthly ESA/contractor management meetings
take place, with co-contractor participation.
Overall industrial responsibility is assigned by ESA to the
prime contractor, VFW-Fokker/ERNO. Though Spacelab is USER ORGANISATION
the first space programme for which ERNO has assumed the
role of the prime contractor, the company brings to the The organisational schemes described so far have dealt with
programme valuable experience from many European space the currently agreed phases of the Spacelab Programme. When
ventures and from several successful aircraft projects. the Space Shuttle/Spacelab system becomes operational in
1980, the main emphasis of space activities will move from
To develop Space lab, ERNO has assembled an industrial team hardware development and checkout to operational flights. As
of ten major European co-contractors, responsible for partic- a result, many new participants in the United States and
ular Spacelab subsystems (Fig. 5). The total manpower of Europe will be involved in space activities, ranging from
prime and co-contractors will peak at approximately 1500 individual scientists and experimenters to large corporations,
early in 1976. Many of the companies concerned have already industry and government agencies. New organisational
worked together on past space projects, and the distribution of concepts and structures will have to be created, quite different
work between participating countries is commensurate with from those used in previous space research and development
the financial contributions of their governments. projects.

Co-ordination of the work of the prime contractor and the Frequent, routine access to space will make it necessary to
co-contractors occurs at three levels: provide services and perform functions more akin to airline
operations than space research. These will include marketing,
The Spacelab Board of Directors, comprising directors of scheduling, maintenance, customer services and economic
the contracting companies, in order to provide quick access analysis. NASA may, in effect, have to operate a Spacelab
to company resources. The Board meets approximately 'ferry service', carrying passengers and cargo into Earth orbit
once every two months. and returning them after each mission.
The Spacelab Project Manager of ERNO consults with the
co-contractors' local project managers on all principal Questions of user charges, reimbursement policies and pro-
decisions. prietary rights have to be resolved in the context of planning
The co-contractor management department at ERNO is in for routine space operations. Selection and training of interna-
daily contact with the co-contractor teams. tional Spacelab crews require international agreements and

Joint Programme
Integration Committee

/
me

NASA Offices of
Technology, Space
Science, Applications
Joint User J
equirements GrouPj
ESA
Spacelab
Utilisation
Space Flight JURG

NASA NASA
/ Joint Spacelab
/ ESA
/
Space lab 1 & 2 Spacelab Working Group Spacelab
Program Office Programme JSLWG Programme

I 1
Spacelab Payload
NASA-MSFC
I ntegration and
Space lab 1 & 2
Coordination in
Project Office
Europe (SPICE)

Figure 4 - Flights 1 and 2 management organisation.

63
 ESA

I
PRIME
CONTRACTOR
VFW· FOKKER/ERNO
(Germany)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM ENGINEERING
INTEGRATION & TEST
CO·CONTRACTORS
I

AERITALlA ENGINS MATRA AEG·TELEFUNKEN DORNIER SYSTEM HAWKER SIDDELEY

(ITALY) (FRANCE) (GERMANY) (GERMANY) DYNAMICS (UK)
MODULE STRUCTURE COMMANO AND ELECTRICAL POWER ENVIRONMENTAL PALLET STRUCTURE
THERMAL CONTROL DATA MANAGEMENT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL

BELL TELEPHONE
INTA FOKKER VFW SABCA KAMPSAX
MANUFACTURING
(SPAIN) (NETHERLANDS) (BELGIUM) (DENMARK)
(BELGIUM)
MECHANICAL GROUND AIRLOCK UTILITY BRIDGE COMPUTER SOFTWARE
ELECTRICAL GROUND
SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

Figure 5 - European industrial contractor team.

FOLLOW-ON SPACELAB ACTIVITIES

assignments of responsibilities. The newly created Space Trans-
portation System Operations Office at NASA Headquarters In addition to the emphasis on the development and utilisation
provides a focal point for these planning activities. aspects of Spacelab, NASA and ESA are actively considering
the planning of follow-on Spacelab production and procure-
To define prospective payloads, a Space Shuttle Payload ment. NASA is committed to procure at least one additional
Planning Steering Group has been established at NASA, Spacelab flight unit from ESA, and a first detailed order is
headed by the NASA Associate Administrator for Space expected to be placed in 1977.
Science. A number of potential user organisations including
ESA are represented in this group, which meets monthly to In preparation for this activity, the Joint Spacelab Working
establish priorities, define requirements and make decisions as Group has formed a joint NASA/ESA ad-hoc group. Related
to potential payloads. Within ESA, a Scientific Advisory negotiations between ESA and NASA will soon lead to a new
Committee and four Scientific Working Groups, for Astrono- arrangement and an appropriate organ isation of the tasks.
my, Life Sciences, Material Sciences and disciplines related to Since the relationship between NASA, ESA and the prime
the Solar System, advise the Director General on all prospec- contractor will differ during the production phase from that
tive space-borne pay loads, including those destined for Space- during development, new interfaces and management proce-
lab. dures will have to be defined.

64
Joint ESA/NASA Spacelab Experiment
Simulation Programme

J. de Waard and D.J. Shap/and, Space/ab Directorate, ESA, Paris

Similarities between the method of experiment accommoda-

tion and operations planned for Spacelab and the methods
used in conducting experiments aboard aircraft by NASA's
Ames Airborne Science Office led to the jointly planned ESA-
NASA ASSESS I mission using a CV 990 aircraft (ASSESS
standing for' Airborne Science Spacelab Experiment Simulation
System'). This mission included one week of simulated Space-
lab operation, during which the experiments were 'proxy-
operated' by Experiment Operators who fulfilled similar tasks
to those projected for the Payload Specialists on board Spacelab.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The programme objectives of this joint ASSESS mission were

defined so that certain aspects of a Spacelab mission could be
simulated and factors influencing experiment design, experi-
ment operations, Spacelab subsystem design and the human
factor in space experimentation could be evaluated. In
addition, the programme allowed certain management proce-
dures to be tried out.

THE PAYLOAD

A basic ground rule that authentic science had to be perform-

ed was applied. In addition, the equipment had to be
compatible with the aircraft and the objectives outlined above.
The experiments selected were devoted, in the main, to
measurements of infrared radiation from the atmosphere and
space. They are listed, together with their scientific objectives, Typical equipment aboard Convair aircraft. Above - power distribution
in Table 1. station. Below - polarising interferometer.

MANAGEMENT

The overall programme policy was planned and guided by a board the aircraft. The Mission Manager performed similar
joint Mission Planning Group consisting of representatives tasks to those presently foreseen for the Mission Specialist to
from ESA and NASA Headquarters, Marshall Space Flight be carried aboard Space lab.
Center, Johnson Space Center and Ames Research Center.
The experiments were proxy-operated by a team of two
Implementation of the joint mission was the responsibility of a European and two American Experiment Operators who were
Mission Manager, who ensured that all ASSESS activities were selected and trained by ESA and NASA, respectively. The
carried out in accordance with the policies established by the Experiment Operators and the Mission Manager were confined
Mission Planning Group. During the actual Space lab simulation on board the Convair CV 990 aircraft for the duration of the
phase, a Mission Scientist was assigned to co-ordinate the simulation period. A two-man ESA-NASA panel was set up to
Principal Investigators, who remained on the ground, and to which policy decisions involving agency interests could be
act as single point of contact with the Mission Manager on referred.

65
 TABLE 1
ASSESS experiments and their scientific objectives

Organisation Instrumentati on Measurements

Observatoire de Meudon
CN RS-Verrieres
3D-cm Cassegrain telescope with filter wheel I R
photometer
1 High-resolution mapping of dark clouds
and H II regions

University of Groningen Cooled Ge bolometer

Queen Mary College, London Polarising interferometer. Cooled Ge bolometer I R emission spectrum of upper atmosphere

University of Southampton Imaging Isocon TV camera. I R photometer Observation of OH airglow clouds

All-sky camera

NASA/ Ames Research Center 3D-cm Cassegrain telescope (Meudon) with variable Near I R spectra of Venus and late type
filter-wedge spectrometer. Cooled InSb detector stars

NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory Tunable acousto-optical filter spectrometers (2) UV and visible measurements of atmos-
with telescopes pheric transparency, solar flux,
planetary atmospheres, and interstellar
University of Alaska 1-m Ebert-Fastie spectrometer-telescope and molecules
stabilised mirror

University of Colorado 12.5-cm Ebert·Fastie UV spectrometer

University of New Mexico 35-mm camera with I R image intensifier. 16-mm I R photography of OH airglow clouds
camera with image intensifier for time-lapse
photography. I R photometer

SCHEDULE LESSONS LEARNED FOR SPACELAB

The joint ASSESS mission was executed only 16 months after The ASSESS mission has illustrated that a low-cost programme
the Announcement of Flight Opportunity was issued by ESA, with a low level of preparatory requirements, testing and
thus demonstrating that short lead times are indeed feasible documentation can be operated successfully with a proper
for Spacelab-type experiments. The constrained period, management approach. Appropriate and timely information on
simulating the Spacelab flight, started on 2 June and ended on constraints and capabilities, as well as guidance for hardware
7 June 1975. During th is period, five fl ights were conducted, devel.opment, enhance the chances of success. Some of the
each lasting approximately six hours. Between flights, the major lessons learned were as follows:
operators and Mission Manager remained on board the aircraft
or in the adjacent sleeping quarters. Following this constraint proxy operation of experiments by a trained payload
period, two additional weeks were devoted to unconstrained specialist for one or more Principal Investigator(s) is
flights during which the experiments were operated by the perfectly feasible
respective investigators, thus permitting comparison between some payload specialist participation in all stages of
proxy and direct operation and allowing the data provided experiment evolution is highly desirable, and some payload
during the constrained fl ight to be supplemented. level training is deemed essential

66
Payload operators, Beckman (ESTEC), Parker (Johnson Space Center), Wells (University of Sussex), Haughney (Ames Research Cenrer) and Dick
(University of Maryland) on the steps of the Convair.

pre-integration in Europe of Spacelab experiments is tech- FUTURE PROSPECTS

nically feasible
electromagnetic compatibility must be given serious Not all aspects of a typical Spacelab miSSIOn could be
consideration throughout the payload design process addressed during the first series of flights. In addition, the
centralised handling of housekeeping data is important, but capabilities of Spacelab and its resources and the payload
possible use of minicomputers by experimenters must be integrat ion and co-ordination requirements are now better
recognised in the centralised data-management system defined. Consequently, an even more realistic simulation of a
design typical Spacelab mission would enable the Agency to extend
an aircraft can act as a platform for optimising the metho- and 'update' the lessons learned· from ASSESS I. ESA has
dology, design and operation aspects of experiments therefore proposed to NASA to conduct a second ASSESS
conceived for Spacelab mission, tentatively scheduled to be flown during early 1977.
a Mission Planning Group with representation from all An announcement of flight opportunity for this ASSESS II
participating organisations is an effective means of mission was issued by the Director General of ESA on
establishing policy and guidelines for mission implementa- 27 November 1975. 0
tion
a Mission Manager, acting as the single point of contact for
all integration-related activities, can effectively execute the
policies of the Mission Planning Group
the control-centre approach of ASSESS provides guidelines
for Spacelab mission operations control.

67
Utilisation of Spacelab
for Life-Science Experiments

G. Seibert, Directorate of Planning and Future Programmes, ESA, Paris

and into means for enhancing man's well·being in space and on

Earth are undoubtedly significant fields for exploration.
In the 1980's, the scientific community will have a new tool,
Spacelab, at its disposal for conducting experiments in space. Biology
For Europe, this will make research possible in fields like life
sciences, which have been almost totally ignored so far in space All forms of life on Earth have evolved under the influence of
research, due to the limited capabilities of conventional the gravitational field and the various life processes, such as
automatic satellites. embryogenesis and growth, may therefore be considered to be
gravity influenced. Other biological processes may be affected
The life sciences include all those disciplines that seek to by factors that can be conveniently found in space, for
understand, measure, or control life processes at the sub- example high-energy particles.
cellular, cellular, systemic, organism, or multi-organism levels,
including biology and physiology, medicine, behavioural and The Life Sciences programme might include biological research
social sciences, biomedical engineering, life-support systems that uses the unique opportunities of space to foster a better
engineering, human factors engineering and all allied disci- understanding of life processes, as well as investigations which
plines. provide insight into the biological effects of long-term
exposure to spaceflight.

Behaviour

Past American and Russian life-sciences flight experiments While indirect evidence has been gathered concerning man's
have been focussed on evaluating possible hazards to crew capabilities in space, there is a need to quantify his perform·
health and identifying factors that could impair crew perform- ance, to assist in planning for his effective utilisation in all
ance. While these objectives will continue to be important in modes of spaceflight activity, particularly on extended
the 1980's, the increase in flight experiment opportunities will missions. Crew tasks on future missions will be sufficiently
allow an increase in the number of basic research experiments. varied to be used to investigate man's visual, auditory, mental
These flight experiments will use the unique properties of and psychomotor responses under conditions of stress,
spaceflight environments to study the basic mechanisms boredom, confinement and fatigue.
controlling life on Earth. Thus, the two primary objectives of a
Life Sciences programme should be: Included in flight experiments will be behavioural studies
aimed at increasing man's effectiveness and efficiency in space,
(a) to enhance man's well-being and productivity in space, as well as other studies to measure the effects of flight
and conditions on psychological and psychophysiological mechan-
(b) to utilise the space environment to achieve a better isms.
understanding of all life processes.
Technology

POTENTIAL SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES Man's well-being and productivity in space are, to a large
extent, dependent on the effectiveness of life-support systems,
Biomedicine working aids and instruments to monitor his health. These
technologies must be developed to increase system capabilities,
The space environment makes possible new approaches in the to reduce costs, and to provide operational lifetimes compa-
study of fundamental physiological control systems. In tible with prolonged space missions.
addition, certain human functions are altered during space
travel and corrective or preventive measures must be sought in ENVISAGED LIFE-SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
order that man may perform properly. Spaceflight can also
provide unique opportunities for studying the prevention, Vestibular function
diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
In the light of the American Apollo programme and Skylab
Research into the basic nature of physiological mechanisms flights, and data made available from Russian spaceflights, it

68
 CONTROL CONSOLE SLED GIMBAL SUSPENSION

DRIVING SYSTEM

GUIDING SYSTEM

Possible Space Sled facility for examining the effects of acceleration on astronauts under weightless conditions.

has become apparent that 'space sickness' or 'stomach circulation system, since the heart is normally engaged in
awareness' is going to be a major problem in the immediate pumping blood in the presence of gravity. The compensatory
future. This effect of vestibular dysfunction due to zero-g has mechanisms adopted by the body under zero-gravity condi-
become more obvious recently because space vehicles are now tions might be expected to shed some light on the underlying
larger, allowing greater freedom of movement for the control systems. A 'free floating' human being could be
occupants. Because of the relatively short duration of Spacelab investigated by ballisto-cardiography; some quite simple
flights, the possible two or three days of partial incapacitation measurements made under zero gravity can determine what
of the crew pose a major difficulty. The re-adaptation problem happens, for example, to venous pressure.
during re-entry and landing poses particular difficulties to the
pilot. However, the most disturbing aspect of the problem is The effects of gravity on time estimation by the crew, together
the almost total inability of existing ground-test and screening with any effects on circadian rhythm, could be ascertained in
procedures to predict which members of a crew are likely to these experiments.
suffer from space sickness.
Animal experiments
If spaceflight is to become a more routine activity, then
research into vestibular functioning is urgently needed. The It is very convenient to use the scientists themselves for some
availability of a reasonably sized laboratory with zero-gravity experiments. Other experiments must, however, involve an
facilities offers a good opportunity to perform dynamic element of risk and these could most conveniently be con-
testing, either on animals or crew members, by use of a small ducted with animals. These include experiments involving
centrifuge or -a chair mounted on rails, without the disturbing poisonous chemicals, radiating materials, or electrode implan-
effect of a constant gravitational field. tation. Small animals can often be conveniently used to obtain
particular types of information, as has already been demon-
Human physiology and psychology experiments strated by using minnows for vestibular experiments. Such
animals also reproduce rapidly, making them suitable for
It has already been demonstrated that during spaceflight there genetic experiments. Facilities will be required in the space
is a shift in blood electrolyte balance and a loss of bone laboratory to provide 'I ife support' functions for the animals,
calcium, together with a loss of blood plasma. There is also a together with some means of preserving laboratory specimens,
change in red blood cell mass. All these effects clear up within etc. It is most important that any animal species selected for
a few weeks of return to Earth, but their causal mechanisms work in space should already have been very thoroughly
are not well understood. investigated on Earth, to establish their 'normal' reactions.
Some experiments can be conducted only by pre- and post-
Clearly, the other major effect of zero gravity will be on the fl ight examinations.

69
Effects of hard radiation orientation' to gravity is recognised as instrumental in reinsta-
ting the normal growth pattern. The precise mechanisms
The other vital issue in prolonged spaceflight is the effect of involved, however, await elucidation.
radiation on humans, animals, plants and lower organisms. The
'hard' radiation (such as HZE particles) found in space cannot Whereas experiments can be, and are, conducted on Earth in
be duplicated on Earth because, although it is not very intense, uniform gravitational fields by proper rotation of the subject,
the various types occurring naturally and simultaneously in the condition of zero gravity is available only in space. The
space cannot be produced simultaneously by ground equip- combined conditions of cosmic radiation and weightlessness
ment. are likewise unique to the space environment.

It is important to know the effects of this radiation on living CONCLUSIONS

organisms, because the weight limitations on space vehicles
preclude complete shielding. Radiation experiments are a good The prime reasons why life-science experiments in space are of
example of the role that experiments with animals can play. such interest are that the conditions of zero gravity and the
availability of a wide spectrum of hard radiation are unique to
One of the most dangerous effects of radiation is the produc- the space environment. Life-science investigations may be
tion of mutations in cells during reproduction. When this undertaken for two main reasons: firstly, to ensure safety and
possibility is considered in relation to man and animals, the efficiency of working in a space environment, and secondly for
effects of introducing a new disease to the Earth could be the scientific interest in the effects of weightlessness and
extremely serious. It is also essential to avoid the introduction cosmic radiation. Essential knowledge is needed about the
of extraterrestrial organisms to our planet and the contamina- performance of the vestibular balancing mechanism and the
tion of other planets with Earth organisms. related problem of 'stomach awareness'. The safety of crews in
the presence of cosmic radiation is considered vital.
From the point of view of scientific interest, the effects of
radiation at cellular level and the mechanisms of lesion The effect of zero gravity on the cardiovascular system will be
production should be investigated. It may prove useful to studied. The effect of circulatory changes in the brain, possible
determine the effect of combined hard radiation and vacuum psychological stress, and effects on exercise tolerance will be
on organic chemicals to see if any change is produced which measured. Such experiments can include critical experiments
might indicate how life forms evolved from simpler com- on animals.
pounds.
Experiments in which gravity can be controlled right down to
The absence of gravity can be used to facilitate or to more zero will make it possible to investigate a biological system in a
nearly theoretically 'perfect' certain physico-chemical manner impossible on Earth .
processes used for biological experimentation, such as electro-
phoretic separation. Due to their rapid reproduction, important information may
be gained from micro-organisms in respect of mutation rates
Plant experiments when exposed to radiation. Plants depend, to some extent, on
gravity in germination and growth. Of particular interest here
When long spaceflights are envisaged, knowledge about the is the relative importance of gravitational and photonic
growth of plants for food purposes will be needed. A major influences.
factor in determining the organisation and growth responses of
plants on Earth is the particular orientation of the growing With the advent of the Space Shuttle and Space lab, the
elements in relation to external stimuli, such as light and restrictions of past manned spaceflight, such as limitations on
gravity. weight and volume, crew time and frequency of missions, will
be relaxed substantially. Thus, the Shuttle/Spacelab era will
Much of the mechanism of plant responses resides in the open up many opportunities for life scientists to perform
inherent polarity of the individual constituent cells and in the flight experiments as part of an overall Life Sciences Program-
polarity of movement of growth regulatory chemicals from me. 0
one cell to another. The redistribution of these chemicals that
occurs in an organ when it is displaced from its 'proper

70
New Director of ESTEC takes up Duty

Dr. Johan Berghuis (50), who took up duty as Director of

ESTEC on 1 November 1975, was born and educated in
Amsterdam. A student of Mathematics and Physics, his first
post after receiving his Master's degree in Mathematics was
with the Mathematical Centre, Amsterdam, a government-
sponsored institute carrying out research and consultancy
work in pure and applied mathematics. In 1955, he joined the
staff of the Technical University of Delft, where he completed
his Doctor's thesis in Technical Sciences.

Dr. Berghuis comes to ESA from Philips, with whom he has

worked since June 1964, and where he was lately both Com-
puter Systems Manager (Philips Electrologica BV) and Plans and
Programmes Manager for Unidata, a company operated jointly
by CII, Philips and Siemens. His first ties with the computer
industry date from the late fifties, when he was Scientific
Adviser to Compagnie des Machines Bull, in Paris. He is a
co-founder of the Netherlands Computer Society, and from
1968 to 1973 was Professor of Project Management and Applied
Mathematics at Delft University. 0

ESA Scientific and Technical Review

Revue scientifique et technique ASE

Copies of the Review are available free of charge. Requests to functioning, emphasis has been given to presentation of the
be placed on the distribution list should be addressed to ESA satellite's telemetry and telecommand interfaces. The descrip-
Scientific and Technical Information Branch, clo ESTEC, tion of the telemetry and telecommand functions is based on
Domeinweg, Noordwijk, Netherlands. mid-1975 concepts. While small details may be subject to
change, no changes are expected in the main data channels or
The following papers were published in Vol. 1, No. 3: in the basic content of the telecommand words.

RESUME
Payload of the 'GEOS' Scientific Geostationary Satellite, by K.
Knott On decrit la charge utile du satellite scientifique geostation-
naire europeen GEOS qui sera mis sur orbite au debut de
1977. Apres une breve presentation de la mission du satellite,
ABSTRACT on decrit les objectifs scientifiques, les techniques de mesure,
ainsi que le fonctionnement et /'operation en orbite de
This paper describes the payload of the European scientific chacune des sept experiences embarquees. Dans les sections
geostationary satellite GEOS, to be launched early in 1977. consacrees au fonctionnement des experiences, on met /'accent
Following a short outline of the mission, each of the satellite's sur les interfaces du systeme te!emesure!te!ecommande, en se
seven experiments is described in terms of its scientific basant sur la conception en vigueur au milieu de 1975. Si des
objectives, its measuring techniques, and its functional and modifications mineures peuvent encore intervenir, on ne doit
major operational aspects. In the sections on experiment par contre s'attendre aaucun changement dans les principaux

71
canaux de donmfes ni dans le contenu des ordres de tete- complete structure is recommended for the dynamic analysis
commande. and control design of a flexible spacecraft. The effect of mode
truncation is discussed through energy considerations. The
Table de simulation de mouvements pour I'etalonnage d'instru- design of an optimal linear control is presented using a state
ments d'astronomie spatiale, par T. Nguyen Trong& J. Raynard observer, and the sensitivity of such a closed-loop system to
parameter uncertainties is examined. The suggested approach
is applied to a typical example of a three-axis stabilised
ABSTRACT satellite with two flexible solar panels.

The simulation table is an instrument for performing the RESUME

motions of a solid body about a fixed point. The motion is
composed of three independent rotations, pitch (ax), roll (a}':) On recommande d'etablir un modele mathematique pratique cl
and yaw (az), which are measured with a precision of 1/100°. partir de modes propres de la structure complete pour
The angles ax and ay can vary with in a range of ± 15°, and az effectuer I'analyse dynamique et I'etude de la stabilisation
within a range of ± 360°. The instrument is designed to d'attitude d'un vehicule spatial flexible. On traite des conse-
operate in a vacuum chamber at 10- 6 torr and is controlled quences de I'utilisation de modes tronques en faisant appel cl
from the outside, either manually from a console, or by a des considerations energetiques. A I'aide d'un observateur
computer. The zero position may be chosen at will and d'etat, on presente la conception d'une loi de commande
monitored by an optical system th rough an airlock in the lineaire optimale et on examine la sensibilite aux incertitudes
chamber. sur les parametres de ce systeme de boucle fermee. La
methode proposee est appliquee cl un exemple typique de
This instrument has been used to calibrate the astronomical satellite stabilise 'trois axes' et muni de deux panneaux solaires
experiment packages for rocket programmes (JANUS and flexibles.
FAUST) and for the D-2B satellite.
Space Application of CCD Image Sensors, by H. Samuelsson
RESUME
ABSTRACT
La table de simulation est un instrument realisant le mouve-
ment du corps solide cl point fixe. Ce mouvement se decom- Image sensors based on CCD (Charge Coupled Device) technol-
pose en trois rotations independantes: tangage (ax )' roulis ogy appear attractive for use in space. This article reviews
(a)/ lacet (a). Ces trois parametres sont mesures avec une some applications envisaged for future space projects and
precision de 11100°. Les angles ax et ay peuvent varier sur une attempts to identify the requirements each application will
plage de ± 1~, az sur une plage de ± 360°. L 'instrument est impose on the sensor. Areas are indicated where particular
con9u pour fonctionner dans une cuve cl vide (1rT 6 torr); il est efforts are required to make a CCD sensor compatible with
commande de I'exterieur soit manuellement cl partir d'un these requirements.
pupitre, soit par un ordinateur. La position du zero peut etre
choisie cl volonte et controtee en redondance par un systeme
optique utilisant un hublot de la cuve. RESUME

Cet instrument a ete utilise pour les etalonnages des experien- Les senseurs d'images bases sur la technologie des dispositifs cl
ces astronomiques embarquees sur fusees (JANUS, FAUST) et couplage de charge (CCD) presentent des caracteristiques
sur le satellite D-2B. interessantes pour une utilisation spatiale. Cet article passe en
revue quelques applications envisagees pour des projets
spatiaux futurs et essaie d'identifier les exigences propres cl
A Guideline for the Analysis and Synthesis of a Nonrigid- chaque application pour ce type de senseur. On indique les
Spacecraft Control System, by D. H. L. Poelaert domaines ou des efforts particuliers sont demandes afin de
realiser un senseur cl dispositif cl couplage de charge compatible
ABSTRACT avec ces exigences. 0

A convenient mathematical model using the eigenmodes of the

72
Publications

The documents listed here have been issued since the last On trouvera dans le tableau suivant la liste des documents qui
publications announcement in the Bulletin. Requests for ont ete publies depuis la derniere annonce de publications parue
copies should be made in accordance with the following table: dans le Bulletin. Les demandes sont cl formuler en tenant compte
des conditions d'obtention precisees ci-dessous:

Publication Code Availabilitv/conditions Publication

d'obtention
Scientific Reports, etc. SR; SN; SM Notes 1 and 2 Rapports et autres documents scientifiques

Technical Reports, etc. TR;TN;TM Notes 1 and 2 Rapports et autres documents techniques

Special Publications SP Notes 1 and 2 Publications speciales

Contractor Reports CR Notes 1 and 2 Rapports de contractant

CR(P) Note 2
CR(P)* Note 3

Technical Translations TT Note 2 Traductions techniques

Procedures, Standards, PSS Note 4 Procedures, normes

Specifications et specifications

Electronic Components ECDB Note 5 Catalogues des composants electroniques

Databank Catalogues etablis par ordinateur

1. Available in hard copy as long as stocks last from ESA Scientific and 1. Disponibles jusqu'a epuisement du stock aupres du Service de
Technical Information Branch, clo ESTEC, Domeinweg, Noordwijk, I'Information Scientifique & Technique de rASE, ESTEC, Domein-
Netherlands. weg, Noordwijk (Pays-Bas).
2. Available in microfiche or photocopy form, against a charge to meet 2 Disponibles sous forme de microfiches ou de I1hotocopies, moyen-
reproduction costs, from ESA Space Documentation Service, nant une participation aux frais de reproduction, aupres du Service
Reproduction Section, ESA, 114 avenue Charles-de·Gaulle, 92522 de Documentation Spatiale de rASE, Section Reproduction - ASE,
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. 114 avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92522 Neuilly slSeine (France).
3. Not available from ESA. (Distribution restricted to National Delega- 3. Ne peuvent fltre obtenus aupres de rASE (diffusion Iimitee aux
tions of those States participating in the programme from which the Delegations nationales des Etats participant au programme sur
contract was funded). lequelle contrat a ete finance).
4. These are working documents rather than information reports. 4. S'agissant de qocuments de reference et non a caractere d'informa-
Distribution is under the control of the ESA Department responsi- tion, leur diffusion est du ressort du Departement de rASE qui en a la
ble for the particular document. responsabilite.
5. Available from ESA Space Documentation Service, Reproduction 5. Disponibles aupres du Service de Documentation Spatiale de rASE,
Section (see Note 2 for address) Section Reproduction (cf. note 2).

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS TECHNICAL MEMORANDA

SP-lll Space Tribology, Proceedings of the First Euro- TM-160 Solar constant, AMO irradiance and solar cells
pean Space Tribology Symposium held at calibration, by K. Bogus
Frascati, Italy, 9-11 April 1975

73
TM-162 The properties of near-eutectic tin/lead solder CR(P)-707 Applied research study on equipment reliabil -
alloys tested between -70 and +60°C and the ity, by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH,
use of such alloys in spacecraft electronics, by Germany
B.O. Dunn
CR(P)-708* Etude de melangeurs preamplificateurs pour
PROCEDURES, STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS satellites de telecommunications, par
Thomson-CSF, France
PSS-18 Testing peel or pull-off strength coatings and
finishes by means of pressure-sensitive tapes, by CR(P)-709 ESRO IV - Final in-orbit report, by Hawker
Product Assurance Division, ESTEC Siddeley Dynamics Ltd., UK

PSS-19 Qualification of materials and materials lists CR(P) -710 Linear L-band power amplifier - Final Report,
applicable to space projects, by Product by Mullard, UK
Assurance Division, ESTEC
CR(P)-711 Preliminary investigation of a magnetic seal for
CONTRACTOR REPORTS a hydrodynamic bearing, by Hollandse Signaal-
apparaten BV, Netherlands
CR-353 The influence of the atmosphere on remote
sensing measurements, Vol. 1: Summary, by CR (P) -712* Definition of the technical requirements for an
Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Ltd., UK Earth resources payload for the Spacelab -
Follow-on study, by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-
CR-354 Idem, Vol. 2: UV, visible and I R regions Blohm GmbH, Germany

CR-355 Idem, Vol. 3 : Microwave to radio wavelengths CR(P)-713* ESATEST (mode d'emploi du software
d'analyse thermique developpe par la SEMA
CR-467 Study on the use of the fast Fourier transform pour l'ESTECl. Vol. 1: Selection d'une mfhhode
in spectral analysis, Vol. 1: Summary, by de correction des para metres; par SEMA,
University of Genoa, Italy France

CR-468 Idem, Vol. 2: Main report CR(P) -714* Idem, Vol. 2: User's manual

CR-469 Idem, Vol. 3: Software manual CR(P)-715* Idem, Vol. 3: (a) - Traitement de mesure +
editions - reference manual
CR-569 Constant-temperature heat pipe Final
Report, by Institut fur Kernenergetik, Universi- CR(P) -716* Idem, Vol. 4: (b) - Correction des parametres-
tiit Stuttgart, Germany reference manual

CR-577 Air quality measurements from space plat- CR(P)-717* Idem, Vol. 5: User's manual
forms, by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH,
Germany CR(P) -718 Etude sur I'emploi de chambres photogram-
metriques et de capteurs pour des missions de
CR(P)-704 Evaluation des pivots 'Free-Flex' Bendix, par leves terrestres utilisant Spacelab, par Institut
SNIAS, France Geographique National, France

CR(P)-705 Study and evaluation of a photon counting CR(P)-719 Design, manufacture and qualification of
system for a space borne astronomical instru- modular power conditioning circuits for space
ment, by University of Liege, Belgium application using thick-film technology , Final
Report, by Dornier System GmbH and Lewicki
CR(P)-706 Study and evaluation of image photon counting Microelectronic, Germany
systems for a spaceborne astronomical instru-
ment, by New Industrial Concepts Ltd., UK

74
CR(P}-720 Development of a linear L-band power ampli- CR(P}-734 Study of high-frequency diffraction from non-
fier, by CGE-FIAR, Italy perfectly conducting surfaces, by Istituto
Universitario Navale di Napoli, Italy
CR(P}-721 Antenna arrays using high gain element radia-
tors - Helix study, by L.M. Ericsson, Sweden. CR(P}-735 Study of attitude control and stabilisation
systems via ground control - Final Report, by
CR(P}·722 Effects of radiation on the mechanical and British Aircraft Corporation, UK
electrical properties of the GEOS satellite's
long-boom cable materials, by AERE, UK CR(P}-736 Introduction to reliability concepts in systems
analysis for space applications, by UKAEA, UK
CR(P}-723 Study of forecasting methodologies, by General
Technology Systems, UK CR(P}-737* Preestimation de la position d'un vehicule
spatial, Vol. 1: Rapport de synthese, par
CR(P}-724 Parameter estimation in mathematical models SEMA, France
of ESRO-1A attitude dynamics using numerical
differentiation of measured data, by NLR, CR(P}-738* Idem, Vol. 2: Rapport analytique
Netherlands
CR(P}-739 Construction and test of an engineering model
CR(P}·725* Back-up modes for a DGMW ACS using a single on-board computer, Vol. 1: Summary, by
gimbal - Final Report, Vol. 1: Phase 1, part 1, SAAB-Scania, Sweden
by British Aircraft Corporation, UK
CR(P}-740 Idem, Vol. 2: User's manual
CR(P}-726* Idem, Vol. 2: Phase 1, part 2
CR(P}-741 Survey and assessment of possibilities to deflect
CR(P}-727* Idem, Vol. 3: Phase 2 or sweep the field of view by non-mechanical
means, by Plessey Ltd, UK
C R (P}-728 An analytical state transition matrix for satel-
lites perturbed by the oblateness and by a third CR(P}-742 A study of limitations in RF sensing signals due
body, by Analytical and Computational Mathe- to distortions of large spacecraft antennas, by
matics (ACM), Switzerland Electrical Research Association, UK

CR(P}-729 A study on radiation pattern prediction for CR(P}-743 Final report - modular core memory with low
high frequency sate 11 ite antennas, by Technical power consumption, by Dornier System GmbH,
University of Lyngby, Denmark Germany

CR(P}-730* HAllS for the CII 25MS computer (technical CR(P}-744 Study of the performance and limitations of
support document), by Software Sciences Ltd., multi-beam antenna - Final Report, Part 1:
UK Study, design, construction and evaluation of a
multiple-beam antenna, by Electrical Research
CR(P}-731 A literature survey on the acoustic excitation of Association, UK
honeycomb sandwich structures and shallow
shells, by Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Ltd., UK CR(P}-745 Idem, Part 2: A design procedure for circularly
polarised multi-beam offset reflector antennas
CR(P}-732 Final report of study on error detection relating
to data compression, by University of Florence, CR(P}-746 Study and development of a highly reliable
Italy random access semiconductor memory, Final
Report, by Plessey Ltd., UK
CR(P}-733 The acoustic excitation of structures, Phase 2,
Final Report, by Hawker Siddeley Dynamics CR(P}-747 Memoire autoreparable a semiconducteurs,
Ltd, UK Tome 1: Presentation, par Intertechnique,
France, and Lewicki Microelectronic, Germany

75
CR{P}-748 Idem, Tome 2: Choix des composants CR{P}-762* idem, Vol. 3: System definition

CR{P}-749 Idem, Tome 3: Etude parametrique CR{P}-763* idem, Vol. 4: Appendices

CR{P}-750 Idem, Tome 4: Etude detaillee du systeme CR{P}-764 Molybdenum disulphide lubrication - A conti-
nuation survey 1973-74, by Swansea Tribology
CR{P}-751 Idem, Tome 5: Etude technologique du condi- Centre, UK
tionnement
TECHNICAL TRANSLATIONS
CR{P}-752 A study on positioning of molten materials in
'zero' gravity environment by ultrasonic TT-188 Inductive treatment of Prandtl's 1945 equa-
methods, Phase 11, by Battelle Institut, tions for fully developed turbulence, by J.C.
Germany Rotta, DFVLR

CR{P}-753 Spacecraft thermal control design data, Vol. 1, TT-189 Unsteady pressure measurements on oscillating
by Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain, wing-body combinations comparison
and Domier System GmbH, Germany between theory and experiment, by H. Trieb-
stein and J. Wagner, DF VL R
CR{P}-754 Idem, Vol. 2
TT-191 Optical compensation measurements on the
CR{P}-755 Etude de I'adaptation d'un four {2000°C, nonstationary exit condition at a nozzle
atmosphere oxydante} a des applications discharge edge, an investigation in connection
spatiales, par CNRS (LAAS) et CRPHT, France with sound transmission through nozzles with
flow, by D. Bechert and E. Pfizenmaier,
CR{P}-756 Development of an analytical model of hydra- OFVLR
zine decomposition motors, by INTA, Spain
TT-194 Propagation of acoustic waves in a duct in the
CR{P}-757 Design, development and space qualification of presence of flow, by R. Mutte, ONERA
a prototype phase change material device, by
Institut fur Kemenergetik, Universitat Stutt- ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS DATABANK CATALOGUES
gart, Germany
ECDB-l Resistor reference book, by Electronic Compo-
CR{P}-758 Assessment of possibilities to realise a tunable nents Databank Section, ESA Space Documen-
oscillator in the decimillimetre range - Final tation Service.
Report, by Thomson-CSF, France

CR{P}-759* Storage evaluation of NiCd cells in geosta-

tionary cycling (SAFT VOlOS cells). by INTA, OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Spain
The Scientific Satellite Programme during the
CR{P}-760* Detailed assessment of OTS for application to International Magnetospheric Study - Proceed-
ECS, Vol. 1: Summary, by Hawker Siddeley ings of the 10th ESLAB Symposium, held at
Dynamics Ltd., UK Vienna, Austria, 10-13 June 1975, Reidel,
Dordrecht, January 1976. Edited by K. Knott
CR{P}-761* idem, Vol. 2: Technical and B. Battrick.

76