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Paris, 16 May 2003
Information Note
Nx 10-2003

Access to space today and tomorrow: what does Europe need? 

Part 2 of 4

For this reasons the resolution envisages that Ministers decide that
a single launcher system prime contractor shall be in charge with
design, development and manufacture of Ariane 5 (EADS is slated to be
the single industrial interlocutor for ESA (for development) and for
Arianespace (for production)). The prime contractor will also be
required to commit on production objectives (manufacturing costs and
business plan). This new industrial organization shall already apply
to the batch of Ariane 5 launchers (batch PA) to be ordered in June
this year. 

Arianespace, linked to ESA by a Convention, has been entrusted with
the execution of the production phase and shall remain in charge of
such activities, will be responsible via-a-vis the launch customers
and will procure the launchers from the system Prime contractor
committing to a business plan jointly developed with them
(Arianespace will transfer their integration activities to EADS).

The organisation will be streamlined also on the public sector side
and it is expected that Ministers will rule that ESA be in charge of
launcher project management inviting the Director General of ESA - in
order to avoid unnecessary duplication of expertise- to use under his
authority the competences and workforce existing primarily in CNES
under contract or arrangements to be concluded for this purpose.
ESA's Director General should be also mandated to submit a proposal
for a new organisation of launch operations at the Guiana Space
Centre in Kourou.

C. The European Guaranteed Access to Space (EGAS) programme
The downturn of the commercial market for the launch of satellites
puts into question the continuation of the production phase of Ariane
5 which is dependent on the commercial market. Measures must be taken
in order to secure the availability of this launcher for the European
institutional missions to come.

The EGAS programme aims at guaranteeing with Ariane 5 an access to
space to European user institutions for the launch of their missions
and at maximising the institutional use of this access to space by
offering the best market prices and launch priority to European
institutions. 

Through the EGAS Ariane programme, to be in force for the period
2005-2009 and intended to cover selected fixed cost activities
(associated with the production of a batch of Ariane 5 to be ordered
in 2003), European industry and Arianespace can be placed on a level
playing field with international competitors.

The financial envelope for the EGAS programme for the period
2004-2009 is set at 960 MEURO (2003 e.c.). Member Sates interested in
participating will be invited to draw up a Declaration by 30
September and to subscribe to it by 31 December 2003.

2. Horizon 2010 for the European launcher sector: the Future
Launchers preparatory programme and Soyuz in Kourou

The second resolution tabled for decision at the meeting on 27 May
stresses that the restructuring of the Ariane launcher sector must go
hand in hand with a perspective at horizon 2010 that also takes into
account the enhancement of the competitiveness of the European
launcher sector. 

This can be achieved by strengthening the launcher R&D base in Europe
through the development of technical capabilities and by widening the
range of launch services offered by Arianespace starting with the
exploitation of the Vega launcher and Soyuz launcher at the Guiana
Space Center in Kourou.
 

A. Future launchers preparatory programme
Since the European Ariane 5 and Vega launchers -and possibly their
evolved versions- will be exploited up to 2020, there is no need to
start development of a  new launcher now. However, the growing
technology gap between Europe and other space-faring nations in the
area of future launcher technologies, in particular on reusable
launcher technologies, as well as the harsh consequences of the
temporary suspension of the Ariane 5 ECB development on engineering
teams within the European launcher industry, call for starting
without delay the Future Launcher Preparatory Programme (FLPP).
Indeed, preparatory activities will be a key to Europe's success in
the medium and long-term by developing relevant technological and
industrial capabilities and by developing international cooperation
with Russia, which may be generalised world-wide.

The aim of the FLPP is to develop and structure within a single
programmatic framework at European level the industrial capabilities
needed to take a decision by the end of the decade on the Next
Generation Launcher (NGL) system concept (fully reusable, partly
reusable or expendable) for operational exploitation around 2020 and
to demonstrate innovative technologies aiming at improving the
competitiveness of current expendable launchers.

The programme is structured in successive overlapping periods:

2004-2006: Selection by mid-2006 of one Reusable Launch Vehicle
system concept for each of two NGL reference missions and the
pre-development of experimental vehicle(s). Decision in 2005 to
complete the development of the selected experimental vehicles.

2006-2009: Validation of NGL technologies through ground
demonstrations and, for reusable launcher technologies, in flight
experimentation. Preliminary mission selection and competing NGL
Phase A studies of reusable and expendable system concepts.

2009-2011: Confirmation of NGL mission requirements and final
recommendation of one NGL system concept. Engine tests and mission
requirements finalised.

This should lead to a decision around 2013 on whether to develop (or
not) the next Generation Launcher on the basis of a complete binding
industrial offer.

International cooperation with Russia on LOX/hydocarbon (Liquid
Oxygen/methane or kerosene) engines is envisaged already from the
outset of the programme.

The financial envelope for the first phase of the FLPP (2003-2005)
amounts to 145 MEURO (2003 e.c.). The Declaration setting out the
undertakings in respect of the content of the programme for Phase 1
is to be drawn up by 30 September 2003 and subscribed to within 31
December 2003. 

B. Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre

In June 2002 the ESA Council meeting in St. Hubert (Canada) confirmed
the interest of co-operating with Russia in the field of launchers on
two pillars: (a) cooperation without exchange of funds on future
launcher preparation and (b) the exploitation of the Russian launcher
Soyuz by Arianespace from the CSG in Kourou.

The exploitation of Soyuz would complement the offer of Ariane 5 and
Vega in the medium-weight payload class for low earth orbit and
would, for GTO missions, provide Arianespace with increased mission
flexibility and optimise the commercial exploitation of Ariane 5.

 - Continued -

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