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European Space Agency

Press Release

Aurora: opportunities for European industry
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25 February 2003

"We cannot guarantee success, but we can deserve it." (*) That was the 
message from Franco Ongaro, head of the European Space Agency's Aurora 
Programme Office, at the conclusion of a special industry workshop 
held during early February. 

Present at the meeting, held at ESA's European Space Research and
Technology Centre (ESTEC), based in the Netherlands, were some 80
representatives of European and Canadian companies who were keen to
learn more about the opportunities and challenges presented by the
pioneering Aurora programme.

"Our second Aurora Industry Day was very well received," said Franco
Ongaro. "We were delighted to see that so many companies and research
organisations are interested in our robotic exploration missions and
in the development of exploration-related technologies." 

"Industrial studies for the four approved missions of the Aurora
programme will begin in the next few weeks, and the participants from
industry appreciated the opportunity to learn about the overall Aurora 
programme and to be informed of the way it is rapidly evolving," he 
added. 

"They also expressed their appreciation with respect to the
rogramme's well defined goals and strategy, both short and long term,
as well as its fully integrated technology plan. This information is
important in helping companies to decide how they can best contribute
to this exciting vision of the future." 

The meeting began with an overview of the Aurora programme, which is
currently in a three-year preparatory period. When this initial stage
is completed in late 2004, programme officials intend to produce a
long term plan for the robotic and human exploration of the solar
system, together with an updated programme proposal for the period
2005-2009.

This was followed by a number of presentations summarising the current 
status of Aurora activities. Alain Pradier, Aurora Technology Manager 
explained the need to develop new, innovative technologies to support 
the initial robotic missions and pave the way for the human
exploration programme. In particular, the agency is seeking generic
technologies that may be used or adapted for multiple missions over
the next few decades.

"It is our intention to increase safety, reduce cost and improve
performance," explained Pradier. 

Considerable emphasis was also placed on the results of preliminary
ESA studies to define the first four robotic missions. These include
two major Flagship missions (ExoMars and Mars Sample Return), and two
smaller Arrow missions (Mars Aerocapture Demonstrator and the Earth
Re-entry Vehicle).

These robotic and demonstrator missions, along with a coherent
technology development plan and ground simulation work, will pave the
way for more ambitious missions and eventually a human expedition to
Mars.

ExoMars is currently expected to launch in 2009. After studying
numerous options, ESA experts envisage sending two separate spacecraft 
to Mars during the same launch window. The first of these would 
include an orbiter and a descent module that would deliver a large 
rover to the surface of the Red Planet. A second 'carrier' spacecraft 
would deliver four Netlander stations to investigate the Martian 
environment.

Testing of rendezvous and docking techniques on the ExoMars mission
will prepare the way for the second Flagship mission, a Mars Sample
Return that will drill for Martian soil and rock for analysis back on
Earth. Launch is expected to take place in 2011.

In-flight demonstrations of some critical technologies required for
these groundbreaking expeditions will be undertaken during the two
preceding Arrow missions. The Earth re-entry vehicle, to be launched
in 2007, will be designed to survive a high speed re-entry into the
Earth's atmosphere, while the 2009 Mars aerocapture demonstrator will
validate a lightweight, inflatable heatshield that can be deployed for 
braking into orbit. 

Invitations to Tender for phase A or pre-phase A studies of these
precursor missions will be issued in the next few weeks, opening the
way for industry to participate in the future exploration of the solar 
system. Two parallel contracts for each mission are foreseen.  In the 
case of the two Arrow technology demonstration missions, one of the 
contracts for the pre-phase A studies will be available for smaller, 
non-prime contractors.

Approved by the ESA Council in the autumn of 2001, Aurora is intended
to formulate and implement a European long-term plan for the robotic
and human exploration of the solar system. The ultimate objective is
to send a human expedition to Mars by 2030. (*) Originally quoted by
George Washington, who later became the first President of the United
States. 

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