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ESA Selects Next Generation Space Missions
davecl writes "The European Space Agency has announced the results of its Cosmic Visions 2015-2025 call for proposals. Fifty space science missions for the next decade were proposed, with just seven selected. They range from X-ray and far-infrared observatories to planet finders and a near-earth asteroid sample return mission. These seven, together with the LISA gravitational wave observatory, will go ahead for further study in the next few years, and then two will be chosen for launch in 2015-2017."
What? No space elevator?
...they rejected my mission to determine if the Xbox 360 still overheats in a vacuum. Darnit.
I'm waiting for a "-1 somepeoplejustshouldn'tgetmodprivileges" meta-moderation.
Astrophysics
A dark energy mission
Two proposals have been received (DUNE, the dark universe investigator and SPACE, the new near-infrared all-sky cosmic explorer) addressing the study of dark matter and dark energy - a hot topic in astronomy. While they propose to use different techniques (DUNE is proposed as a a wide-field imager, while SPACE is proposed as a near-infrared all-sky surveyor), they address the same basic science goal. In the follow-up study phase a trade-off will be performed leading to the definition in the spring of next year of a proposal for a European dark energy mission to go forward in competition.
PLATO - PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars
The proposed next-generation planet finder is a photometry mission that will detect and characterise transiting exoplanets as well as measure the seismic oscillations of their parent stars. It will be capable of observing rocky exoplanets around brighter and better characterized stars than its predecessors. Observations of the mission will be complemented by ground- and space-based follow-up observations to derive the planet's masses and study their atmospheres.
SPICA - SPace Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics
SPICA is a proposed medium- and far-infrared observatory with a large-aperture cryogenic telescope. The mission would address planetary formation, the way the solar system works and the origin of the universe. It would perform wide field, high sensitivity photometric mapping at high spatial resolution, spectral analysis as well as coronography of planets and planetary disks. SPICA is proposed in collaboration with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, with ESA providing the telescope and a contribution to the operations.
XEUS - X-ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy
XEUS is a next-generation X-ray space observatory to study the fundamental laws of the Universe and the origins of the universe. With unprecedented sensitivity to the hot, million-degree universe, XEUS would explore key areas of contemporary astrophysics: growth of supermassive black holes, cosmic feedback and galaxy evolution, evolution of large-scale structures, extreme gravity and matter under extreme conditions, the dynamical evolution of cosmic plasmas and cosmic chemistry. XEUS would be stationed in a halo orbit at L2, the second Lagrange point, with two satellites (one mirror satellite and the other a detector satellite) that would fly in formation.
Various international partners have expressed interest in cooperation in XEUS and discussions will start by the end of the year with the interested agencies to ensure the earliest involvement in study work.
Solar System
Cross-Scale - multi-scale coupling in space plasmas
Cross-Scale, proposed to employ 12 spacecraft, would make simultaneous measurements of plasma on different scales at shocks, reconnection sites, and turbulent regions in near-Earth space. It will address fundamental questions such as how shocks accelerate and heat particles or how magnetic reconnection phenomena generate or convert energy. If approved, the mission would be implemented in collaboration with JAXA, the Japanese space and exploration agency.
Laplace - a mission to Europa and the Jupiter System
The Jovian System, with Jupiter and its moons, is a small planetary system in its own right. Unique among the moons, Europa is believed to shelter an ocean between its geodynamically active icy crust and its silicate mantle. The proposed mission would answer questions on habitability of Europa and of the Jovian system in relation to the formation of the Jovian satellites and to the workings of the Jovian system itself. The mission will deploy three orbiting platforms to perform coordinated observations of Europa, the Jovian satellites, Jupiter's magnetosphere and its atmosphere and interior. If approved, the mission would be implemented in collaboration with NASA.
Marco Polo - a near-Earth object sample return mi
Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
Let me be the first to say : what about a manned mission to Mars? I don't care that it's more efficient and easy to send robots, I don't care that it would have little scientific justification, I want human beings to go there just because it would be mind-blowingly awesome!
I think one of the more interesting missions here is the visits to the Jovian System. Europa in particular may yeild the best results within our solar system for some sort of life beyond Earth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_(moon)
"During My Service In The United States Congress, I Took The Initiative In Creating The Internet." -Al Gore
- Laplace. To study the Jovian system (three orbiters, one entirely dedicated to Europa!) in collaboration with NASA.
- Tandem. To study the Saturnian-Titanian-Enceladusian environment (orbiter+carrier with a balloon and 3 probes to Titan) in colaboration with NASA.
- Marco Polo. Sample return mission from an asteroid (à la Hayabusa) with orbiter+lander, sampler and return capsule; in collaboration with JAXA.
- Dune/SPACE. Two proposed missions to study dark matter and dark energy.
- Plato. Extrasolar planets detector, capable of detecting rocky planets.
- Spica. Infrared telescope with wide field of analysis, spectroscopy and coronograph; in collaboration with JAXA.
- XEUS. X-ray telescope to study extreme environments from L2 halo orbit, consisting on a mirror satellite and a detector satellite flying in formation.
- Cross-Scale. Proposed to employ 12 spacecraft, would make simultaneous measurements of plasma - the gas of charged particles surrounding Earth - on different scales at shocks, reconnection sites, and turbulent regions in near-Earth space.
[thanks to eeergo from NSF for the short list]At least one of the first two (Laplace or Tandem) will almost certainly be selected, the second one approved will probably be an astronomy mission (i.e. observation of objects outside of the solar system).
There's a hidden treasure in Python 3.x: __prepare__()
capture the Lagrange Points 1,2 and 3, leaving us with only the less attractive points 4 and 5. Stop them now, I say!
Millions for defence, but not a cent for anything co-operative or sensible...
By the way, do astronauts have to have security anal searches, no shoes and a Sky Marshal riding with them? Seems to me that a Shuttle flight would be a prime target for Al-Quaida infiltration. You know the little bastards get everywhere, and they're obviously hard to spot, because we haven't found one yet......
Given that it's looking more and more likely that we'll be well past the peak of global oil production by then, is it really a good idea to be planning seriously resource-intensive missions like these in this timeframe? I dont want to come over as a downer, but it's a good idea to be realistic. I suspect there will be more pressing issues than space exploration in this window.
"I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
It is very wierd indeed, that Europe, being a massive economy world wide, only can affort marginal space efforts. ESA should be at least as ambitious as NASA, but it is not.
For one, they are relatively new at it. NASA's been doing lots of missions for a long time. Europe has only been lightly dabbling so far.
Second, is that they have more beurocracy because they want to make sure member countries get an equal share. It is sort of like the Osprey military project in the US where states all wanted a shake and also helped lobby to keep it alive despite unsolved safety problems. NASA has a little of that, but has learned to work around it and reduce it over the decades.
Table-ized A.I.
It's a shame that only two of the seven will be chosen for launch in 2015-2017 and not all seven (at least that's what I gathered).
I'm not sure what's lacking the most, the number of people available to work on these or the funding required. Probably mostly the latter.
I think that in Europe, space exploration is seen as science expenditure, and not military expenditure (since 'Europe' as an entity has no military). There's a lot more competition and public scrutiny regarding where the money goes.
The two principle solar system missions here - Tandem (Saturn - Titan and Enceledas) and Laplace (Jupiter) require going beyond Mars, and a first for the ESA: they would probably be using RTGs (Radioisotope Thermal power Generators) - this will be a big cost, and also a big political step - the first Nuclear ESA mission.
Incidentally the proposed NASA-JUNO Jupiter polar orbiter is also a first - a *solar* powered orbiter for Jupiter - something that was not supposed to be possible! This is thanks to reduced power requirements and better solar cell/battery/computer tech. I would like to see the ESA try 2 missions - the nuclear powered mission to Saturn, and another cheaper mission using Solar, based on Mars/Venus Express architecture (with improved solar/battery etc) to Jupiter - maybe a Europa orbiter? The point is that Venus express cost around 200 million - by reusing the Mars Express system - why not try for a cheap Jupiter solar mission, which would be a first for the ESA..
"A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it." - Churchill
As someone closely associated with the selection process, let me add a little background that might be helpful to interested /.ers.
1. In principle just two of these missions will proceed to flight in 2017-2018, following studies of all seven over the next couple of years. However, the important number is the 950Meuro budget envelope allocated for this round of Cosmic Vision: depending on how costs shape up during the study phase, we go for a different mix of missions. That number is the cost to ESA itself: you also need to factor in anticipated additional contributions (e.g. for payload) from ESA member states and third party countries (e.g. US, Japan, Russia, China).
2. One poster suggested that either Laplace or Tandem was most likely to fly in one slot, with an astronomy mission in the other: this is in no way decided, at this point. We sent Laplace and Tandem through at this stage as NASA is looking closely at the same basic missions; indeed, for either to fly would require strong (majority) NASA partnership, as ambitious outer solar systems missions cost more like $2G, rather than the ~600-650Meuro ESA might put in. Following discussions and a selection process in the US, one or other of Laplace or Tandem will go through to the full European study stage. Then, in order to proceed to flight, we will need to decide whether we prefer that mission over XEUS or LISA for the 2017-2018 slot: they are the other L(arge)-missions selected for study.
3. Dune and Space were similarly selected in the full knowledge that the US is planning a Dark Energy mission as well. Further talks with NASA on competition, collaboration, and complementarity in ths arena are very likely.
4. Keep in mind that this is just the first round of Cosmic Vision: we anticipate a second selection round in 3 years or so, at which point other missions may be selected, perhaps from those of the seven here not finally picked for flight in the first round, perhaps from the 43 others which did not make it this far (some were felt to be extremely interesting, but not ready technologically for 2017-2018), or perhaps something new altogether.
5. Finally, yes, we'd all like to have more money available to ESA to fund these and other exciting missions: we have plenty of interesting ideas. Europeans should think about writing to their parliamentary / governmental representatives about exactly this point. That said, it's not quite true to say, as someone did, that we're newbies in this game: ESA has been involved in a whole bunch of excellent astronomy and solar system missions already (Giotto, Rosetta, ISO, SOHO, XMM, Mars Express, HST, to name but a few), some alone, some in collaboration. There are more to come over the next few years as well (e.g. Herschel, Planck, Gaia, JWST), so watch this space (sorry).
...here is the proposal:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_trek
If you have a good heat source, there is no need to drill through an ice layer.