ESA ISS Overview - Transition from Promise to Realisation
- Paper number
IAC-07-B3.1.02
- Author
Mr. Alan Thirkettle, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Since 1984 the European Space Agency has been working on the space station, following the initial invitation of participation from the USA to potential partners. The ESA ISS Development Programme was approved in 1995 and consisted of space and ground segments, utilisation preparation and an astronaut element. Subsequently the operations and utilisation programmes have also been progressively approved, and the programme scope has grown to its present content. After many years, 2007 brings the promise of fulfilment of on-orbit operation of the main ESA programme elements, namely the Columbus laboratory with its associated payload facilities, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) logistics spacecraft, their associated operational control centres and a number of ESA astronaut flights. Thus the long road of preparation and development that has been filled with difficulties and set backs is almost behind us, and we anticipate eagerly the transition to an operational participation leading to the generation of world class science, technological innovation and flight operations experience for which the participation was initially intended. This paper summarises the reasons why Europe participates to the station programme, the overall content of the participation of ESA to the ISS, the status of the various elements that has been achieved to date, reflections on the organisation and conduct of the partnership itself and the future perspective of ESA’s activities as part of its overall human spaceflight and exploration programme.
- Abstract document