EADS: Arrival of the first crew at the International Space Station heralds new era in human spaceflight
Amsterdam, 02 November 2000
-
ISS ready for the first scientific experiments
-
Astrium computer onboard the ISS functions perfectly
-
EADS Space division will deliver Columbus Laboratory in 2002
The successful docking of a Soyuz capsule with the International Space Station (ISS) and the arrival of the first long-stay crew marks the beginning of a new chapter in human spaceflight. Mankind has acquired a new, permanently occupied outpost in space.
Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, the Co - Chief Executive Officers of the European Aeronautic and Defence Company were amongst the first to congratulate the space agencies of the USA and Russia on the success of their latest mission: "Besides being an outstanding technical achievement, it represents an important advance not only in the field of manned spaceflight, but for all space activities. EADS is strongly committed to the International Space Station and its future success as an outpost in space for unique research opportunities and future space missions.
François Auque, EADS Executive Vice President, Space Systems, pointed out the practical significance of the arrival on board the ISS of its first resident crew: "Scientific research on the station can now begin. EADS, through its subsidiaries Astrium and EADS Launch Vehicles, will do all it can to ensure that the ISS has first-rate facilities for scientific and industrial research teams."
Astrium, an EADS joint venture with BAE Systems, has indeed played a major role in the construction of the ISS. One of the systems it has supplied has already proved its reliability: Astrium's "DMS-R" data-management system has been in operation and functioning perfectly since the docking of the Russian "Zwezda" module. The DMS-R is a highly advanced software and fault-tolerant computer system which controls the station's attitude control and at the same time guarantees fast, interference-free communication between the new "outpost" in space and ground stations in Europe, Russia and the USA.
Meanwhile, work on the development and production of hardware and software systems for the European Columbus Spacelab is also proceeding according to plan. Astrium has been appointed by the ESA as the general industrial contractor for the laboratory, and is thus in charge of the main European contribution to the International Space Station. Several terrestrial research disciplines have more than a passing interest in the success of the Columbus module: scientists engaged in basic research and in projects involving applications of special technologies hope to conduct experiments in conditions of weightlessness which cannot be achieved on earth.
Other items Astrium and EADS Launch Vehicles have undertaken to develop and supply the production of the unmanned Automatic Transport Vehicle (ATV) which will be operational in 2003, ensuring the servicing of the ISS. Nine flight models of the ATV, for which EADS Launch Vehicles is prime contractor, will be launched by Ariane 5 up till 2013.
Astrium is also involved in the development of the X-38 rescue vehicle - a kind of astronauts' lifeboat as well as a space-station supply structure known as the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC).
Besides developing and producing hardware and software systems, Astrium has also agreed to organize comprehensive training programmes for the teams of astronauts that will have to use the various components it has supplied. For this purpose, Astrium has constructed a unique one-to-one model of the Columbus module, so that Spacelab crews are able to gain an impression of their future working environment before leaving mother earth. This project is linked to the development of the Columbus simulator, which is scheduled to come into service in 2002. Extensive on-the-ground training facilities will thus already be in place two years before the Spacelab becomes operational.
At the beginning of this year, Astrium and a number of industrial partners submitted a proposal in cooperation with the European Space Agency's German Aerospace Center (DLR) to run the European part of the International Space Station for a period of 12 years at a cost of EUR 2.6 billion.
Contacts
EADS
Roland Sanguinetti / Martine Galland
Telephone : +33(0)1.42.24.24.26
Fax : +33(0)1.42.24.23.28
Astrium:
Kirsten Leung
Telephone: +49 (0)421-539-5326
Fax: +49 (0)421-539-4534
Rémi Roland
Telephone : +33(0)1.34.88.35.78
Fax : +33(0) 1 34.88.43.43
EADS
Launch Vehicles
Shirley Compard
Telephone : +33(0)1.39.06.39.03
Fax : +33(0)1.39.06.12.54
Stock Quotes
| ||||
 |
