European Space Agency was created in 1975 by the merger of European Space Research Organisation and European Launcher Development Organisation. The Head Office of the European Space Agency is at 8-10 Rue Mario Nikis, 75738 Paris, France. There are 14 members of the European Space Agency and they are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK).
ESA is participating in the International Space Station. It is contributing the Columbus Orbital Facility and will use the Automated Transfer Vehicle for space cargo transfer.
Europe sent its first astronaut to the International Space Station on 19 April 2001 during the Space Shuttle Endeavour visit.
Space Launchers:
Kourou in French Guiana is the Space Port for all European space launches. Currently the Ariane-5 is operational from there. Ariane-4 is no longer used.
In the future, 2 new launch vehicles will be launched for Kourou:
1. The ESA Vega launcher might have its first launch in 2007. The Ariane-1 launch facilities are being adapted for its use. Development of the Vega launcher started in 1998.
2. Russia
and Europe are establishing launch facilities for the Russian Soyuz-ST rockets
from the Kourou space center in French Guiana. The first launch of the new Soyuz
may take place in 2007.
Related Books:
Europe's Space
Programme: To Ariane and Beyond
by Brian Harvey
from Amazon.com,
Amazon.co.uk,
Amazon.ca
Launching Europe: An
Ethnography of European Cooperation in Space Science
by Stacia E. Zabusky (Author)
from Amazon.com,
Amazon.co.uk,
Amazon.ca
Space Marketing: A
European Perspective (Space Technology Library)
by Walter A.R. Peeters
from Amazon.com,
Amazon.co.uk,
Amazon.ca
Reference:
Emailed ESA for permission to use the ESA countries Logo on this page August 14th, 2000 and permission was granted.
ESA Portal - Life in Space - First European astronaut on ...Starsem: Starsem is the Soyuz company, dedicated to providing reliable and proven Soyuz family launch services to the commercial market.
Astrium-Space: EADS SPACE Company
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS:
Europe Space Policy:
Space Policy DigestGoto Space Projects and Info Home Page
Sections: Launch Vehicles | Space Shop | Spacecraft | Space Exploration | Spaceplanes | Space Stations | Propulsion | Space Future | Space History | Space Miscellaneous | Aircraft | Space Business | Military Space |Newsletter
Copyright © 2000-2008 Vic Stathopoulos. All rights reserved.
Updated: Saturday 5th, July, 2008