Greek Space Program

This page is about the Greek Space Program! There are Greek Astronomy links at the bottom of the page. Greece will become a full member of the European Space Agency on 1 December 2005. 

History

Greece applied to join ESA in October 2003. At the ESA Council meeting in Kiruna (Sweden) on 24 and 25 March 2004, they approved the accession of Greece (also Luxembourg) to the ESA Convention. Greece has been granted observer status (until their full acceptance) so they can attend ESA meetings and familiarize themselves with procedures and working practices.

The Greek parliament passed the apropriate legislation on January 18th 2005 which enables Greece to become an official member of the European Space Agency. The Hellenic Republic is expected to become full member of the Agency by 1 December 2005, after their national approval procedures have been fully completed.

HellasSat Communications Satellite

The HellasSat communications satellite was the first Greek Satellite. It was launched on May 13, 2003 by a Lockheed Martin on an Atlas V rocket from complex 41 at Cape Canaveral. It was launched by ILS (International Launch Services) for a Greek-Cyprus consortium. This was the second launch of the Atlas V.

HellasSat was an Astrium built Eurostar 2000 Plus spacecraft.

HELIOS-2

Greece will participate in the space observation satellite programme HELIOS-2, as member of the European consortium BOC (Besoins Operationelles Communs). Negotiations began in 1998 but were suspended in 2001. Negotiations resumed when the ministry's new political leadership came into office in March 2004. The result was the Defence Ministries of Greece and France signed an agreement on Friday 5 February 2005 whereby Greece will be the 11th country worldwide that will have access to military space observation satellites. Other countries which comprise the consortium are France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium. Greece's financial contribution, as a member of the programme, will amount to 2.5%, which is estimated to equal €80 million over the next 10 years.

Did you know?

The name of the Greek Philosopher credited with being the first to predict a solar eclipse was Thales of Miletus in 585 BC.

Reference and Links:

- ESA Portal - New Member States at ESA

- Hellas Sat

Related web site pages on Greece.

• Greek Music
  
• Patras
  
• Thessaloniki
  
• Florina
  
• Vasilis Papakonstantinou