ESA's Report to the 36th COSPAR Meeting

摘要

The report for the 36th COSPAR Meeting covers, as in previous issues, the missions of the Scientific Programme of ESA in the areas of astronomy, Solar System science and fundamental physics. This year's COSPAR meeting will take place only weeks before the end of the SMART-1 mission to the Moon, a technology project that provided the first European look at our natural satellite from lunar orbit. In October of this year, a new mission will be launched: COROT. ESA, together with a number of countries, is contributing to this unique, French-led project that will provide an insight into the interior of the stars, by means of the asteroseismology technique successfully applied by SOHO. COROT will also perform a systematic search for new extrasolar planets using photometric transits.rnThe record number of ESA Science Programme missions in operation established at the time of the last report was maintained in 2006 (Huygens having been replaced in the list by Venus Express). Eleven different missions, involving 14 operating spacecraft, are providing excellent science to the worldwide scientific community. The Research and Scientific Support Department (RSSD) is responsible for the science operations of these missions and makes every effort to ensure the best possible science return. The Department also supports the realisation of approved projects in all phases of their development.rnCassini/Huygens arrived at Saturn in June 2004, after having visited Jupiter en route. The release of the European Huygens probe towards the atmosphere of Titan occurred, exactly as planned, at Christmas 2005. Its purpose was to investigate the physical nature of, and conditions at, Titan that were expected to provide important insights into the early evolution of our own atmosphere. The Titan atmospheric descent took place on 14 January 2005, with astonishing results from the probe, including its landing on the surface of a new world.rnSince the 35th COSPAR report, a mission has been launched that represents a significant step forward for European participation in the exploration of different bodies of the Solar System. In November 2005, Venus Express was sent on its way to Earth's sister planet; insertion into orbit around Venus took place in April 2006 and scientific operations began. The mission will provide the clues to understand why the planet is so different from Earth, despite being the most similar in mass and size. The atmosphere of Venus will be fully analysed, as will as its structure and dynamics, and some surface features.