[meteorite-list] ESA's Science Missions Extended

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:32:33 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201411220032.sAM0WX1O025637_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://sci.esa.int/director-desk/54999-working-life-extensions-for-esas-science-missions/

Working life extensions for ESA's science missions
European Space Agency
20 November 2014

Continuing operations of ten space science missions have been
extended by ESA's Science Programme Committee (SPC).

During its meeting at the European Space Astronomy Centre, near
Madrid, on 19 November, the SPC gave the green light for the
flotilla of spacecraft to continue their key scientific
endeavours for at least another two years.

After a comprehensive review by the Science Programme's advisory
structure of the current operational status and likely scientific
return of each mission in the future, the SPC agreed to continue
funding for six ESA-led missions (Cluster, INTEGRAL, Mars Express,
PROBA-2, SOHO and XMM-Newton for the period 1 January 2015 - 31
December 2016. The committee also confirmed support for the final
phase of Venus Express operations during 2015.

ESA's remarkable Rosetta comet chaser was not on the agenda of the
meeting. Although the nominal end of its mission is currently
planned for December 2015, its scientific studies have only
recently begun, so consideration of a possible extension into 2016
has been deferred until early 2015.

The go-ahead was also given to continue ESA's contributions to
three international collaborative missions, namely Hinode (with
JAXA), and Cassini-Huygens and the Hubble Space Telescope (both
with NASA).

With all of these science missions continuing to deliver
outstanding science, the SPC gave their preliminary support to
further extensions for eight of the missions - all except
Cassini-Huygens and Venus Express - during 2017-2018, subject to
review in late 2016.

Cassini-Huygens will complete its mission in late 2017 when it
enters the atmosphere of Saturn. Until then, it will observe the
transition from spring to summer in Saturn's northern hemisphere,
study changes in the weather and surface features of Titan, and
continue probing the icy jets of Enceladus and the spectacular
rings. Venus Express is expected to burn up in Venus' atmosphere
during 2015, completing its intensive survey of the cloud-shrouded
planet.

Mars Express will complete its high resolution imaging of the
entire planet, monitor the variable weather of Mars, and shed new
light on the origin of the moon Phobos during a number of close
flybys.

Extensions for SOHO, PROBA-2 and Hinode will ensure that our Sun
is closely watched as it reaches an unusually weak maximum of
sunspot and flare activity. Meanwhile, the Cluster quartet will
measure the effect of this activity nearer to home, as they visit
new regions of Earth's magnetosphere.

XMM-Newton, the Hubble Space Telescope and INTEGRAL will continue
to provide complementary, multi-wavelength observations of the
Universe. These will span studies of the Solar System,
planet-hosting stars, exploding stars, black holes, and the
evolution of galaxies.

Decisions to extend ESA space science missions are made on a
rolling two-year schedule. The next two-year mission extension
cycle will begin in mid-2016.
Received on Fri 21 Nov 2014 07:32:33 PM PST