. 24/7 Space News .
Review Of Cosmic Vision 2015-2025

illustration only
Paris, France (ESA) Sep 22, 2004
The Cosmic Vision workshop at UNESCO on 15-16 September 2004 showed that Europe is richer than ever in ideas for what should be done in space science in the coming years. This workshop brought us a major step forward in developing the vision of the future for Europe's space science that we expect to present next spring.

That long-term vision will be the culmination of the third of the major planning exercises that have framed European space science over the past two decades since the Horizon 2000 exercise in 1983-4.

Nine major themes were drawn out of an extraordinarily strong response (151 proposals) to a call for ideas for themes issued back in the spring. Using this input, scientists from across Europe put together a series of papers outlining what they thought should be the major issues of space exploration a decade or so from now.

The three major discipline groups of the ESA Space Science advisory structure drew up the contents and basic themes for the workshop. These were:

From the Astronomy Working Group:

  • Other worlds and life in the universe
  • The early Universe
  • The evolving violent universe

    From the Fundamental Physics Advisory Group:

  • Toward quantum gravity
  • Beyond the standard model
  • The gravitational wave universe

    From the Solar System Working Group:

  • From the Sun to the Earth and beyond
  • Tracing the origin of the solar system
  • Life and habitability in the solar system and beyond

    In a very busy summer, the working groups did an extraordinary job in distilling down these major themes out of the many ideas received. However their work is far from over.

    The working groups will next set about refining some of the technology challenges with the help of the ESA Science Directorate Advanced Concepts office (SCI-A) with the aim of next outlining the kinds of missions and mission scenarios that are feasible in the timescale foreseen.

    Not only do we want to develop an outline implementation plan but also a technology roadmap that will be needed to get ready for missions a decade from now.

    The Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) under the guidance of chairman Giovanni Bignami will start next month the task of refining the themes down to produce a plan that captures as much as possible of the range of topics targeted.

    In the discussion at the end, several observers commented that there were clear similarities and parallels in final science goals across all three of the science groups. It will be for the SSAC to bring a harmonisation and a plan for implementation.

    The SSAC will make an interim report on progress so far to the representatives of ESA Member States at the ESA Science Programme Committee (SPC) in November.

    They may want to insert their own 'mid-course' corrections and this will be their opportunity to comment. It is expected that the SSAC and the advisory groups will continue working with the Executive to bring together an overall plan for the 2015-2025 period for final presentation to the February SPC meeting.

    Following SPC endorsement, it is envisaged to produce a document 'Cosmic Vision 2015-2025' laying out the targets for Europe in space science for the decade.

    In order to take the ideas to the community, in the spring a series of town meetings for the science community in each country is expected to be organised for the science community to be able to hear about the plan. Here scientists will again have a chance to question the executive about how they will be able to take their part.

    For twenty years European space science has had a long-term plan; this planning process has paid off enormously well. It has consolidated European efforts over years across the (now) 17 Member States and moved Europe unambiguously into being the major world player that it now is.

    Europe's funding for space science has always been substantially less than the US but there can be little doubt from the showing in UNESCO Paris in the last two days that Europe can claim intellectual parity and, with the right funding, could push back any frontier. Related Links
    SpaceDaily
    Search SpaceDaily
    Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

    Improving Wine With Satellites
    Frascati, Italy (ESA) Sep 20, 2004
    The wine harvest has begun in many regions of Europe. Will it be a vintage year, what will quantities be like? Every vineyard owner has their own idea. But specialist engineers and administrations already have a comprehensive view produced using satellite observations.



    Thanks for being here;
    We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

    With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

    Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

    If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
    SpaceDaily Contributor
    $5 Billed Once


    credit card or paypal
    SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
    $5 Billed Monthly


    paypal only














  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.