European Space Agency grits teeth, preps contracts for SpaceX Galileo launch
- Reference: 1699446728
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/11/08/esa_grits_teeth_readies_contracts/
- Source link:
Previous satellites in the constellation were lofted on either Soyuz launchers or the Ariane 5. The former is no longer an option due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the latter was retired in favor of the Ariane 6, which is beset by delays and yet to make its maiden flight.
This puts ESA in somewhat of a tricky situation. The absence of a domestic launch capability is placing significant pressure on the agency, resulting in the decision to tentatively book a pair of Falcon 9 launches for the highly sensitive satellites.
[1]
Galileo is Europe's alternative to systems such as the US Global Positioning System and includes a secure signal for military use – one which the UK is [2]infamously excluded from using following the country's decision to exit the European Union.
[3]GPS leading your phone astray? We can just fix that in code, startup claims
[4]ULA's Vulcan Centaur hopes to rocket into Christmas
[5]ESA's Jupiter-bound Juice spacecraft has a sticky problem with its radar
[6]If we plan to live on the Moon, it's going to need a time zone
Four satellites are planned to be launched provisionally in April and July 2024, and the contract is worth €180 million ($192 million). However, the European Commission must decide whether the sensitive technology can be transported to the US for launch aboard a US rocket. Not doing so, however, means it runs the risk of further delaying the deployment of spares to the constellation.
ESA is no stranger to SpaceX when it comes to launches. For example, the [7]Euclid telescope was launched on a Falcon 9 in July 2023, and the agency is considering assigning more missions to the vehicle thanks to Arianespace's struggles to get either the Vega-C or Ariane 6 flying. The aged Copernicus satellites need to be replaced, and the next Sentinel-6 launch in 2025 is scheduled to go up on a Falcon 9. Then there are the Hera and EarthCARE missions.
[8]
It is a bit embarrassing for the Europeans, who would very much prefer their payloads to be launched on European rockets. However, a combination of unavailability and pressing national and scientific needs means that paying Musk's rocketeers for a ride is the least bad option on offer. ®
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[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZUu@tXT0kzuSlmo4cyCGFQAAANY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/01/uk_national_space_strategy/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/02/zephr_gps_accuracy/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/25/ula_vulcan_centaur_christmas/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2023/04/29/esa_juice_jupiter_problem/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/01/esa_moon_time_zone/
[7] https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/06/Euclid_ready_for_Falcon_9
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Re: who would very much prefer their payloads to be launched on European rockets.
Do we not agree there's no point in a hospital run solely for the staff?
That's not how I would express it.
It's how I would.
Indeed Minister.
How would you express it Humphrey? At the end of the day, one of a hospital's prime functions is patient care.
One?
Until we have the money for nursing and medical staff, it's a function we can't pursue In 18 months or so.
18 months? We can open some wards.
No, it's got to be now.
I suppose we could form an inter-departmental committee to examine the feasibility of monitoring a proposal for admitting patients earlier.
How long would that take to report?
Not long.
How long?
About 18 months.
I suggest we get rid of all the staff there and use the money to open closed wards in other hospitals, when we can afford it, we open St Edward's with medical staff.
Do that and you'll delay the opening for patients for years, you talk as if the staff have nothing to do!
What do they do?
Really, Minister! There's a large number of extremely busy departments. Firstly, the Contingency Department for fires, strikes, air raids, nuclear war, epidemics, food or water poisoning.
In such a crisis, the hospital is a key centre for survival. Then, the Data and Research Department, conducting a full-scale demographic survey of the catchment area.
We have to anticipate the future requirements for maternity, geriatrics, paediatrics and the male/female balance.
Thirdly, there's Finance - projected accounts, balance sheets and cash-flow budgets. Then, the Purchasing Department for purchasing medical equipment, examining estimates, looking at price lists and catalogues...
Purchasing what?
Everything, Minister. Everything from brain scanners to Brasso! May I continue?
Be briefer.
Would that I could, Minister, but you need to understand. Fifth, the Technical Department for evaluations. Sixth, the Building Department dealing with Phase 3 plans, costing and so forth for the final
phase to be completed by 1994.
Then, there's Maintenance, Cleaning and Catering, Personnel in charge of leave, National Health Insurance, salaries, as well as staff welfare officers to look after the 500 employees.
And finally, Administration.
Administrators!
More administrators administrating other administrators!
This is important work, Minister. The typing pool, stationery, office furniture and equipment. Liaison between departments.
Are you being serious or not?
What do you mean?
There are NO patients!
That is what a hospital's for. Patients! ill people! Healing the sick!
But all these vital tasks must be done with or without patients.
Why?
Why?
Why?
I don't understand.
How else can I express it? Why?
Would you sack the army because there's no war?
Completely different! A hospital must produce results.
We don't measure our success by results but by activity. Those 500 people are seriously overworked. The full establishment should be 650, may I show you the paperwork?
No, Humphrey. Enough is enough. Sack them!
Out of the question, Minister.
We need administrators or the hospital will never open.
Sack the ancillary staff.
The unions won't wear it.
Sack half and use the money to get doctors and nurses and open some wards!
No, Humphrey, that's my last word. My last word! You may go!
Very well, Minister. I shall have a word with the unions....
Re: who would very much prefer their payloads to be launched on European rockets.
@Fr. Ted Crilly: [1]How To Run A Hospital | Yes Minister | BBC Comedy Greats
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAk448volww
Re: who would very much prefer their payloads to be launched on European rockets.
Unfortunately, the stonking success of Ariane 5 led many at ESA to take their eyes off the ball and then it got political, very political with decisions delayed and revised until things got so bad that they had to let the engineers get back to work. The horsetrading in Europe can be so depressing but then you read the stories of what happens in the US and you realise it happens everywhere. NASA did the right thing in giving SpaceX the money to build cheap and reliable launchers but we can already see what the megalomaniacs make of all those unregulated resources, or who think they can revoke contracts at a whim.
There is a lot to be said for the two supplier principle and this should soon be economically for satellite launchers.
American Security Threat
That seems rather flimsy if Russia has been used in the past for launches.
Re: American Security Threat
Soyuz rockets were transported to Kourou in French Guiana. Russians were present for operating the rocket but payload integration was handled by Europeans. For the type of fuck-up you are thinking of, see OneWeb and Iran's spy satellite.
Re: American Security Threat
Thanks for clarifying. That's a little less risky but I'd still have the usual concerns about bringing critical hardware into physical contact with suspect hardware.
Re: American Security Threat
Sometimes, especially if you haven't gotten it up for a while, you're willing to take that risk. I know I am.
Stupid idea
but what if there was a local launch facility somewhere, like a unit and some concrete in Cornwall ... ?
That would keep the system away from the pesky USA prying eyes and the British Government funded enough of it anyway.
Re: Stupid idea
Really crank up that stupidity. Instead of a 747 carrying a 30t Launcher One imagine an aircraft capable of carrying 550t of Falcon 9 and propellant (Mriya=190t). This super plane flies south west to get closer to the equator and leave a stretch of ocean to the east so a launch failure does not crash into Spain. Next the aircraft pulls up and remains vertical for 30ish minutes while transferring propellant to the Falcon 9 because Falcons cannot support the weight of their propellant while horizontal.
That is the easy bit. The New Zealand government jumped through hoops to get permission to launch a small US rocket from Mahia. That level of agility is far beyond the UK government's dreams.
who would very much prefer their payloads to be launched on European rockets.
Maybe they should have built some then ?
The only reason for a Space Agency to not have rockets is if it's been contracted by Chris Grayling*
(*In joke for limeys).