With the flagship Galileo program facing difficulties, and key programs such as Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) also facing milestones, it looks to be another challenging year for, the European Space Agency (ESA).

With a ministerial meeting set to take place in 2008 that could European space policy for years to come, Jean-Jacques Dordain, the director general of ESA, discussed Galileo, GMES, the Chinese anti-satellite missile test and other key issues with Satellite News Associate Editor Mark Holmes.

Satellite News: What are the major challenges and key objectives for ESA throughout the next 12 months?

Dordain: The next 12 months are very important because this is the key year between the ministerial council meeting that took place in 2005 and the one due in 2008. We are just starting to reflect on the mechanisms for preparing the next one, but we first have to carry out all that was decided at the last meeting. The next 12 months will be therefore dedicated to completing or consolidating ongoing programs.

I will start with the launch of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) and the launch of Columbus. We have been working on these for many years, and it is time to place both in orbit and go on to the next phase of the [International Space Station], which is exploiting it and reaping benefits of investments. Clearly, launching the ATV and Columbus is a very important objective for the year.

Then there are the two programs we are conducting with the European Commission, Galileo and GMES, which will require some attention. Although the contract for the in-orbit validation (IOV) of Galileo has been signed, some questions still remain concerning the deployment and exploitation phase. We are not in charge of that, but clearly we have to support the commission in its efforts to complete the contract with the concessionaire. I do not want to go ahead with IOV unless it is followed by deployment.

On GMES, we have had the first decision by the member states in Berlin. We now have to implement the commission’s budget on this, and also get the complementary funding from the ESA side, just to make sure that

GMES is fully funded, and associated services sustainable.

Regarding the other programs, we need to select the final configuration for the mission ExoMars, and this will be done in the next two to three months. We are in the middle of a critical system review for Vega, [which] will be launched next year, so we are getting closer to the maiden flight. Finally, we have to select the operator for the AlphaSat mission and also define the mission for the Small Geostationary Platform.

Satellite News: Do you have the framework for cooperation between ESA and the European Commission in place to effectively move forward with your programs and plans?

Dordain: At present, we have a framework agreement in place with the European community. It is not just a piece of paper. It provides the basis for the programs we are able to carry out together, and I should say that Galileo is the first large program to come out of the relationship. Galileo is not a space program, it is a transport program where space plays an important role.

The second program is GMES, and it, too, is not a space program. We are talking here about services for the environment and security, and space is just one part of the instrument for delivering those services. So this is exactly what I am expecting from our relationship with the European Union (EU). It is to have ESA responding to European policies in the areas of transport, the environment and security by providing satellite capabilities which could be useful for implementing those policies. This is the relationship between ESA and the EU. It is not just two bureaucracies adding their weight to each other. ESA is actually delivering, and not simply seeking partners. Our relationship with the EU will be assessed in terms of our ability to conduct programs together that will deliver services to users.

Satellite News: What are the key objectives for Galileo in 2007?

Dordain: Progress has been slower than anticipated. You could argue that the Galileo program has been split into three phases. The first phase is in-orbit validation, where the governments of Europe together with the Commission are demonstrating — through the launch of four satellites — that we can validate the Galileo system. The second phase is the deployment of the constellation, and the third phase is the exploitation of the constellation to deliver services. ESA is in charge of the IOV phase only, while the Concessionaire is in charge of deployment of the constellation and of its exploitation.

Regarding the IOV phase, I would say our calendar is now set. I signed the industrial contract at the beginning of last year. The contractors are paid to deliver four satellites by the beginning of 2009. That is on track even if we do have some organizational problems to resolve. But that’s only to be expected in the business of developing a space program. The part that has not been completed yet is the signing of the contract between Galileo Supervisory Authority (GSA) and the Concessionaire, which will be the basis for the deployment and exploitation phases. The calendar has not been fully consolidated in that area. This poses problems in terms of the IOV calendar on the one hand, and the calendar for deployment and exploitation on the other.

Now, there is a gap between the two phases, and this poses some problems. The Concessionaire is not yet in place, so we do not know on which requirements it will get revenues. These requirements are very important when it comes to finalizing the configuration of the IOV satellites. Secondly, there is as yet no pressure on the calendar from the Concessionaire eager to get these revenues. Putting a commercial concessionaire in place for exploiting a navigation constellation is not easy, since Europe is the first to do this. In the USA, in Russia, navigation is based uniquely on governments. However, there are consequences in terms of how we are managing the IOV. So these types of inconsistencies between the two phases must be consolidated as soon as possible. We are working to support the commission on the subject, but of course we are not in charge. But there is no point in doing an IOV if there are issues with the deployment and exploitation. We are working with the commission and we expect consolidation in the course of this year. We want to have made concrete progress by June.

Satellite News: How would you assess the importance of GMES, and what key decisions that will be made on the program this year? ?

Dordain: There are three challenges related to GMES. The first is funding. We have had a decision by the member states on what we call Phase 1. This is the first part of the ESA member states’ funding for GMES. But we still have to look into the process by which ESA can use the funding of the European Commission, because we have to make the funding used through the framework program consistent with ESA requirements for developing satellites.

Also on the funding side, we need a decision this year by the ESA member states on covering what we call Phase 2, which will complete the funding for Segment 1. Segment 1 is development of the first three Sentinel satellites. The first objective is therefore to secure the funding for developing those first three Sentinels. The second objective is to sign the industrial contract for Sentinels development, to make sure there will be continuity of data.

The third objective is to put in place the services. For this, we have to work with partners. Two weeks ago, we signed an agreement with the European Maritime Safety Agency to see how we can deliver data for maritime surveillance, which is under the responsibility of that agency. So these are the three objectives for the year. I am confident we will achieve them all.

Satellite News: What work is ESA doing in terms of putting in place operational infrastructures to monitor the environment and manage natural disasters?

Dordain: I am convinced that the role of space data for these types of event is unique. We have demonstrated that you can monitor the path of a hurricane and anticipate the development of such natural phenomena. When, unfortunately, disasters occur, we can monitor them, and space infrastructure is the only way to see and communicate when ground infrastructure has been destroyed.

The role of space data in these areas has a great deal of potential. To some extent, we are already proving that. Together with Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), we created the Space and Major Disasters Charter, whose signatories undertake to provide assistance in the event of natural disasters. A lot of other agencies have joined us now, and we are already doing a lot but certainly not enough.

Satellite News: What is the status of ESA’s membership?

Dordain: We are also working hard on the evolution of ESA, in particular with a view to its enlargement. The number of ESA member states is increasing. Hungary and the Czech Republic are already officially coming onboard, to be followed, we think, by further countries. We have to explain to the existing member states that, because their number is growing, we need to adapt ESA operations accordingly. This all adds up to a big meal for us to digest, but a necessary one to help sustain the European space sector.

Satellite News: What was your reaction to the Chinese anti-satellite missile test?

Dordain: What we are looking at are the consequences of that test in terms of issues such as debris, and threats to our satellites and assets in orbit.

Satellite News: What is ESA’s potential role in the defense arena?

Dordain: ESA will have the role of a space agency, no more and no less. The role of space in defense and security is not to be demonstrated. Security and defense are clearly drivers for space activities almost everywhere in the world, except in Europe.

In the USA, defense and security constitute the number one incentive to exploit space. This also applies in Russia and China. I do not think there is any further need to demonstrate the usefulness of space for defense and security matters.

Space systems are the only way to collect information from everywhere in the world, and to disseminate that information. What is needed is a European defense and security policy. ESA cannot act in that sphere. However, I am sure that when there is a European defense and security policy, then there will be a role for ESA, because there will be a role for space.

Satellite News: How do you see the satellite services landscape changing in Europe, and what will satellite services have on European citizens?

Dordain: I think the landscape is changing, but only slowly, because services are only just now emerging. In other powerful spacefaring countries, they are driven by security and defense. In Europe, governments have decided on a different approach: That is to do things the other way around, and start with civilian services. There are very few Europe- wide security and defense applications. At present, we have outstanding operators in Europe for telecoms. We have Eutelsat and SES Global, two of the biggest operators in the world. Telecoms is the only area where there are real commercial services. Regarding public services, the only really mature operator is Eumetsat – today for meteorology, and in the future for some GMES services. We are missing operators for a range of services, such as Galileo. With GMES, we have yet to deliver fully operational services. There is some progress but still a lot of work to do.