General Studies Programme: General Studies Programme Andrés Gálvez, EUI-AC, ESA HQ An overview


Contents: Contents Advanced Concepts and Studies Office (ACSO) Introduction tools and working methods ACSO modus operandi Advanced Concepts Team “think-tank” activities GSP 2007-2008 GSP activities, three levels: Strategy, Programmes, Projects GPS relationship with other ESA programmes GSP strategic guidelines 2007-2008 GSP Call for Ideas schedule GSP evolution


ACSO - introduction: ACSO - introduction The Advanced Concepts and Studies Office:: Is in charge of exploratory work related to ESA’s preparation for the future It is supported in this task by the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT), an internal think-tank; and It uses ESA’s General Studies Programme (GSP), which it manages, as an implementing tool.


ACSO - introduction: ACSO - introduction The office’s responsibilities include the following: Generate new concepts and ideas, Carry out preliminary assessments of these ideas Support ESA programmes and activities by providing analysis at scientific, technical, programmatic and strategic level Definition of new programmes Enable experimenting with new working methods


contribute to the formulation of the overall ESA strategy: contribute to the formulation of the overall ESA strategy All of the industrial sector and industrial policy studies; Major study on ESA communication policy; Many studies on new phenomena, changing context: space tourism, new applications of space means, ROI of space activities, etc. Recently investigated foresight techniques and run a pilot project on scenario building.


prepare/demonstrate the case for approval and funding of new optional projects/ programmes;: prepare/demonstrate the case for approval and funding of new optional projects/ programmes; All of the Aurora exploration missions, robotic or human. All the science and industrial activities in support of in-situ Exobiology. A number of microgravity facilities pre-ph.A. ExoMars(03/S69); Mars Sample Return(03/S72); Multimedia (ARTES3), 2 parallel studies (98/A60&A65) GNSS2 (Galileo), 3 parallel studies (95/T15&T30 & 96/T10) Re-usable launchers up to launch of optional preparatory programmes; the AR5 cryogenic upper stages (96/R20); the ATV


study feasibility for selection of new mission concepts: study feasibility for selection of new mission concepts All the Space Science missions, from XMM to SMART-1, from Rosetta to Mars Express, have been internally assessed and studied to Ph. A level. Examples: Rosetta (89/S10, 92/S01, 93/S10), Mars Express (ref. 97/S80&S81); All of the end-to-end mission assessment studies leading to the Earth Explorer proposals; A number of mission analysis and debris related studies; Formation Flying, Don Quijote and other In-Orbit demonstration missions; All of the Near Earth Objects (NEO) related studies;


support the evolution of ESA by analysing and testing new working methodologies. : support the evolution of ESA by analysing and testing new working methodologies. Concurrent Design Facility Massimo.Bandecchi@esa.int )


The ACT: A foresight component for ESA and the GSP: The Advanced Concepts Team (ACT) is a “variable geometry”, multidisciplinary think-tank made up by post-docs (research fellows) and young graduates doing work on space-relevant research topics. Its main objectives are: Provide an entry point for new trends and ideas relevant to the future of space programmes Assess advanced concepts in space systems, emerging technologies and new approaches Provide theoretical knowledge “on-demand” and interface with relevant external experts in order to support of strategic assessments The ACT: A foresight component for ESA and the GSP


Modus operandi: GSP CFI ESA staff Feasibility, risk, cost (internal CDF(*)/ ACT / !industrial studies) overall consistency of future planning context analysis Longer term vision Technical input to DG, DG-P, Directors strategy committee, LTP Advanced Concepts Team (ACT) Int/Ext reflection Groups Policy Office Directorates Nat. Agencies Preparation of new activities and methodologies; New competence for ESA Inputs Ouputs ACSO process D/TEC , Programmes (manpower) Industry & Academia Other partners EU, ISTC(**), etc. Modus operandi


GSP (broad) activity levels: GSP (broad) activity levels Strategy: industrial sector & policy studies, communications, Long term plan, evolving environment (e.g. space tourism) Programme proposal definition: new areas of activity, transversal or initially not associated to directorates (e.g. Aurora, Space Weather, NEO hazard) Project: Activities serving one / several programmes, including study feasibility for selection of new mission concepts (phase A); also interdisciplinary technical assessment


Slide12:  [S1]In 2007 a Soyuz launcher will take off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.  [S2]LISA PF will test the general concepts and technologies needed for highly accurate formation flying and precise measurement of the separation between two very distant spacecraft  [S3]Node 3 controls and distributes resources from Node 1 to the connected elements; CRV, Cupola, Pressurised Mating Adapter 3 and Habitation Module  [S4]The mission will study EECR's (Extreme Energy Cosmic Rays) from space by using the Earth's Atmosphere as a giant cosmic ray detector  [S5]ExoMars is the first Aurora Flagship mission to be assessed. Its aim is to further characterise the biological environment on Mars  [S6]all sky x-ray monitor  [S7]In Orbit Validation of Galileo (Total 4 sats to be launched on two launchers)  [S8]In Orbit Validation of Galileo (Total 4 sats to be launched on two launchers)  [S9]The objective of the Swarm mission is to provide a survey of the geomagnetic field and its temporal evolution  [S10]MetOp will be Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology  [S11]GMES - SAR and interferometry


Slide13:  [S1]In 2007 a Soyuz launcher will take off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.  [S2]LISA PF will test the general concepts and technologies needed for highly accurate formation flying and precise measurement of the separation between two very distant spacecraft  [S3]Node 3 controls and distributes resources from Node 1 to the connected elements; CRV, Cupola, Pressurised Mating Adapter 3 and Habitation Module  [S4]The mission will study EECR's (Extreme Energy Cosmic Rays) from space by using the Earth's Atmosphere as a giant cosmic ray detector  [S5]ExoMars is the first Aurora Flagship mission to be assessed. Its aim is to further characterise the biological environment on Mars  [S6]all sky x-ray monitor  [S7]In Orbit Validation of Galileo (Total 4 sats to be launched on two launchers)  [S8]In Orbit Validation of Galileo (Total 4 sats to be launched on two launchers)  [S9]The objective of the Swarm mission is to provide a survey of the geomagnetic field and its temporal evolution  [S10]MetOp will be Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology  [S11]GMES - SAR and interferometry


GSP Interfaces: survey/concept Assessment/ phase A Ph.A – B bridge Ph.B/Demo GSP Transversal Activities Space Science Human Spaceflight, Launchers Earth Observation Prep. Programme ARTES Policy, Context, Strategy, TRP GSP Interfaces


GSP CFI 2007-2008: Strategic focus - Basic: GSP CFI 2007-2008: Strategic focus - Basic Added value for space activities: Providing services to ESA Member States that generate economic growth and improve political support for its programmes Impact of strategic industrial alliances between European and non-European companies, public and private initiatives, improving industrial competitiveness Identification of “scenario laboratories” i.e. instruments to better analyse the role space systems could play when part of a more complex superstructures i.e. systems of systems Assessment of new in-orbit operational concepts: identifying demonstrations of new operational concepts beyond those considered PROBA 1, 2 and 3


GSP CFI 2007-2008: Strategic focus – Inspirational: GSP CFI 2007-2008: Strategic focus – Inspirational Enhancing cooperation across borders: missions and project increasing cooperation links between space-faring nations Capturing the public attention and support: missions and projects engaging the general public (and inspiring tomorrow’s engineers and scientists) Addressing the training of the future space workforce, considering the potential of multidisciplinary training, and the nano-bio-info convergence as source of innovation in different fields Attracting new communities: missions that combine research interests from multiple communities, across the traditional borders of Space Science, Earth Sciences and Life Sciences


GSP CFI 2007-2008: Strategic focus - Utilitarian: GSP CFI 2007-2008: Strategic focus - Utilitarian ESA and EU, serving the European citizen: Space contributions toward the fulfilment of the European Commission's priorities (beyond ESA programmes). Addressing global challenges: Space contributions toward the expected social, environmental and economic challenges of the coming decades The space component in the Systems of Systems: Integration of Ground and Space systems; new combined Earth Observation, Telecom and/or Navigation applications.


GSP Call for Ideas – Planning process: GSP Call for Ideas – Planning process (*)CDF: Concurrent Design Facility (**)ISTC: International Science and Technology Center, cooperation with ex-soviet countries GSP Screening for compliance/duplication. All staff able to comment proposals on on-line discussion Proposer’s workshop: Proposals are consolidated and refined together with actual proposers Senior Advisors’ assessment: 5 senior staff, appointed ad-personam for two years by ESA’s Director General Draft GSP Plan to DG - Committee Adjudication Committee Industrial Policy Committee Implementation Cost Centres agreement on schedule and resources (from mid June till mid August) (Aug -Sept) (14-15 Sept) (October) (November) (January) NB Adjudication Committee (AC)., approves procurement plans for activities above 150 KEUR. Industrial Policy Committee (IPC). Approves ESA’s Industrial procurement plans for activities above 300 KEUR New proposaslfrom all ESA staff (including Directors)


GSP evolution: review 2006: GSP evolution: review 2006 Some highlights on the recommendations Provide focus to the teamwork Does GSP have clear, well-established strategic goals? If it does, improve its visibility and the link to individual activities Obtain feedback from direct users of GSP work in phase A, B activities, tracking of initial inputs Define more precise targets of performance - Difficult to compare / evaluate without setting them; consider 2+2 year periods Explore (realistic) methods to evaluate and incorporate direct “external” (national agencies, Industry, academia) inputs to the GSP CFI at strategic level. Biannual periods might be too short to allow for targets to be achieved, consider 2+2 year periods instead i.e. objectives defined for a four-year period - this would also be in line with ESA overall strategic planning cycles (next one 2007-2010)