Community of Ariane Cities
News from the community
apr24
Launched on 3 April, Sentinel-1A returns its first images
The European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1A satellite was launched by a Soyuz rocket from its Sinnamary launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), Europe’s Spaceport, on 3 April. This first Earth-observing satellite under the European Union’s Copernicus Programme is now in orbit. The radar observatory mission draws on close cooperation between ESA, the European Commission, Arianespace, industry, operational service-providers and data users. Designed and built by a consortium led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence & Space, Sentinel-1A has just returned its first radar images of the Earth’s surface.
apr03
Launch of the Sentinel-1A satellite, the first Copernicus programme satellite
Thursday 3 April at 23:02 Paris time
(18:02 Kourou time, 21:02 Greenwich Mean Time)
This evening, the European Space Agency (ESA) is scheduled to launch its Sentinel-1A satellite, the first of the European Union’s Copernicus programme satellites.
Sentinel-1A will be placed in orbit by a Soyuz launcher, which will lift off from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), Europe’s Spaceport. The launcher’s flight time will be 23 minutes and 24 seconds between lift-off and separation of the satellite, which will be placed in a sunsynchronous orbit at an altitude of 693 km.
Managed by Arianespace, this launch marks the start of the operational phase of the Copernicus programme (previously GMES), a monitoring programme for the environment and security on a global scale. Sentinel 1A will provide a set of essential information services for a broad range of applications (*).
Sentinel-1A is the first satellite in a constellation of six families of satellites. They are the result of close cooperation between ESA, the European Commission, industry, service-providers and data users. Designed and built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, Sentinel-1A carries radar that can provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery.
To follow the launch live, click on one of the links below. Live video stream will begin 15 minutes before lift-off.
ESA
http://www.esa.int/ESA
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1
Arianespace
http://www.arianespace.com/index/index.asp
Airbus Defence and Space
http://www.astrium.eads.net
Thales Alenia Space
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press-release/thales-alenia-space-built-sentinel-1a-first-satellite-europes
Union Européenne (voir à Copernicus et Sentinelle 1)
http://europa.eu/index_fr.htm
(*) Sentinel-1A satellite applications include monitoring of sea ice, surveillance of the marine environment (including oil-spill monitoring and ship detection for maritime security), monitoring of land surface (mapping for forest, water and soil management, tectonics, monitoring for motion risks) and mapping to support humanitarian relief and crisis management.
mar27
Panel Discussion - Europe in space: three generations so far!
Monday 14 April 2014
Amphitheatre, IUT d’Aix-Marseille, Salon-de-Provence
6.30pm – 8pm
This Panel Discussion looks back to the very beginning of space activities worldwide and in Europe especially, considers current issues and looks ahead to the future. The portraits of three generations of Space Age actors will be sketched: the pioneers’ generation, today’s generation and the newcomers preparing to take over.
Discussion organised under the auspices of the 2014 Presidency of the Community of Ariane Cities (CVA), held by the Ariane City of Salon-de-Provence in partnership with the Ecoles d'officiers de l'Armée de l'air (EOAA).
Panel speakers:
- Jean-Michel Desobeau, Quality Deputy Vice President, Arianespace
-
Juan de Dalmau, Head of ESTEC Communication Office,
European Space Agency (ESA)
Venue:
Amphitheatre, IUT d’Aix-Marseille
Vieille route de Pélisanne, Salon-de-Provence
Time:
6.30pm – 8pm
The discussion will include a half-hour Questions & Answers session.
This year Europe celebrates 50 years of cooperation in space (1964-2014). These space endeavours are characterised by the vital need for cooperation, between European states and also with many international partners. These endeavours have targeted constant progress in science & technology research and the pursuit of innovation for the benefit of all, while not losing sight of the imperative of competitiveness.
The space applications resulting from the activities carried out by the European Space Agency (ESA) and its predecessors (ELDO, ESRO), national agencies, the space industry, research and higher-education institutions – not forgetting Arianespace’s role as the main launch service provider – are many and varied. Moreover, the spin-offs of Europe’s space efforts are benefiting a growing number of sectors of the economy and are increasingly part of our daily lives.
jan23
Launch of the CVA Presidency
Events organised for the inauguration of the 2014 CVA Presidency, Salon-de-Provence, 23 & 24 January.
Thursday 23 January
Inauguration ceremony of the 2014 Community of Ariane Cities Presidency under the patronage of Jean-Loup Chrétien, at the Espace Charles Trenet at 18:00, Talk and panel discussion...
... based on the documentary “Rêves d’étoiles”, adapted from a book of interviews with the famous astronaut by Catherine Alric, which looks back at his life and space adventures through personal documents and NASA and CNES films (50min).
Buffet apéritif after this introduction
to the space theme.
Espace Charles Trenet 18:00 – Admission free – Tel. 04 90 44 89 60
In the early evening, screening of the Stanley Kubrick classic
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968).
jan16
2014 CVA Calendar - Programmes and Meetings
In 2014, the CVA programmes and meetings will be organised under the auspices of the 2014 CVA Presidency held by Salon-de-Provence
-
Launch of the 2014 CVA Presidency
in the presence of representatives of “Mulhouse Alsace Agglomération” (m2A) and the CVA General Delegation,
and “CVA Outlook” working meeting (23 January).
Conferences held by Jean-Loup Chrétien, 1st French Astronaut
23-24 January, Salon-de-Provence