When our ”inner neighbour” Venus these days is orbited by a European satellite, it is as a follow up of th Mars Express that orbits our “outward neighbour” for the third year in a row.
Spotlight on an “Informer” Pål A. Hvistendahl
The European Space Agency needs to inform the society about its activities. Information directly to the society or through media therefore plays an important role for the organisation. Those needs are mostly met by the Media Relations office Department at ESA’s headquarters in Paris. NordicSpace has met the Head of this section, Pål A. Hvistendahl to access information about how this is carried out.
Automatic Transfer Vehicle (ATV)
– From Parts to Space Qualified Means of Transport
Paris Air Show 2011 – More Than Aircrafts
Primarily an event for the aircraft industry, but among the many stands one can also find some interesting presentations for the space area.
Introduction to the CaNoRock Program
Most countries in the western world strive to motivate young people to choose natural science and technical studies. A lack of highly educated employers can become a problem if the western countries intend to maintain a leading role in the technical development. The field of space research and space utilisation is not an exception. Norway and Canada intend to be in the forefront, thus they have invested resources in a program to motivate young students to seek a career within the space research field – the CaNoRock program.
Long Duration Balloon Flights from Esrange Space Center
The application of balloons for scientific use as a supplement to satellites and ground based instruments has increased in particular during the past decade. Balloons are stable platforms that can hold a payload in the higher atmosphere for several days. There are three launch areas for scientific balloons in the Nordic countries, and Esrange in Northern Sweden is the main launch area for large scientific balloons.
The Laser- Fifty Years
From Curiosity to Everybody’s Property
Lasers for Earth Observation
The device’s ability to measure distances, to detect compositions in the atmosphere and transmitting data has provided possibilities to use lasers for a number of tasks connected to the earth observation fields. Several existing and new satellites use the system, and the sensitivity and accuracy are steadily increasing.
Lidar observations at IRF
The lidar at IRF utilizes as transmitter a Nd:YAG laser. Wavelength is 532nm, i.e. the laser light is green. The pulse repetition rate is 30 Hz. Before being emitted into the atmosphere the light pulses pass through a couple of optical devices to enhance the beam quality
Göran Pilbratt
ESA Herschel Project Scientist