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| Sunday, 1 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Aurora's Mission
Aurora is the European Programme for the Exploration of the Solar System, which by its very nature is multidisciplinary across many sectors of science, technology and space activities. The Aurora Programme can be seen as a road map for human exploration, from which a large number of scientific as well as technology spin-offs will emerge. The Programme will also provide for the missions and technology necessary to complement those planned in the existing European Space Agency (ESA) and national programmes. Aurora is part of Europe's strategy for space, endorsed by the European Union Council of Research and the ESA Council in 2001. This strategy calls for Europe to: explore the solar system and the Universe, stimulate new technology and to inspire the young people of Europe to take a greater interest in science and technology. As a result of this challenge, in 2001 ESA set up the Aurora Programme. The primary objective of Aurora is to create, and then implement, a European long-term plan for the robotic and human exploration of the solar system, with Mars, the Moon and the asteroids as the most likely targets. A second objective is to search for life beyond the Earth. Future missions under the programme will carry sophisticated research to investigate the possibility of life forms existing on other worlds within the solar system. It is clear from these objectives that the interdependence of exploration and technology is the basis of the Aurora Programme. On the one hand the desire to explore provides the stimulus to develop new technology while on the other, it is the introduction of innovative technology that will make exploration possible. Aurora's step-by-step approach means that missions will increase in complexity over time, culminating - if all goes well - in a human expedition to Mars by the year 2030. Steps on the way to Mars will probably include exploration of the Moon as well as: remote sensing of the Martian environment, robotic exploration and surface analysis, Mars sample return missions and a robotic outpost. Not all these steps towards the ultimate goal of sending humans to Mars will necessarily be part of the Aurora Programme. As a result of international cooperation, various collaborating agencies will make a contribution to those missions that best meet their particular requirements and areas of expertise. Courtesy - ESA |
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Ever heard about the Aurora Programme? Well, if you are interested in
learning about the mysteries of space, you should know about this
programme. 
