History UsefulNotes / ESA

* CoolShip: The ATV, especially given its track record, technical capabilities and {{NASA}} expressing interest in its service module (for use on their currently developed MPCV Orion capsule).

*** The newer and smaller cousin of the Canadarm2 on the ISS is the '''E'''uropean '''R'''obotic '''A'''rm - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Robotic_Arm ERA]].

**** ''Johannes Kepler'' (2011)

*** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne Ariadne]] from the Greek myth about Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Crete gave name to the ''Ariane'' series of launch vehicles ("Ariane" being the French rendering of the name Ariadne). The ''Ariane'' series' predecessor, the ''Europa'' class of launch vehicles, was a double reference - to the continent of Europe itself and to the mythological female character the continent was named after, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28mythology%29 Europa]].

*** The 1980s/1990s telecommunications satellite Olympus-1, referencing Mount Olympus.

*** The older ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipparcos Hipparchos]]'' astrometry satellite is both [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous a reference to]] the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipparchus ancient Greek philosopher Hipparchus]] and [[OverlyLongGag an overly long]] [[FunWithAcronyms acronym for]] '''Hi'''gh '''p'''recision '''p'''arallax '''co'''llecting '''s'''atellite. And you thought [[DoctorWho the Doctor]]'s TARDIS has a rather convoluted acronym...

*** The research satellite PROBA ('''Pr'''oject for '''O'''n-'''B'''oard '''A'''utonomy).

*** The proposed space probe [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDA_%28spacecraft%29 AIDA]] (Yes, a punny reference to the [[Music/GiuseppeVerdi Verdi]] [[{{Aida}} opera]], otherwise meaning '''A'''steroid '''I'''mpact & '''D'''eflection '''A'''ssessment).
*** The newer, smaller cousin of the Canadarm2 on the ISS, the '''E'''uropean '''R'''obotic '''A'''rm - ERA.

*** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne Ariadne]] from the Greek myth about Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Crete gave name to the Ariane series of launch vehicles ("Ariane" being the French rendering of the name Ariadne). The Ariane series' predecessor, the Europa class of launch vehicles, was a double reference - to the continent of Europe itself and to the mythological female character the continent was named after, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28mythology%29 Europa]].
*** The joint NASA-ESA space probe ''Ulysses'' was, obviously, named after the protagonist of Homer's ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' (in this case, the Latin rendering of Odysseus' name).

*** The proposed [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quijote_%28spacecraft%29 Don Quijote]] space probe, for testing forced impacts into asteroids that could be used to deflect said space objects. The probe consists of a separate, orbiting, "onlooker" section dubbed Sancho, and an impactor section, ''Hidalgo''. Given the names and roles, you probably know what famous scene from Cervantes' novel is being referred to...

*** The main European module of the ISS is the ''Columbus'', named after Christopher Columbus.

** Some past ESA projects even show overlaps between styles of theme naming. The older ''Hipparchos'' astrometry satellite is both [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous a reference to]] the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipparchus ancient Greek philosopher Hipparchus]] and [[OverlyLongGag an overly long]] [[FunWithAcronyms acronym for]] '''Hi'''gh '''p'''recision '''p'''arallax '''co'''llecting '''s'''atellite. And you thought [[DoctorWho the Doctor]]'s TARDIS has a rather convoluted acronym...

*** As a sadder, WhatCouldHaveBeenExample, the original concept for the otherwise succesful cometary exploration probe ''Rosetta'' was a bit more ambitious than the finished product. The original probe's name ? Aprropriately enough, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champollion_%28spacecraft%29 Champolion]]'', after [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Champollion the French linguist]] who deciphered the Rosetta stone. Both the name of the unrealized earlier concept and that of the eventually launched mission were supposed to reflect that comets are a kind of "cosmic Rosetta stone", capable of revealing interesting data about the evolution and composition of our Solar System.

** ShoutOutThemeNaming :
*** As already mentioned above, the name of the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_%28spacecraft%29 Rosetta]]'' space probe that conducted a comet-exploratory mission is a nod to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone Rosetta Stone]], a stele from Antiquity that was instrumental in the first deciphiring of Egyptian hieroglyphics back in the 19th century.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Sadly, ESA has had far too many spacecraft projects that didn't come to fruition, especially during a technology development slump it experienced in TheEighties. The most famous of these unrealized projects were various smaller manned vehicles, including the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_%28spacecraft%29 Hermes]]'' space shuttle (to be launched by the Ariane 5 rocket) and various simple capsule shuttles for flights to and from the ISS.

*** The solar research probe [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_and_Heliospheric_Observatory SOHO]] (Reference to London or the '''S'''olar and '''H'''eliospheric '''O'''bservatory ? You be the judge !).

*** The cometary probe ''[[Giotto]]'', named after the Renaissance artist. It was [[UnderdogsNeverLose the only probe out of a competing group of five]] to fly closely to Halley's Comet in 1986 and examine it from a distance. An early MomentOfAwesome for ESA.
***
*** The ''Herschel'' space telescope. Named after [[William Herschel]], of course.

Despite a history of setbacks and lower budgets than those available to the Americans and Russians, ESA has enjoyed successes with its many ambitious space probe missions (Giotto, Mars Express, Venus Express, Rossetta, etc.), the Ariane and Vega series of launch vehicles, the orbital laboratories Spacelab (flown aboard the Space Shuttle) and Columbus (part of the ISS), as well as the man-rated ATV resupply spacecraft. In a recent MomentOfAwesome for ESA, {{NASA}} has struck a deal with it about providing a licensed version of the ATV's propulsion module for the MPCV ''Orion'' manned spacecraft.

*** The proposed space probe [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDA_%28spacecraft%29 AIDA]] (yes, a punny reference to the Verdi opera, otherwise meaning '''A'''steroid '''I'''mpact & '''D'''eflection '''A'''ssessment).

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Sadly, ESA has had far too many spacecraft projects that didn't come to fruition, especially during a technology development slump it experienced in TheEighties. The most famous of these unrealized projects were various smaller manned vehicles, including the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_%28spacecraft%29 Hermes]]'' space shuttle (to be launched by the Ariane 5 rocket) and various simple capsule shuttles for flights to and from the ISS.

*** The proposed [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quijote_%28spacecraft%29 Don Quijote]] space probe, for testing forced impacts into asteroids that could be used for deflecting them. It consists of a separate, orbiting, "onlooker" section dubbed Sancho, and an impactor section, ''Hidalgo''. Given the names and roles, you probably know what famous scene from Cervantes' novel is being referred to...

** MythologicalAndReligiousThemeNaming:
*** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne Ariadne]] from the Greek myth about Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Crete gave name to the Ariane series of launch vehicles ("Ariane" being the French rendering of the name Ariadne). The Ariane series' predecessor, the Europa class of launch vehicles, was a double reference - to the continent of Europe itself and to the mythological female character it was named after, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28mythology%29 Europa]].

*** Probably the king od this trope when it comes to ESA : The recently announced space probe [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moons_Explorer JUICE]] ('''Ju'''piter_'''Ic'''y_Moons_'''E'''xplorer).

*** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDA_%28spacecraft%29 AIDA]] (yes, a punny reference to the Verdi opera, otherwise meaning '''A'''steroid '''I'''mpact & '''D'''eflection '''A'''ssessment).

*** The planned space telescope [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHEOPS_%28spacecraft%29 CHEOPS]] ('''CH'''aracterising '''E'''x'''OP''lanets '''S'''atellite).

* ThemeNaming :

* ScienceHero: It was kind of its [[PlanetOfHats hat]] in the eyes of other space agencies, especially during its earlier history, when it was far more dependant on others in terms of launch capabilities. The stereotype went that ESA is just a lazy freeloader who can't do any flights on his own, yet is obssesed with making experiments and astronomical surveys in Earth orbit, etc. Though the stereotype has died down in the last two decades thanks to increasing advances towards a fully European launch/spaceflight capabality and ESA's contributions to the ISS, ESA is still often seen as a "astronomy and research first, spaceflight tech second" space agency. In fairness, the slower pace of the technology developments was and is mainly due to the international character of the agency and the smaller budgets it has for such things when compared with the Americans or the Russians.
* TheSpaceRace: Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Edoardo Amaldi, one of the founders of ESA's predecessor organizations, argued that it would be unwise in the face of the successes of the US and USSR to not develop a domestic European launch capability, for both scientific and economic purposes.
* SpiritualSuccessor: To ELDO and ESRO. The Ariane series and the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28rocket%29 Europa]]'' launch vehicle programme.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ELDO and ESRO and the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28rocket%29 Europa]]'' launch vehicle programme.

* TheSpaceRace: Edoardo Amaldi, one of the founders of ESA's predecessor organizations, argued that it would be unwise in the face of the successes of the US and USSR to not develop a domestic European launch capability, for both scientific and economic purposes.

'''{{ESA}}''', the '''European Space Agency''', was formed in 1975 by the merger of two previous European spaceflight organizations, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Launcher_Development_Organisation ELDO]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESRO ESRO]]. Nowadays, it has 20 member states and consists of a few central institutions and the national space organizations of said member countries. While long cooperating with the European Union, it is actually ''not'' a subset or branch of said organization, though it reflects the ideals of European integration and international cooperation in a very similar way (this is part of the reason why several members of ESA are not members of the EU).

'''ESA''', the '''European Space Agency''', was formed in 1975 by the merger of two previous European spaceflight organizations, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Launcher_Development_Organisation ELDO]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESRO ESRO]]. Nowadays, it has 20 member states and consists of a few central institutions and the national space organizations of said member countries. While long cooperating with the European Union, it is actually ''not'' a subset or branch of said organization, though it reflects the ideals of European integration and international cooperation in a very similar way (this is part of the reason why several members of ESA are not members of the EU).

Despite a history of setbacks and lower budgets than those available to the Americans and Russians, ESA has enjoyed successes with its many ambitious space probe missions (Giotto, Mars Express, Venus Express, Rossetta, etc.), the Ariane and Vega series of launch vehicles, the orbital laboratories Spacelab (flown aboard the Space Shuttle) and Columbus (part of the ISS), as well as the man-rated ATV resupply spacecraft. In a recent Moment of Awesome for ESA, NASA has struck a deal with it about providing a licensed version of the ATV's propulsion module for the MPCV ''Orion'' manned spacecraft.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Sadly, ESA has had far too many spacecraft projects that didn't come to fruition, especially during a technology development slump it experienced in TheEighties. The most famous of these unrealized projects were various smaller manned vehicles, including the ''Hermes'' space shuttle (to be launched by the Ariane 5 rocket) and various simple capsule shuttles for flights to and from the ISS.

'''ESA''', the '''European Space Agency''', was formed in 1975 by the merger of two previous European spaceflight organizations, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Launcher_Development_Organisation ELDO]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESRO ESRO]]. Nowadays, it has 20 member states and consists of a few central institutions and the national space organizations of said the member countries. While long cooperationg with the European Union, it is actually ''not'' a subset or branch of said organization, though it reflects the ideals of European integration and international cooperation in a very similar way (this is part of the reason why several members of ESA are not members of the EU).

* SpaceRace: Edoardo Amaldi, one of the founders of ESA's predecessor organizations, argued that it would be unwise in the face of the successes of the US and USSR to not develop a domestic European launch capability, for both scientific and economic purposes.

'''ESA''', the '''European Space Agency''', was formed in 1975 by the merger of two previous European spaceflight organizations, ELDO and ESRO. Nowadays, it has 20 member states and consists of a few central institutions and the national space organizations of said the member countries. While long cooperationg with the European Union, it is actually ''not'' a subset or branch of said organization, though it reflects the ideals of European integration and international cooperation in a very similar way (this is part of the reason why several members of ESA are not members of the EU).

In the pre-ESA days, the space initiatives of European countries used spaceports based in Europe, east Africa and Australia. Since the 1970s, Kourou in French Guiana had been chosen as the site of the main European spaceport. After ESA formed in 1975, it inherited the spaceport and co-administers it with the French government and the launch vehicle providers.

Despite a history of setbacks and lower budgets than those available to the Americans and Russians, ESA has enjoyed successes with its many ambitious space probe missions (Giotto, Mars Express, Venus Express, Rossetta, etc.), the Ariane and Vega series of launch vehicles, the orbital laboratories Spacelab (flown aboard the Space Shuttle) and Columbus (part of the ISS), as well as the man-rated ATV resupply spacecraft. In a recent Moment of Awesome for ESA, NASA has struck a deal with it about providing a licensed version of the ATV's propulsion module for the MPCV Orion manned spacecraft.

* TheFederation: Unlike NASA, RKA, CNSA or ISRO, ESA is not a single national space agency, but more like a space agency of space agencies - an international organization tightly incorporating the national space agencies or space research bureaus of its European member states.
* ScienceHero: It was kind of its [[PlanetOfHats hat]] in the eyes of other space agencies, especially during its earlier history, when it was far more dependant on others in terms of launch capabilities. The stereotype went that ESA is just a lazy freeloader who can't do any flights on his own, yet is obssesed with making experiments and astronomical surveys in Earth orbit, etc. Though the stereotype has died down in the last two decades thanks to increasing advances towards a fully European launch/spaceflight capabality, ESA is still often seen as a "astronomy and research first, spaceflight tech second" space agency. In fairness, the slower pace of the technology developments was and is mainly due to the international character of the agency and the smaller budgets it has for such things when compared with the Americans or the Russians.
* SpiritualSuccessor: To ELDO and ESRO and the "Europa" launch vehicle programme.

[[http://www.esa.int/ESA Official website of the agency.]]

[[http://www.youtube.com/user/ESA Official YouTube channel of the agency]].

'''ESA''', the ''European Space Agency''', was formed in 1975 by the merger of two previous European spaceflight organizations, ELDO and ESRO. Nowadays, it has 20 member states and consists of a few central institutions and the national space organizations of said the member countries. While long cooperationg with the European Union, it is actually ''not'' a subset or branch of said organization, though it reflects the ideals of European integration and international cooperation in a very similar way (this is part of the reason why several members of ESA are not members of the EU).