Story ERIC PAILHAREY ESA – ALCATEL Production GROUPE MASTER IMAGE Artwork and ...

32 Pages·2004·2.2 MB·English

Story Artwork and colours
ERIC PAILHAREY FRED VIGNAUX
ESA – ALCATEL
Production
GROUPE MASTER IMAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to our scientific, technical and education advisors:
Gérard Huttin, Sandrine Bielecki, Anne Brumfitt, Arianne Cornic, Isabelle Duvaux-
Béchon, Catriona Gouder, Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Johann Péan, Anne-Marie
Schipper, Olivier Witasse and all those who, with their remarks and suggestions,
made this book possible.
Patrice Couzin, Alizée Couzin, Philippe Jung, Elodie Lebreton, Hans Schipper, the
Thursday morning English class, Francois Raulin for his ideas as scientific expert,
and all the members of the Huygens investigator teams who gave an insight into
their instruments.
EP & FV
Éric who came to fetch me.
Séverine for her permanent support
My family
FV
Magalie for her support and Mom for proofreading
EP
By the same authors: l'ombre des anciens
- tome 1 - éditions Pointe Noire.
Publication: Cassini/Huygens – A Probe to Titan (BR-228, English)
Published by: ESA Publications Division, ESTEC, PO Box 299,
2200AG Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Story: Eric Pailharey
Artwork and colours: Fred Vignaux
Editors: Barbara Warmbein, Andrew Wilson
Layout/Prepress: Eva Ekstrand
ISBN: 92-9092-751-8
ISSN: 0250-1589
Printed in: The Netherlands
Copyright: © 2004 European Space Agency
NOORDWIJK, THENETHERLANDS,
25TH OF SEPTEMBER. VISITOR CENTRE.
SPACE EXPO, THE SPACE MUSEUM.
HELLO LUCAS – WELCOME TO THE HOME
OF EUROPEAN SPACE.
AUNTY ANN!
AUNTY ANN!
GOOD! I’LL BE YOUR GUIDE. ASK ME WHATEVER YOU’D
LIKE TO KNOW. WE’LL START WITH THE MUSEUM
BEFORE CHECKING OUT
THE ESA BUILDINGS
NEXT DOOR.
COOL! I’VE BEEN
WAITING FOR THIS
VISIT FOR EVER!
ESA HEADQUARTERS ARE IN PARIS. THE AND YOU ALL UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER?
TECHNICAL CENTRES ARE IN GERMANY,
HMMM … WHAT DOES
ITALY, SPAIN AND HERE IN THE
ESA MEAN?
NETHERLANDS AT ESTEC. YOU KNOW, WE DON’T HAVE TO SPEAK ALL THE
THERE ARE 1900 PEOPLE SPEAKING 11 LANGUAGES. BUT EVERYONE WHO
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES HERE. WORKS FOR ESA HAS TO SPEAK
ENGLISH OR FRENCH.
IT’S THE EUROPEAN
SPACE AGENCY.
WE’RE IN CHARGE OF
THE BIG EUROPEAN
SPACE PROJECTS.
NEARLY, IT’S A MOCK-UP OF DO YOU BUILD SATELLITES ON A
AND IS THAT A REAL ENVISAT … OUR BIG SATELLITE PRODUCTION LINE LIKE CARS?
SATELLITE? THAT’S FLYING RIGHT NOW
AROUND THE EARTH TAKING
LOTS OF PICTURES OF OUR NO WAY! EVERY NEW
ENVIRONMENT. SATELLITE HAS TO BE
CUSTOM-BUILT FOR
EVERY MISSION.
DO YOU SEE THE FLAGS? ALL OF THOSE COUNTRIES ARE
MEMBERS OF ESA, AND CANADA IS A PARTNER.
WOW! WORKING AT
ESA MUST BE GREAT!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
FOLLOW ALL THE STEPS
OF A PROJECT WITH ME,
FROM THE ORIGINAL
IDEA TO LAUNCH?
YOU BET!
SO LET’S ENTER THE
FABULOUS WORLD OF SPACE!
BERGEN, NORWAY. ROME, ITALY. THEY MEET A FEW MONTHS LATER …
OH, NO! THE WEATHER’S
WE MUST CHECK OUR CALCULATIONS
NEVER BEEN SO COLD.
ABOUT THE CHANGING CLIMATE BY
YOU KNOW, LUCAS, IT IT’S SNOWING HERE! MEASURING THE CHEMICALS IN
OFTEN STARTS WITH THE ATMOSPHERE. OVER THE WHOLE WORLD?!
A SIMPLE IDEA … IT’LL TAKE YEARS!
WE HAVE TO ORGANISE
TEAMS IN EVERY COUNTRY …
OR USE PLANES.
WHAT A SCORCHER FOR
THE FIRST DAY OF
FEBRUARY! I HAVE THE SO HOW ARE
FEELING THE CLIMATE WE GOING TO HOW ABOUT A
HAS BEEN WARMING DO IT? SATELLITE?
UP RECENTLY. WHAT
DO YOU THINK?
WE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT
OF THAT BEFORE!
BRILLIANT!
AND THESE TWO GUYS,
DO THEY ALREADY KNOW THE SCIENTISTS?
EVERYTHING THAT OF COURSE NOT,
NEEDS TO BE DONE? IT’S JUST THE
STARTING POINT.
WHO CAN HELP US TO MEETING WITH THE INDUSTRY, CHECKING IF THE PROJECT IS POSSIBLE …
BUILD THIS SATELLITE?
YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT LARGE INSTRUMENTS NEED
ESA! IT’S OUR JOB TO ACT AS WE MUST MAKE THIS LARGE SATELLITES TO CARRY THEM. AND THE LARGER THE
A GO-BETWEEN FOR THE MEASUREMENT, IT’S SATELLITE, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS TO BUILD AND LAUNCH …
SCIENTISTS AND THE FUNDAMENTAL!
COMPANIES AND LABORATORIES
WHO WILL DESIGN AND BUILD
THE SATELLITE.
ESA FIRST
DECIDES IF A
MISSION IS
POSSIBLE …
LET’S IMAGINE
AND THE MISSING 5%, ARE A FEW YEARS LATER ...
WE GOING TO FORGET THEM?
AT LAST, HERE’S THE
PROTOTYPE OF YOUR
SATELLITE, LUCAS.
WAIT! WE CAN USE
THE MEASUREMENTS
FROM OUR PREVIOUS LUCASAT – READY
OBSERVATIONS TO FOR LIFT-OFF!
FIND THEM...
THIS DESIGN FOR THE
SATELLITE IS MUCH
CHEAPER BUT STILL
MAKES 95% OF ALL THE
MEASUREMENTS.
WAIT!
IT’S NOT READY FOR
NEW IDEAS HAVE TO BE FOUND AND LAUNCH YET …
AGREED ON AS THE PROJECT DEVELOPS
YEAR BY YEAR FROM THE SIMPLE IDEA
INTO THE FINAL SATELLITE.
WE NEED TO CHOOSE THE ROCKET BEST
SUITED TO YOUR SATELLITE AND ITS ORBIT.
WHAT? THERE ARE DIFFERENT OF COURSE, THE HEAVIER
TYPES OF LAUNCHERS? THE SATELLITE AND THE
HIGHER ITS ORBIT, THE
BIGGER THE ROCKET
AND THE ENGINES!
DON’T BE NO – YOU CAN’T
STUBBORN, IT CAN’T REMOVE THIS PART, IT’S
THIS ONE LOOKS
FIT INSIDE! REALLY IMPORTANT!
BIG ENOUGH!
SURE. BUT IT’S MOSTLY
GIANT FUEL TANKS
WITH THE SATELLITE
SITTING ON TOP.
TO AVOID THIS
PROBLEM, THE
SATELLITE’S
DESIGN TAKES DON’T WORRY,
INTO ACCOUNT I WILL REPLACE IT
THE SIZE OF THE WITH SOMETHING
ROCKET. SMALLER THAT’LL DO
THE SAME JOB.
IN THE END, IT WASN’T THAT
COMPLICATED. CAN WE START
THE COUNTDOWN NOW?
SOON! BUT BEFORE TAKE-OFF, WE MUST CHECK
THAT EVERYTHING WILL STILL WORK IN SPACE.
HERE ARE ESA’S DURING LAUNCH, THE SATELLITE IS SHAKEN HARD IN
TEST FACILITIES. ALL DIRECTIONS. WE HAVE TO CHECK THAT NOTHING
BREAKS BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATIONS.
THEY’RE HUGE! WHAT
DO YOU DO HERE?
WAHOO, IT’S LIKE HEY!
A GIANT MIXER! IT’S FALLING APART!
THE ENTIRE
SATELLITE IS
TESTED BY
ALL THESE
MACHINES.
IT’S FAR WORSE!
BECAUSE IT WASN’T STRONG
WATCH AS I INCREASE
ENOUGH. IT’S BETTER WE
THE SPEED …
KNOW NOW – IT’S TOO LATE
AFTER LIFT-OFF!
WHAT ARE THEY
DOING NOW?
WE’RE GOING TO TEST
IT AGAINST NOISE.
IS SPACE NOISY?
READY?
NO, BUT DURING TAKE-OFF,
THE NOISE OF THE LAUNCHER OK!
IS LIKE 1000 JET ENGINES ALL
SCREAMING TOGETHER! WE
HAVE TO CHECK THAT LUCASAT
CAN WITHSTAND THAT NOISE.
DON’T WORRY, OUTSIDE
THE CHAMBER, WE CAN
HEAR NOTHING.
NOW WE HAVE TO TEST IF THE
SATELLITE CAN SURVIVE IN SPACE.
WHAT A PITY!
HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO DO THAT?
IN A BIG VACUUM CHAMBER. IN SPACE, THERE’S NO AIR TO
SMOOTH OUT THE TEMPERATURES. WHAT IS ON THE WARM
SIDE WILL SCORCH AND WHAT IS ON THE COLD SIDE WILL
FREEZE. TO PROTECT LUCASAT, IT’S COVERED WITH GOLD
THERMAL INSULATION – JUST LIKE A SURVIVAL BLANKET!
PART OF THE TEST RAISES
THE TEMPERATURE. ON THE OTHER HAND, PARTS OF
THE SATELLITE IN SHADOW CAN
COOL DOWN TO –180°C, MUCH
COLDER THAN THE NORTH POLE!
HEY, I THOUGHT
SPACE WAS COLD?
OK, THE MAIN TESTS HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL. I THINK YOUR
SATELLITE IS READY
AT LAST TO FLY!
SURE! BUT PARTS OF THE
YAHOO! BUT WHAT
SATELLITE EXPOSED TO THE SUN
HAPPENS IF IT GOES
CAN EXCEED 120°C – HOTTER
WRONG IN ORBIT?
THAN BOILING WATER!
CAN SOMEBODY GO UP
THERE TO REPAIR IT?
NO, THAT’S USUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
WE ALWAYS PLAN FOR FAILURES,
SO THE SATELLITE INCLUDES
BACK-UP EQUIPMENT …
SATELLITE CONTROL CENTRE …
THE BACK-UP
YOU SEE, IF
SOMETHING FAILS … EQUIPMENT IS SWITCHED WHY IS THE ALL ITS MOVING PARTS – MAYBE A
ON BY REMOTE CONTROL SATELLITE ROTATING MIRROR – ENCOURAGE
FROM HERE. MOVING? THE SATELLITE TO MOVE IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
IN FACT, EVEN THE TINY PUSH FROM
SUNLIGHT IS ENOUGH TO DISTURB IT. IT’S
ALSO ATTRACTED BY THE EARTH, MOON AND
SUN, SO IT’S MOVING ALL THE TIME.
THEY’RE NOT LIKE AIRCRAFT WINGS, LUCAS!
THEY’RE SOLAR-CELL WINGS TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY
TO KEEP ON THE RIGHT TRACK, WE MUST WHAT ARE FROM SUNLIGHT. ALL THE SATELLITE EQUIPMENT NEED
CORRECT ALL THESE MOVEMENTS. THE THE WINGS ELECTRICITY TO WORK!
USED FOR?
SATELLITE’S SMALL ROCKETS TAKE CARE OF
THAT, AND THE MISSION COMES TO AN END
WHEN ALL THE FUEL IS USED UP! HOW HIGH DO THE
SATELLITES FLY?
IF THEY STUDY THE EARTH, LIKE LUCASAT, THEY USUALLY ORBIT AT
HEIGHTS BETWEEN 400 KM AND 1400 KM. THEY TRAVEL VERY FAST AND
CIRCLE THE EARTH POLE-TO-POLE. THEY EVENTUALLY COVER THE
WHOLE EARTH, BUT AT ANY MOMENT THEY SEE ONLY A SMALL PART.
LOOK AT THE GREAT PICTURES
THEY TAKE!
AND SOME FLY SURE. MOST COMMUNICATION
EVEN HIGHER? SATELLITES FLY 36,000 KM
ABOVE THE EQUATOR.
THERE, THEY CIRCLE AS FAST AS THE
EARTH TURNS, SO THEY ALWAYS
HOVER OVER THE SAME SPOT - THEY
ARE CALLED GEOSTATIONARY. SO THEY
CAN BROADCAST TV PROGRAMMES YOU COULD USE SATELLITES
ALL THE TIME TO THE SAME REGION. FOR YOUR TV, YOUR TELEPHONE
AND EVEN THE INTERNET!
AND HIGHER STILL?
MERCURY VENUS MARS
JUPITER
SATURN
WE HAVE ROBOT EXPLORERS WAY LOOK AT THAT!
OUT IN SPACE. ULYSSES IS BUSY WHAT IS IT?
FLYING OVER THE SUN’S POLES,
GIOTTO AND ROSETTA VISITING
COMETS, AND THERE ARE OTHER
MISSIONS TO MERCURY, VENUS,
MARS, JUPITER AND SATURN!
CASSINI/HUYGENS IS A JOINT
IT’S ONE OF OUR PROJECT WITH NASA, THE AMERICAN
GREAT PROJECTS! SPACE AGENCY. IT TOOK OFF IN
OCTOBER 1997 AND FINALLY JUST
ARRIVED AT SATURN TO EXPLORE
THE BEAUTIFUL RINGED PLANET AND
ITS MOONS, PARTICULARLY TITAN.