ESA 'Cosmic Vision' Future Planning Options

[cndwrld]

ESA Cosmic Vision Request for Proposals

Briefing Meeting Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 Call for Proposals
12 Apr 2007

More than 60 Letters Of Intent were received in response to ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 Call for Proposals. Wednesday, 11 April 2007, a briefing meeting to the proposers took place at ESTEC in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The meeting comprised a number of presentations by ESA covering various aspects relative to the Call, followed by a session for questions from the proposers and for discussion.

The presentations of the briefing meeting are available in PDF format at:

http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/in...fobjectid=40902



This Call for proposals covers the first planning cycle of the new Cosmic Vision 2015-2025.

The Call will lead to the selection of one-medium sized mission (Class M mission) to enter the implementation phase in 2012, with a launch foreseen in the mid-2017 time-frame.

The Call also invites proposals for concepts of more ambitious missions of the flagship category (Class L mission concepts) that will require an extended preparation.

More info on Cosmic Vision can be found at:
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/in...fobjectid=40794

[Explorer1]

Hmm... that's not too long before the first Apophis Earth flyby. I've wondered whether it would be possible for a small craft to rendezvous and fly alongside before and during the encounter. Some have predicted that the tidal stresses caused by Earth's gravitational tug will cause significant effects like landslides. These would expose relatively fresh surface material, in addition to having a much better idea of material and orbital properties for any future deflection.
This is only a secondary payload on an exoplanet observatory going to L2 though; not sure the orbital mechanics would be compatible.