April 1, 2008

Call for proposals for Cosmic Vision M3: the French science community still present

Update: 12/20/2010 The second call for proposals within the frame of the ESA's Cosmic Vision programme received an enthusiastic response from the European community. After receiving about sixty letters of intent, 43 proposals were finally submitted to ESA (deadline for submission: December 3rd, 2010). Three to four of those proposals would be selected by ESA in late February 2011 to start the feasibility study which is to last between 18 and 24 months. Then, only one mission will be selected with targeted launch of around 2022-2023.
Galaxie
Galaxie

 

Among the 43 received proposals, 15 were technically supported by CNES for preparing.

Eleven in astrophysics:

  • CAPSiTT (APC)
  • COSPIX (APC),
  • DUAL-NG (CESR)
  • EChO (IAP)
  • FPP (IAP)
  • FRESNEL (LATT)
  • GRAVITAS (CESR)
  • NEAT (LAOG and IAS)
  • Phénix (CESR)
  • SPICES (LESIA)
  • WEIFS (CPPM)

 

Three in the solar system study

  • EVE (SA)
  • MARCO POLO (LESIA, OCA)
  • TROYENS (LAM)

One in fundamental physics

  • OSS

Those technical supports were coordinated by the CNES' PASO orbital systems architecture department in Toulouse, France. The CNES' scheduling and technical supports to the French science community allowed it to be the biggest community to answer the call for tenders M3 (key proponents on more than 1/3 of the proposals and co-proponents on many others).