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Posted by on March 5, 2007, 12:11 pm
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http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9GNN0LYE_index_0.html
Huygens landing site to be named after Hubert Curien
European Space Agency
5 March 2007
ESA PR 13-2007. As of 14 March, an epic space mission and one of the
founding fathers of the European space endeavour will be forever
linked.
ESA, the international Committee for Space Research (COSPAR) and NASA
have decided to honour Professor Hubert Curien's contribution to
European space by naming the Huygens landing site on Saturn's largest
moon, Titan, after him.
The naming ceremony for the Huygens landing site, which will be known
as
the "Hubert Curien Memorial Station", will be held at ESA's
Headquarters
on 14 March, in the presence of ESA Council delegates and of Professor
Curien's wife, Mrs Perrine Curien, and one of their sons. Media
interested in attending are invited to submit the reply form below.
Huygens' landing on Saturn's largest moon in January 2005 represented
one of the greatest successes achieved by humankind in the history of
space exploration. The part played by ESA, in cooperation with NASA
and
the Italian Space Agency (ASI), was made possible thanks to the
commitment of a man who, for several decades, worked to promote and
strengthen the role of scientific research in his home country -
France
- and in Europe. Among his numerous responsibilities, Hubert Curien
was
French Minister of Research and Space under four Prime Ministers.
As Chairman of the ESA Council from 1981 to 1984, Professor Curien
played a crucial part in setting up ESA's former long-term science
programme, "Horizon 2000", which included the Huygens mission among
its
projects.
Professor Roger Bonnet, current President of COSPAR, and former ESA
Director of Science (1983-2001), commented: "Curien's diplomatic
skills
were hugely influential in bringing about the birth of European space
science. In 1985, his support was pivotal when the European ministers
had to decide how to build a solid space science programme and ensure
that it would be financially sustainable in the long term."
"ESA's present science programme, Cosmic Vision, draws on the heritage
left by Hubert Curien", said Professor David Southwood, ESA's current
Director of Science. "He encouraged cooperation between nations in the
belief that space research is fundamental to the progress and welfare
of
a knowledge-based society like ours. He also promoted the concept of
long-term planning", he continued. "It would seem almost inconceivable
today to initiate any space venture without such pillar concepts in
mind".
"The role played by Hubert Curien in creating a European space
dimension, with all its various facets, has been absolutely
essential",
said Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General. "Curien was one of
the
fathers of the Ariane Programme, which provided Europe with
independent
access to space, and one of those who, in the late seventies,
persuaded
other countries to join ESA by creating the 'fair return' system for
industrial contracts." Dordain continued, "This exceptional man of
vision was appreciated by all for his scientific competence and his
outstanding human, political and diplomatic abilities. It is therefore
a
true honour for us to pay tribute to his memory by linking his name
forever to this very significant place on the surface of an alien
world
that, also thanks to him, we were able to reach."
For more information:
Franco Bonacina
ESA Media Relations Office
Communication Department
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690
Note for editors
Short biography of Hubert Curien
Hubert Curien was born on 30 October 1924 in the Vosges region of
eastern France. While a student, he enlisted in the French resistance
and was commended for bravery in action. He entered the Ecole Normale
Superieure in Paris and went on to pursue a research career in
crystallography, joining the Sorbonne Mineralogy Laboratory. He was
always keen to encourage collaboration between mineralogists and
physicists. He was appointed lecturer at the University of Paris in
1949, obtained his PhD in 1951, and became professeur in 1956. From
1968
onwards, he continued with his teaching career at the 'Pierre et Marie
Curie/Paris VI' University, which he left only in 1994, despite all
his
political duties.
Aside from his scientific career, Hubert Curien is known mostly for
his
managerial and political responsibilities, pursued with commitment,
efficiency and vision both in France and in Europe. He left his mark
on
an impressive number of scientific institutions. From 1966 to 1969, he
was Scientific Director for Physics at the CNRS, France's scientific
research centre, becoming its Director General in 1969. In 1973, he
was
given responsibility for reorganising research in France. From 1976 to
1984, he was President of the French space agency (CNES), and from
1984
to1993, served as Minister of Research and Space under four different
governments.
show/hide quoted text
>From 1981 to 1984, he was Chairman of the ESA Council, and he is now
still remembered - among his many achievements - as one of the fathers
of the Ariane programme and as a promoter of a Europe united through
science. From 1994 to 1996, he also headed the European Organization
for
Nuclear Research (CERN), and in 1993, was elected to the French
Academy
of Science.
For his work, Hubert Curien received the highest distinctions and
awards. He was known for his great intelligence and managerial and
political abilities, but also for his simplicity, modesty, sense of
humour and willingness to listen to others. He died on 6 February
2005,
and is survived by his wife, Perrine, and their sons, Nicolas,
Christophe and Pierre-Louis.
Huygens highlights
The European-built Huygens probe was part of the Cassini-Huygens
mission
to Saturn - a joint endeavour of ESA, NASA and the Italian Space
Agency
(ASI). It is the most ambitious effort in planetary space exploration
ever mounted. Launched on 15 October 1997, Cassini (a sophisticated
robotic spacecraft designed to orbit the ringed planet and study the
Saturnian system in detail), bearing the Huygens probe, reached Saturn
on 1 July 2004. Cassini delivered Huygens to Saturn's largest moon,
Titan, on 14 January 2005. This was the first ever descent and landing
onto a celestial body in the outer Solar System, and it provided the
most spectacular view of Titan yet.
During its 2??-hour descent onto this alien world, Huygens performed a
series of measurements by means of its highly advanced suite of six
instruments. It detected information about Titan's atmosphere and
winds.
It also took remarkable pictures of the approaching surface, up to
touchdown, which took place in Titanian 'mud', where, amazingly, it
continued to take measurements for more than 3 hours.
Now, thanks to the Huygens measurements and also to the complementary,
global measurements made by Cassini, we actually know that Titan's
landscapes truly resemble those on Earth, with mountains, lakes,
shorelines and outflow channels, where methane plays a role similar to
that of water on Earth. By detecting Argon 40, Huygens also helped to
reveal that the interior of Titan is still active, as confirmed later
by
Cassini, which observed icy 'lava' flows emerging from 'cryo-
volcanoes'.
The Cassini-Huygens results so far tell us that Titan, once thought to
resemble an early, frozen Earth, in reality appears to be as complex
as
any of the terrestrial planets that have an atmosphere. Huygens has
exceeded expectations and shown Titan to be an 'alien earth', probably
more similar to our own planet than either Mars or Venus, and is
enabling planetary scientists to explore a new, fascinating world.
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