2004-12-14 Focal Plane EODM review successful
A successful Test Readiness Review for the Electro-Optical Demonstrator Model (EODM) was held at EADS Astrium (Toulouse) in early December, paving the way for a series of tests to be carried out over the next few months. The EODM, containing 4 back-illuminated Gaia prototype CCDs, is designed to be electronically representative of a portion of the Gaia Astrometric focal plane. The planned testing will demonstrate the feasibility of driving a number of CCDs synchronously in the various Gaia astrometric TDI modes (ASM, AF normal, AF bright star). A custom test facility has been developed by EADS Astrium in order to operate the EODM at 165K in a vacuum chamber whilst providing a moving optical source. The optics are configured to provide a pattern of `stars', each having a Point Spread Function similar to that of the Gaia astrometric telescope. In addition to characterizing key parameters such as electronic noise and centroiding accuracy, CCD features such as TDI length selection and anti-blooming will be evaluated in the most flight representative configuration to-date.

2004-12-13 Engineering positions at GEPI/Observatoire de Paris
Two engineering positions have been created at GEPI/Observatoire de Paris for one year with a possibility of renewal for one or two years. The first position deals with the simulation of the spectrograph of the Gaia satellite and the implementation of data analysis algorithms. The second position concerns the data handling on-board the satellite. Further details (in French) are available on the GEPI/Observatoire de Paris Gaia web pages. Closing date for applications is 14 January 2005.

2004-11-17 GaiaGrid coordinates binary star simulations
A GASS simulation of Gaia telemetry, corresponding to five years of observations of 1000 astrometric binary stars, has been successfully completed using the GaiaGrid environment. 183 independent jobs were distributed through 23 computing nodes distributed in 8 institutes located in 5 countries. A total of 3.8 million CPU seconds were used for the tasks. 16.5 Gb of data were produced and have been used to populate the GDAAS database in order to test the Astrometric Binary Star Analysis shell algorithm. See Simulation of binary stars: a testbed for Grid computing for further details.

2004-11-11 Gaia postdoctoral position at Leiden Observatory
Leiden Observatory invites applications for a postdoctoral research position to work on the preparation of the photometric data analysis for ESA's Gaia mission. The study of the photometric data analysis will lead to the design and development of algorithms that will be used during the operational phase of the Gaia mission. The successful applicant will work with Dr. Anthony Brown and is expected to continue to collaborate in original research in related areas part-time. Further details are available on the Leiden Observatory web pages.

2004-10-20 Greek government award to ATHENOGAIA
A Greek programme, ATHENOGAIA, which will support the participation of a Greek team in various Gaia working groups has been awarded a grant of 250,000 Euro from the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology. This followed an open call for proposals aimed at encouraging Greek participation in European and International Programmes. The members of the team are D. Sinachopoulos (Double & Multiple Star Working Group), R. Korakitis (Photometry Working Group), M. Kontizas and E. Kontizas (Classification Working Group). The programme will be hosted by the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens.

2004-10-14 Gaia postdoctoral position at IoA, Cambridge
In the United Kingdom two posts have been created, for a period of three years, to start developing the data processing pipeline software for the photometric and radial velocity data from Gaia. The posts are financed through an eScience grant from PPARC, and are distributed over Cambridge (1.5) and Leicester (0.5). One post, at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, is currently advertised. This small group, including Floor van Leeuwen as coordinator and manager, is intended to become the core of a much larger UK effort to provide actual data processing software for some of the core tasks of the Gaia satellite.

2004-10-07 Symposium closes on a positive note
The Gaia Symposium closed with the Concluding Remarks: Gaia and astrophysics in 2015-20 delivered by Tim de Zeeuw (Leiden Observatory). Reviewing the scientific missions planned for the forthcoming decade and considering the major questions to be addressed by these projects de Zeeuw concluded that the science case for Gaia remains very broad and strong as long as the scientific specifications for the mission are maintained. De Zeeuw also noted that tremendous progress had been made in the past four years, much of this effort being funded locally. A short report on the Symposium is also available online.

2004-10-04 Gaia Symposium opens at Observatoire de Paris
"The Three Dimensional Universe with Gaia", a symposium dedicated to ESA's Gaia mission, opens today at the Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon. The Opening Address is given by Jean Kovalevsky. Programme details can be found on the symposium web site.

2004-09-16 First industrial presentations of Gaia Definition Study
The mid-term presentations of the definition phase for Gaia were held on 14-15 September at ESTEC (see News Item 2004-03-03). Two industrial teams, Alenia/Alcatel and EADS-Astrium, separately presented the current status of their detailed studies into all aspects of the Gaia satellite. These presentations were attended by Gaia's newly appointed Project Manager (Rudi Schmidt), the Gaia Project Scientist, other ESA representatives, and members of the Gaia Science Team. These definition studies will run until mid-2005.

2004-09-09 The billion-pixel camera
[From the ESA Space Science web site]
"ESA’s 'discovery machine' Gaia is designed to photograph one thousand million stars and hundreds of thousands of other celestial objects, so its camera will have to be something truly special." Read the article.

2004-08-18 NWO grant awarded for Gaia photometric analysis study
Recognising the challenge posed by the Gaia data analysis, the Netherlands organisation for scientific research (NWO) has awarded a grant of 364,000 Euro in support of preparations for Gaia photometric data analysis. The award will fund a study, led by Anthony Brown (Leiden University), to advance the plans for the analysis of the photometric data from the Gaia satellite. In addition, and in collaboration with DutchSpace (a company with experience in the application of grid technology to large-scale problems), the study will explore how grid technology can be applied to a realistic, large and complex astronomical investigation, such as that posed by the photometric analysis.

2004-08-09 Final programme for Gaia Symposium online
The programme of presentations for the Gaia Symposium, to be held at the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon from 4-7 October, has been finalised. The programme is now available online on the Symposium web site.

2004-06-17 FPA and CCD demonstrators - critical design review successful
Under contract to ESA, EADS Astrium (Toulouse) are designing, building and testing two engineering models of the Gaia Astrometric focal plane. The Thermal Mechanical Demonstrator Model (TMDM) is a mock-up of the focal plane structure which will be used for integration and alignment verification, and thermal vacuum testing. The Electro-Optical Demonstrator Model (EODM) is designed to be electronically representative of the flight focal plane. It contains 4 fully-functional CCDs and will be used to assess their performance under nominal operating conditions in the various Gaia TDI modes and for a variety of simulated star magnitudes. The Critical Design Review (CDR) marks the end of the design phase for both of these demonstrator units. Astrium now have formal approval of their designs from ESA and will proceed to integrate the focal plane demonstrators.

2004-05-27 ICAP-VS-SA meeting presentations
The classification, variable star, and science alerts working groups held a joint meeting in Cambridge on 15-16 April 2004. The presentations given at the meeting are available on the Meetings page of the Variable Star Working Group www site and show the current activities, the inter-relationship of the groups, and future plans. Decisions on the algorithms to be implemented in the GDAAS2 data analysis prototype will be made soon.

2004-05-24 Gaia photometric filters enter final design phase
The Photometry Working Group has circulated three documents of relevance to the choice of the photometric system design for Gaia, which will be finalised over the next few months: (a) procedures for the photometric system recommendation (Anthony Brown et al, 11 May, PWG-AB-003); (b) scientific targets for the photometric system design (Carme Jordi et al, 14 May, UB-PWG-009); (c) quantification of the target priorities (Carme Jordi et al, 14 May, UB-PWG-015). With the selection of the photometric filters for Gaia now entering the final design phase, all interested parties are invited to provide their comments to the document authors in the coming weeks, to assist convergence of this important activity. Documents are available on Livelink, or from the authors.

2004-05-17 Gaia M1 demonstrator successfully sintered
The demonstrator model for the Gaia primary mirror (M1) has been successfully sintered at Boostec facilities, France. The Gaia Large Size SiC Mirror study, led by EADS Astrium, aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the current M1 design by building and testing a replica of the mirror. The study is expected to be completed by mid-2005. (See Picture of the Week, 2004-05-17)

2004-03-31 Final presentation of the RVS instrument study
The first phase of the RVS instrument design has come to an end with the final presentation of the work performed to date by the RVS Consortium. This scientific consortium comprising Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Brunel University, University of Leicester, Osservatorio di Asiago, and University of Ljubljana, and led by Professor Mark Cropper (MSSL), worked with ESA and the industrial System Level Technical Assistance contractors under the direction of ESA Study Manager Oscar Pace. The consortium has refined all aspects of the instrument design (optics, detector, mechanical, thermal, and on-board processing) providing a baseline design for Gaia's radial velocity spectrograph. This will be refined further during the Definition Study phase, extending to mid-2005.

2004-03-03 Gaia proceeds to Phase B1
On 2-3 March, separate presentations were made by Alcatel/Alenia and EADS-Astrium to ESA representatives (from the Gaia project and outside) and the Gaia Science Team. Extensive presentations summarised the activities which have been carried out under the parallel System Level Technical Assistance Contracts which have been running with these industrial teams for the past two years. As a result, authorisation has been given for Gaia to enter Phase B1, the detailed definition phase, which is expected to start in April 2004, and which will extend for 1 year. Gaia therefore continues to remain on schedule for a launch in 2010.

2004-02-23 Gaia in 2003 - status report now available
Gaia in 2003, a status report prepared by the Gaia Project Scientist, summarises the status of the Gaia project at the end of 2003, describes the progress achieved in 2003, and summarises the major ongoing and planned activities. Gaia in 2003 is now available here (pdf format).

2004-02-04 "High Stability Optical Bench" study completed
The final presentation of the Gaia technology "High Stability Optical Bench" contract took place in ESTEC on 3 February. This successfully concluded a two-year study of the basic angle monitoring device (see Picture of the Week, 2003-11-10). The contract has proved the principles and processes using a laboratory prototype of a device which should ultimately have a 1 microarcsec monitoring capability in orbit. The prototype demonstrated the mounting, alignment, and thermal/vibrational stability of the prototype system manufactured from silicon carbide. The contract was undertaken by EADS-Astrium Toulouse, supported by TNO-TPD Delft for the laboratory set-up, and Boostec for the silicon carbide structure and mirrors (see Picture of the Week, 2003-07-07).

2004-02-04 "Ground Verification" study completed
The final presentation of the Gaia technology "Ground Verification" contract took place in ESTEC on 3 February. Along with the final report to be issued shortly, this successfully and satisfactorily brings to an end a one-year industrial study by EADS-Astrium. It studied the objectives and requirements of the ground verification activities which need to be undertaken before launch, including measurement of the optical behaviour at the operational temperature. This is an essential exercise in concluding whether the stringent payload goals can be guaranteed in orbit, and identifying the associated costs and facilities needed. Central to the plans are the projected use of the Focal thermal vacuum facility in Liege, Belgium.

2004-02-02 Gaia "stages" at l'Observatoire de Paris Meudon
Three stage positions (temporary training positions) are on offer at l'Observatoire de Paris Meudon. They cover (1) data-reduction of photocentric binary stars, (2) cosmic ray rejection and galaxy detection, and (3) treatment of resolved multiples stars. For further information see the original French text, or the English translation.

2004-01-27 Gaia at the Model United Nations
An audience of about 800 young adults took time out from debating the hot issues of the day at The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) to enjoy a presentation by Gaia Project Scientist Michael Perryman on "Our Galaxy in 3D". The presentation, to delegates at the Special Conference on The Information Society and The Environment, featured three- dimensional images and movies of the sky generated using Hipparcos data. A lively question and answer session followed the fifty minute talk. See also the news item on the ESA Education web site.

2004-01-26 "Science First Look" study starts at Heidelberg
A small team at Astronomische Rechen-Institut (ARI), Heidelberg, is starting work on a 12-month study investigating the feasibility of using basic science data obtained by the instruments on Gaia as a high-precision indicator of the health of the satellite. This "Science First Look" could provide the possibility of quickly identifying sub-optimal performance in the satellite and of the early correction of mission- critical problems.
More information about the study can be found on the "Gaia at ARI" web site.

2003-12-22 Membership of Working Groups updated
The list of members of the Gaia Working Groups has been updated to include new members and updates to members' details according to information provided during the past year. The updated lists can be consulted online (see the documents linked from the end of the Gaia Working Groups page.)

2003-11-17 Testing the high stability optics prototype
A prototype 'basic angle monitoring system' designed and constructed in a collaboration between EADS Astrium (Toulouse) and TNO TPD (Delft) will be subjected to a series of tests over the coming weeks. The tests are designed to verify that the system can be aligned with the required accuracy, that it can withstand the launch loads without damage or misalignment, and that it provides the thermal stability required for the in-orbit monitoring. For more on the tests see Picture of the week featuring the high stability optics prototype.

2003-11-07 ESA's SPC endorses SSAC recommendations
The Science Programme Committee yesterday endorsed the reconstruction of ESA's science programme as recommended by the Space Science Advisory Committee in October. The reconstructed programme maintains the Gaia mission according to the current development schedule, i.e. with a launch date not later than 2012. (See also ESA Press Release: Critical decisions on Cosmic Vision.)

2003-11-04 NASA announces new SMEX candidates
NASA has announced a shortlist of five missions to go forward for the next selection phase for Small Explorer (SMEX) missions. The astrometry mission AMEX, which merged the US FAME and German DIVA initiatives, was not included in this shortlist. ESA's Gaia (a global astrometry mission planned for launch in 2010) and NASA's SIM (a pointed astrometry mission scheduled to launch in 2009) are now the only space astrometry missions planned for the foreseeable future. (For more details on the SMEX selections see the NASA Press Release.)

2003-10-16 Gaia's GDAAS presented at the ADASS conference
Xavier Luri, Universitat de Barcelona & Gaia Science Team, discussed the challenges of the data processing and analysis tasks to be faced by Gaia at the 2003 Astronomical Data Analysis Software & Systems XIII conference. Recent results from the Gaia Data Access and Analysis System Study which is currently underway were presented. Among the highlights of this were the successful processing for a 6-month Global Iterative Solution for (simulated) Gaia observations.

2003-10-09 Presentations to the ESA advisory committees
The ESA advisory committees met in ESTEC (6-7 October) to review the status of ESA's planned scientific missions. The status of Gaia, as well as other future missions, was presented to a joint meeting of the Astronomy Working Group, Solar System Working Group, Fundamental Physics Advisory Group, and Space Science Advisory Committee.

2003-09-29 First e2v CCDs for Gaia
The first batch of CCD wafers for Gaia's Astro (AF) instrument has recently been completed at the UK headquarters of e2v technologies in Chelmsford. The CCD91-72s represent one of the largest area CCDs produced by e2v. They are nearly 50% bigger than e2v's successful astronomy products used worldwide in ground-based telescopes. The Gaia device is designed to work in TDI (Time Delay and Integrate) mode. This allows an integrated image to be built up by the continuously scanning satellite, an essential concept at the heart of Gaia's mission to map with unprecedented accuracy the space position and motions of over a billion stars.
[See the Picture of the week featuring e2v CCDs.]

2003-09-15 Results from Gaia's planet detection tests
Members of the Planetary Systems Working Group have reported the first results of their tests of Gaia's exoplanet detection capabilities, using simulated data matching the results expected from the real mission. In a detailed `double blind test', data simulated by Torino Observatory astronomers Mario Lattanzi and colleagues was processed independently by Alessandro Sozzetti (Pittsburgh/CfA), and Dimitri Pourbaix and Sylvie Jancart (Bruxelles). The detection and orbit fitting solutions are in line with the formal predictions, and underline Gaia's capability of detecting many thousands of exoplanets from their astrometric wobble.
[See the report on the Planetary Systems Working Group web site]

2003-08-25 Scientific teams deliver new algorithms to GDAAS
Twelve new analysis algorithms, better reflecting the actual complexity of the Gaia processing system, were delivered to GDAAS in July for integration into the next major upgrade of the analysis prototype. Led by GMV (Madrid) and supported by the University of Barcelona, the Gaia Data Access and Analysis Study (GDAAS) is laying the foundations of a possible data analysis system for the Gaia mission. These new algorithms will allow better estimates of the true processing requirements for Gaia following launch in 2010.

2003-04-08 e2v sensors form the largest focal plane CCD mosaic in the world
[From e2v]
Custom-built CCDs, designed and manufactured by Essex-based e2v technologies, have recently captured their first images through Megacam, the wide field camera mounted on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). The forty (40) e2v CCD42-90s represent the largest set of CCDs ever provided for any telescope in the world. e2v is working with the European Space Agency to develop and supply several hundreds of large format CCDs for Gaia.
[Read the e2v press release]

2003-03-06 Invitation to Tender issued for inch-worm mechanism
The European Space Agency today issued an Invitation to Tender for an inch-worm mechanism. The activity proposed covers the specification and design refinement of the actuator and demonstrator development and test of the mechanism. Inch-worm mechanisms are attractive candidates for the Gaia quasi-static  correction mechanism.
Further details of the ITT (AO4375) are available on EMITS

2003-03-04 ESA issues Invitation to Tender for mN FEEP full qualification
The Gaia reaction control design assumes, among other things a continuous thrust of mN FEEPs to control the satellite scanning law and attitude for a mission lifetime of 5 years, extendible to 6. No mN FEEPs have been qualified and characterised for up to 6 years.This ITT is to assess criticality of mN range FEEP based RCS requirements and constraints for Gaia, to build a demonstration model and to carry out a qualification and characterisation programme of the model according to Gaia needs.
Further details of the ITT (AO4134) are available on EMITS.

2002-12-03 When more data can mean more fun
[From ESA Science]
Tomorrow's spacecraft will be capable of generating more data than they can transmit to Earth. In some cases, this could be more data than can even be comfortably handled by today's computational methods. What benefits are there for us in this flood of data? [ Read the article]

2002-09-11 ESA to look for the missing link in gravity
[From ESA Science]
Although you can never be certain of predicting future developments in science, there is a good chance of a fundamental breakthrough in physics soon. With a series of unique experiments and missions designed to test our understanding of gravity, the European Space Agency (ESA) hopes to get to the very bottom of it. Scientists will study space phenomena that do not seem to conform to our perceived understanding of gravity. In this way, they hope to develop a greater comprehension of the Universe. [Read the article]

2002-06-18 ESA paves the way for an avalanche of new extrasolar planet discoveries
[From ESA Science]
An interview with Didier Queloz, one of the world's most successful planet hunters. [Read the article]

2002-05-29 Gaia Data Analysis Feasibility Study Completed
A major two-year study into the feasibility of the data processing for Gaia has been successfully completed, and the final presentation made today at ESTEC. A team, led by software industrial group GMV (Madrid),and supported by teams from the University of Barcelona and the Supercomputing Centre of Catalunya, has been responsible for the study. It provides a foundation for the further development of the Gaia data processing.

2002-05-27 Cosmic Vision 2020': the new ESA Science Programme
[ESA Press Release No.36-2002]
Following the outcome of Council of Ministers in Edinburgh in November 2001, the Director of Science undertook a complete reassessment of the ESA Science Programme. This was done in close collaboration with the science community, represented by the Space Science Advisory Committee, industry and Member States delegations. The results of this exercise were presented as a proposal to the 99th meeting of the Science Programme Committee of the European Space Agency held in Andenes (Norway) on 22-23 May. Whilst noting the withdrawal by the Executive, during the meeting itself, of the Venus Express mission, the Science Programme Committee strongly endorsed the plan proposed by the Executive and encouraged it to proceed vigorously with its implementation. [Read the article]

2002-05-22/23 Gaia Confirmed by ESA's Science Programme Committee
The detailed review of the ESA science programme (see 5 December 2001) has been completed, with confirmation of Gaia within ESA's long-term science programme 'Cosmic Vision 2020', and with a launch date not later than 2012. For planning and technology development purposes, a launch date of mid-2010 has been adopted by ESA

2002-04-23 Completion of Re-Assessment Study
A revised design of Gaia has been finalised. ESA, industry (Astrium-F), and the Gaia science team, have successfully established a more compact design which can fit into a Soyuz launch vehicle, with corresponding cost savings, whilst fully preserving the scientific goals originally set out for the mission.

2002-04-12 European Space Agency to probe asteroid blind spot
[From ESA Science]
In the past five weeks two asteroids have passed close by Earth, at distances of 1.2 and 3 times the distance to the Moon. Another asteroid has recently been shown to have a 1 in 300 chance of colliding with Earth in 2880. Monitoring known asteroids allows astronomers to predict which may collide with Earth. But that is only true for the asteroids we know of. What about those that lie in the asteroid blind spot between the Sun and Earth? The European Space Agency is studying ways in which its missions can assist in monitoring these unseen but potentially hazardous asteroids.[Read the article]

2001-12-05 Gaia Technical Activities remain on hold
The Industrial Policy Committee has confirmed that the industrial system study foreseen for Gaia may not start (see details under 21 May 2001). The technical development of Gaia therefore remains on hold.

2001-12-05 Science Programme Committee will Review ESA Science Programme
In view of the future funding of the ESA science programme resulting from the Ministerial meeting in November, the SPC will undertake a complete review of the programme, using the ESA scientific advisory structure. A mid-term review will be held in February 2002, with a revised programme to be approved in June 2002. The future of Gaia, approved as Cornerstone 6 in October 2000, is accordingly uncertain.

2001-10-4/5 First Meeting of the Gaia Science Team
The Gaia Science Team, established after mission selection, met for the first time in ESTEC.

2001-06-27/28 Scientific Organisation Meeting in ESTEC
A meeting of about 100 European scientists interested in participating in the preparations for the Gaia mission met at ESTEC, Noordwijk, NL, to discuss the organisation and planning of the scientific aspects of the mission.

2001-06-27 European experts gather to prepare for Gaia
[From ESA Science]
About 100 European scientists are gathering in ESTEC over the next two days to consider plans for the scientific organisation of Gaia - ESA's ambitious mission to help unravel the origin and evolution of our Galaxy. Experts in general relativity, extra-solar planets, and a whole host of other relevant disciplines are coming together to pool their knowledge about how Gaia can best be organised. [Read the article]

2001-06-18 ESA scientist gives Goddard's 36th annual John C. Lindsay Memorial Lecture
[From ESA Science]
The 36th annual "John C. Lindsay Memorial Lecture" was delivered by ESA scientist Michael Perryman at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, USA. The lecture, on the "Three Dimensional Structure of our Galaxy", was based on the results from ESA's Hipparcos mission. [Read the article]

2001-05-21 Gaia Technical Activities Put On Hold
The Industrial Policy Committee (IPC) has not authorised the start of the industrial system study foreseen for Gaia. The technical development of Gaia is on-hold until further notice.

2001-05-14 Gaia - a gift to the next generation of astronomers
[From ESA Science]
Dozens of young scientists from all over Europe have gathered this week at Les Houches in Savoie, France, for intensive briefings on ESA's next star-mapping satellite, Gaia. As the successor to the very successful Hipparcos space astrometry project, Gaia was approved last year as an ESA Cornerstone mission to be launched around 2012. Engaging the interest and participation of the next generation of astronomers will be vital for the project's success. [Read the article]

2001-05-13 to 2001-05-18 Les Houches Summer School on Gaia
About 80 scientists, including young researchers new to the field of space astrometry, attended a Summer School at Les Houches, France. Senior European scientists presented lectures on many aspects of the Gaia mission and its expected scientific results. The objective of the School was to interest a new generation of astronomers in the mission. Proceedings (eds Olivier Bienayme & Catherine Turon) will be available early in 2002.

2000-10-13 Cornerstone 6 Selection
The ESA Director of Science, Professor Roger Bonnet, today announced that the Gaia mission has been selected to be Cornerstone 6 of the ESA Science Programme. Further details are available on the ESA Science Page.

2000-09-18 Report of the British "Near Earth Objects Task Force" published.
Among the recommendations put forward by the Task Force is that the British government " draw the attention of the European Space Agency to the particular role that Gaia, one of its future missions, could play in surveying the sky for Near Earth Objects. The Executive Summary of the report is available online.

2000-09-15 The Space Science Advisory Committee of ESA recommends to the Science Programme Committee that Gaia be selected as Cornerstone 6.
More information is available on the ESA Science Web Site.