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From satellites to space tourism

An Institution of Engineering and Technology product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 18, 2008

The 2008 Kelvin Lecture presentation will give an overview of the logical link between Astrium's space activities and space tourism and present the corresponding craft.

The 99th IET Kelvin Lecture "From satellites to space tourism project" will be presented by Robert Laine of EADS Space on Thursday 13th March 2008 at Savoy Place, London, UK.

Flying in air then going into space to explore what is unreachable to most humans has been a long lasting dream of humanity.

The dream of flying is already available to everybody.

Space exploration started just 50 years ago with Gagarin, followed by the moon exploration and then regular orbital flight of astronauts to MIR and the International Space Station.

However the dream of going in orbit is not really accessible today to nonprofessional astronauts.

Following Space Ship1's flight to 100km altitude, market analysis has revealed that a significant part of the wealthy population is interested in the suborbital flight to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and the view of earth from space.

The Kelvin Lecture presentation will give an overview of the logical link between Astrium's space activities and space tourism and present the corresponding craft.

Robert Laine has recently been appointed Chief Technical Officer of EADS Space, a role in which he will develop synergies between the Satellites and Space Transportation branches as well as R and D strategy at EADS Space level.

He has therefore an essential role in preparing the company for the future.

Laine, a French national, has been in the space business since 1970.

He has held a variety of senior positions in technical and programme management within industry and at the European Space Agency (ESA), where he led scientific exploration programmes such as the Giotto comet probe and the XMM-Newton space telescope, and spaceflight projects, notably the ATV (automated transfer vehicle) programme for the European cargo vessel that will serve the ISS.

Recently, as head of ESA's Launcher Division, he has been a key player in the Ariane 5 return-to-flight programme.

Laine holds a degree in engineering from the Ecole Nationale Superieur d'Electricite Appliquee, Paris.

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