First European conference on industrial and commercial utilisation of the International Space Station ISS

From 5 to 7 June 2001, the “ISS Forum 2001” will bring together all international partners in the ISS to present the complete spectrum of industrial use of the ISS, including how to book space on the ISS and how much this will cost. The event is to be held at the Estrel Convention Centre in Berlin. Fifteen countries, including ten European nations, are involved in constructing, operating and exploiting the ISS.

ISS Forum 2001 will inform potential users about management and engineering aspects of the ISS programme; it is aimed at companies that have an interest in exploiting the R&D environment offered by this space-borne ‘technology incubator’. What is at stake is the competitive edge to be gained by incorporating its unique possibilities in corporate R&D programmes.

Among the media highlights of the event is a live link to the current, second ISS crew. The first permanent crew of the ISS will be present in Berlin to report on their work on board the station.

The ESA TV Service will cover this joint ESA/DLR event extensively, as follows:

-> A 5-minute pre-event footage package will be transmitted on Wednesday, 30 May 2001, inside the second 30-minute EbS news feed of that day:

30 May 2001

8:30-9:00 GMT

Eutelsat Hot Bird at 13* East (DVB/MPEG-2)

Horizontal, F=12,476 MHz (MCPC, Europe by Satellite)

SR=27,500 MS/sec, FEC=3/4

-> A multi-camera recording of the opening session on Tuesday 5 June 2001 with Germany’s research minister Edelgard Bulmahn and her French counterpart Roger-Gerard Schwartzenberg will be broadcast live for free re-use by broadcasters:

5 June 2001

12:00-13:30 GMT and 14:00-16:00 GMT

Eutelsat W1 at 10 degrees east, transponder B5, horizontal

F=11.144 MHz, 5.632 MS/sec, FEC 3/4

-> A 7-minute highlight edit of the conference venue, VIP arrival and the first part of the opening session will be transmitted in time for evening news:

5 June 2001

13:45-13:55 GMT

Eutelsat W1 at 10 degrees east, transponder B5, horizontal

F=11.144 MHz, 5.632 MS/sec, FEC 3/4

-> The live link to the ISS, during which the first ISS crew and ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter will talk to the crew currently in orbit, is scheduled for 6 June, and a separate mailing will be made when the time of this transmission is known.

For more information and, see the conference home page:

www.spaceflight.esa.int/ISSForum2001/ or contact:

Clare Mattok, ESA, Tel. : +33 1.5369.7412, Fax: +33 1.5369.7690

Vanadis Weber, DLR, Tel: +49 2203.601-3068, Fax: + 49 2203.601.3249

As of 4 June: ISS Forum 2001 press centre, Tel: +49 30 6831 45134

For further information and a daily update of the transmission schedule, visit our website at http://television.esa.int. For all enquires, contact Claus Habfast, Tel +31 71 565 3838, Fax +31 71 565 6340, e-mail chabfast@hq.esa.fr.