Andrew Yee[_1_]
April 17th 08, 08:34 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
9 April 2008
Prince Willem Alexander opens new ESTEC labs
Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander yesterday officially opened the new
laboratory building at ESA's space research and technology centre, ESTEC, in
Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The Prince and other guests were impressed with
the state-of-the-art facilities, including the Propulsion Lab and the
Concurrent Design Facility.
In the presence of 150 dignitaries from all ESA Member States, Prince Willem
Alexander launched an Ariane rocket constructed from balloons in 'the mall',
the gallery which links together all the laboratories and their associated
offices. Earlier Dutch minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoeven and
ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain spoke about the importance of
ESTEC for the Netherlands, for Europe and for European success in space.
European cooperation
Exactly forty years ago the Prince's mother, then Her Royal Highness
Princess Beatrix, officially opened ESA's technical centre in Noordwijk. At
that time, the opening was testimony to the faith put in the spaceflight
pioneers of the 1960s and in European cooperation on an international space
stage. This faith has been rewarded: ESTEC has since played a leading role
in eighty successful spaceflight projects.
"ESTEC has to keep developing," said Michel Courtois, Director of ESTEC,
"These laboratories are a drastic improvement compared to the old ones.
Engineers and scientists from all over Europe come together here to work on
the design of space missions and new technologies. Now they can do so using
the newest techniques and methods."
Minister Van der Hoeven also praised the new facilities: "You can see
immediately the added value of the CDF. To work here means you broaden your
horizons, all the different disciplines come together to develop new
technologies. If Europe wants to remain at the forefront of developments in
space, then we have to look to the future. That is exactly what is happening
here at ESTEC."
21st century
It has taken five years to design and build the new laboratories. The
scientists and engineers were involved right from the start to ensure the
building design is as functional as possible.
The result is an efficient, but also inspiring workplace, said Head of Site
Management Paul Cannock: "Besides the highest level of health and safety
standards, the building also has a big 'wow' factor, especially in the
colourful central gallery, the mall. It is quite unlike our older buildings.
With this new building ESTEC has really arrived in the 21st century."
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMHVE3XQEF_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
9 April 2008
Prince Willem Alexander opens new ESTEC labs
Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander yesterday officially opened the new
laboratory building at ESA's space research and technology centre, ESTEC, in
Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The Prince and other guests were impressed with
the state-of-the-art facilities, including the Propulsion Lab and the
Concurrent Design Facility.
In the presence of 150 dignitaries from all ESA Member States, Prince Willem
Alexander launched an Ariane rocket constructed from balloons in 'the mall',
the gallery which links together all the laboratories and their associated
offices. Earlier Dutch minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoeven and
ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain spoke about the importance of
ESTEC for the Netherlands, for Europe and for European success in space.
European cooperation
Exactly forty years ago the Prince's mother, then Her Royal Highness
Princess Beatrix, officially opened ESA's technical centre in Noordwijk. At
that time, the opening was testimony to the faith put in the spaceflight
pioneers of the 1960s and in European cooperation on an international space
stage. This faith has been rewarded: ESTEC has since played a leading role
in eighty successful spaceflight projects.
"ESTEC has to keep developing," said Michel Courtois, Director of ESTEC,
"These laboratories are a drastic improvement compared to the old ones.
Engineers and scientists from all over Europe come together here to work on
the design of space missions and new technologies. Now they can do so using
the newest techniques and methods."
Minister Van der Hoeven also praised the new facilities: "You can see
immediately the added value of the CDF. To work here means you broaden your
horizons, all the different disciplines come together to develop new
technologies. If Europe wants to remain at the forefront of developments in
space, then we have to look to the future. That is exactly what is happening
here at ESTEC."
21st century
It has taken five years to design and build the new laboratories. The
scientists and engineers were involved right from the start to ensure the
building design is as functional as possible.
The result is an efficient, but also inspiring workplace, said Head of Site
Management Paul Cannock: "Besides the highest level of health and safety
standards, the building also has a big 'wow' factor, especially in the
colourful central gallery, the mall. It is quite unlike our older buildings.
With this new building ESTEC has really arrived in the 21st century."
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMHVE3XQEF_index_1.html ]