12.12.2018
CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall has set out a series of goals for future joint space programmes between France and China.
Following the successful launch of the Franco-Chinese CFOSat mission on 29th October, CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall has set out a series of goals for future joint space programmes between France and China. Le Gall was speaking at a preparatory meeting of the French-Chinese joint science and technology committee on 10th December.
The following are the key points of the action plan outlined by Le Gall:
• pursue the major joint SVOM astrophysics mission,
• identify a new Earth-observation mission focused on climate monitoring,
• establish a framework for exchanging greenhouse gas data,
• seek opportunities to work together on one of China’s planetary exploration missions,
• continue cooperation in the field of oceanography,
• pursue ongoing cooperation in space medicine,
• study future opportunities for cooperation in astrophysics,
• study the possibility of working together in materials science,
• develop collaboration in space with academia.
In 2017, the 11th meeting of the French-Chinese joint space committee identified climate change research and space exploration as the two priorities for space cooperation, leading to the signing of an agreement during the French President’s visit to China in January.
Le Gall also reviewed the initial results from the CFOSat mission, which aims to advance scientists' understanding of winds and waves at the surface of the oceans and to measure their impacts on climate change. The quality of initial CFOSat data was described as remarkable.
Quelle: Air&Cosmos