ESA Science & Technology - Presentation Meeting 2013 - L2 and L3 science themes

Announcement and registration

Science Themes for the L2 and L3 missions

Presentation meeting
3-4 September 2013

Institut Océanographique de Paris
195 rue Saint-Jacques
75005 Paris, France

http://sci.esa.int/Lmissions2013

Before the end of the year, the science themes to be explored by ESA's next two Large (L-class) missions will be decided. In September, an open meeting in Paris will hear from the scientists who proposed the new themes, as the next phase of ESA's Science Programme begins to be mapped out. All interested parties are invited to attend. This two-day presentation is part of the process that will lead to the selection of the science themes and associated questions for the L2 and L3 missions, expected to launch in 2028 and 2034 respectively.

The selection process began in March with a Call for White Papers issued to the broad scientific community, asking for proposals for science themes for the two L-class missions.

The Call sought White Papers which would propose the science questions to be addressed by a new L-class mission. The community was also invited to suggest a strawman mission concept (one which is incomplete but contains the main ideas for a mission), or suggest elements of missions, such as how to obtain certain measurements that might help in answering a key science question. White Papers could also be used to suggest observatory-type missions and survey-type missions.

More than 30 White Papers were received in response to the Call, covering a broad range of topics in space science. There were suggestions drawn from astronomy, heliophysics, planetary science, and fundamental physics.

Spokespersons from a broad choice of the received White Papers have been invited to introduce and advocate their proposed science themes, at the meeting in Paris, France.

The workshop will also be attended by the members of a Senior Survey Committee (SSC), composed of internationally recognized scientists whose expertise spans a broad domain. This committee has been appointed by the Director of Science and Robotic Exploration to advise him on the definition of the science themes and questions to be addressed by the L2 and L3 missions. The SSC will meet with, and exchange views with, the Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC). The SSC may seek further clarifications from the White Papers spokespersons and is also free to seek additional views on the science questions proposed by consulting with additional members of the scientific community.

In October 2013, the SSC is expected to recommend the two science themes that should be addressed by the L2 and the L3 launch opportunities. Based on the SSC recommendation the Director of Science and Robotic Exploration will make a proposal to the Science Programme Committee (SPC).

The selection of science themes for the L2 and L3 missions will be made by the SPC in mid-November. The issue of the Call for the L2 mission is anticipated during 2014, while the Call for the L3 mission is expected to be issued around the end of the decade.

Meeting details
The meeting will be held 3-4 September 2013, starting at 9:00 on 3 September and ending at 16:30 on 4 September. There will be a reception for participants at the end of the first day. Practical details are available at the links in the right-hand menu.

Interested parties from the scientific community, industry, national funding agencies, and international partners are invited to attend this event. If you wish to attend this event, you must register in advance because of the limited capacity of the venue. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.

Meeting Registration
Registration is mandatory to attend the event and must be performed through this on-line registration form (opens in new window):
 

Information for NON-attendees
If you will NOT attend the presentation meeting, but would like to receive information after the meeting, please use the dedicated information request form to be added to our distribution list (opens in new window):
 

Note: If you have successfully registered and will attend the meeting you do not need to subscribe to this distribution list.

Contact
Olga Garcés
Director's Office
Directorate of Science and Robotic Exploration
European Space Agency
email: Olga.Garcesesa.int
 

Preliminary Programme

Venue and travel

The L2/L3 science themes presentation meeting will be held in Paris at:

Institut Océanographique de Paris
195 rue Saint-Jacques
75005 Paris, France

The institute is located close to the "Jardin du Luxembourg" and the Panthéon, at the corner of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue Gay-Lussac.

A three-page information brochure [PDF] with the institute's details can be downloaded by clicking on the image to the right.

Local transport
The Institut Océanographique de Paris can be reached:

• by RER (Réseau Express Regional)
  

  Ligne B:

  stop at Luxembourg

• by bus
  

  21 or 27:	bus stop Gay-Lussac/Saint-Jacques
  38, 82 or 85:	bus stop Luxembourg
  84 or 89:	bus stop Panthéon-Soufflot

Travel and hotel reservations
Please note that participants will have to take care of their own travel and hotel reservations. If you need assistance for hotel reservations, you can contact the ESA travel agent:

ESAHQ Travel office
BCD Travel
8-10 rue Mario Nikis 75015 Paris, France
Tel. +33 1 53 69 80 30 / Fax +33 1 44 49 05 31
E-mail: esahq.travel.officeesa.int