FLUG REVUE November 2005: VIP-Intervie Evert Dudok

November 2005

VIP interview

EVERT DUDOK

President, EADS Space Transportation

FLUG REVUE: In your opinion what role does the International Space Station play as regards collaboration between the space nations?

Evert Dudok: Both for political and economic reasons, the ISS is extremely important for collaboration between the participating nations, and its successful operation now depends on the safe operation of the shuttles. Here we have fallen into a position of dependency which is regrettable, but which changes nothing in the situation. On the other hand, we are happy that the Americans are doing their utmost to get the shuttles flying safely again, because that will make it possible for Columbus and the payloads earmarked for it to start operating. In Friedrichshafen alone some very interesting experiments have been devised, and for that reason we are extremely interested in this project.

FLUG REVUE: What would happen if Columbus never became operational?

Evert Dudok: Then the financing of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) has to be discussed again. It is financed by Europe and effectively being built in return for operation of Columbus in the inventory of the ISS. But ATV is an extremely interesting project for which we have developed a whole range of technologies, not just for the vehicle itself, but also for its operation through to rendezvous and docking. Because there are humans on board the ISS, the safety issue is extremely important, and for us proving that we have mastered these technologies is also important.

FLUG REVUE: To that end, your development engineers have built up enormous competence over the last few years. What happens now?

Evert Dudok: It is currently giving me some problems, as we need new projects for the future to retain our basic skills. The 2003 programme to save Ariane is at the expense of development funds. To keep it going, we need to stop development work. That is why we need more money from the member states. To put it bluntly, we need €50 million a year alone in Germany, and that is a lot of money. But if we suspend development in this innovative field, Europe's independence in space transport will come to an end in the foreseeable future.

FLUG REVUE: Why is it that Europe has to have its own space launch vehicle?

Evert Dudok: We are facing the phenomenon that there are currently a number of competing launch service providers with powerful platforms, yet I am convinced that if there were to be a politically or economically sensitive payload it would suddenly become extremely important to have a suitable launcher. For example, Galileo is a thorn in the side of the Americans, so why should they sell us rockets to launch Galileo satellites? In fact some years ago they imposed conditions on the launch of the European communications satellite Symphony which effectively gave rise to the birth of Ariane, and today we would suddenly have similar dependencies all over again. People forget that too easily, and that is why I want to warn against allowing our own capacities to wane again.

FLUG REVUE: Apart from the desire for financial security, what requests would you put to the new German Minister of Research and Development?

Evert Dudok: I would like the innovative value of spaceflight and the benefits of numerous space applications to receive the recognition in everyday life that is their due. For this reason we are currently running a campaign with the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) to draw the attention and create awareness of this among the public and especially among politicians. For years Germany has been plodding along on an equal level, the Italians are in the process of overtaking. There are numerous areas in which Germany still plays a pioneering role. Especially as regards manned spaceflight, we need a braver policy after the American model. Even Malaysia has decided to send its own astronaut to the moon who would fly as a true representative of the people. Wholly different emotions resonate there, but we are unable to summon them in Germany.

FLUG REVUE: Do none of the politicians have any vision then?

Evert Dudok: Today politicians are much too down-to-earth and are only interested in applications that will bring immediately measurable benefits. The enormous interest generated in the Huygens probe alone has shown that there is a lot of curiosity among the public. They want to know who we are, where we come from and where we are going. Such questions cannot be answered in three years when the economy happens to be doing well, but they require long-term research programmes. Moreover, we need clear signals from the politicians as to where the future lies after Ariane and the ISS. The process of jointly examining with ESA what alternatives there are for establishing what is feasible, so that we can then thoroughly prepare the ground for trend-setting decisions by the politicians, is expected to continue to 2008.

FLUG REVUE: That is primarily a matter of cost.

Evert Dudok: Exactly. I am therefore of the conviction that we as an industry have an obligation to provide. In a nutshell, what we promise we have to deliver – the best quality at the agreed time and price. We have to be a reliable and predictable partner of the politicians, but I believe that they on their part have an obligation to come to us with long-term plans. The ISS has proved that this is possible.

FLUG REVUE: Where do you see specific opportunities for European space policy and industry?

Evert Dudok: One area in which Europe, and specifically Germany, is the world leader is radio astronomy. Here we have launched the “Astronomy from the Moon” initiative to examine frequency ranges from the Moon which are unattainable from the Earth. This could turn into an independent, European scientific project and of course provide industry with work. But above all, in an area in which we are already the leaders we could still make a giant leap forward. Spaceflight as the means, not the end. With such an independent project, Germany and Holland could claim to be the leaders in something that goes with the US initiative but without us being dependent on the Americans. This would already have the character of a vision and would also be affordable. After all, where is the challenge if other people are flying to the Moon and we are only the fifth or sixth nation to decide to drill our own hole? We should aim for goals that no one else yet has their eye on.

Matthias Gründer was asking the questions.

From FLUG REVUE 11/2005

Last updated 12 October 2005

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