THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

EUROPEAN COOPERATION FOR SPACE STANDARDIZATION

ECSS Event: “Doing Business with the ECSS”

For several years, ESA has been working with its partner Agencies, Industry and the European Commission on the development of a system of processes and standards for space projects. This initiative is known as the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS). The system has now reached a worldwide recognition and a sufficient level of completeness and maturity to allow the transition from development to full implementation. Space agencies in Europe are committed to its application, and strong interest is showed by other agencies in the world.

In view of the implications of this transition to full implementation on the daily business of all actors of the European space sector, the ECSS Steering Board is organising a dialogue among all parties concerned in order to:

· Provide an opportunity for sharing experience

· Identify areas where the use of the ECSS can be improved

· Promote the ECSS by establishing a culture of trust and cooperation

· Consolidate the ECSS policy and implementation

· Shape future direction and application of ECSS

I have agreed to host an event at the ESA facilities at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands) on 5 and 6 April to provide a platform for such dialogue. Attendance of this event (“Doing Business with the ECSS”) is essential for all actors of the European space sector, and early registration is encouraged.

The Registration Form is available on the ECSS Website (www.ecss.nl), together with details of the programme and a questionnaire on use of the ECSS that we are asking all attendees to complete and return by mid March 2006.

The full adoption of the ECSS system of standards is a strategic issue for the European space sector and I would encourage you and your senior managers to attend this event personally.

Jean-Jacques Dordain