ELSA · European Leadership in Space Astrometry
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-10-01 → 2010-09-30
- EU contribution
- €2,790,493
- Participants
- 14
- Scheme
- RTN
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - ELSA (European Leadership in Space Astrometry)
The ELSA network has recruited 10 ESRs and 5 ERs to work on scientific preparations related to the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite Gaia, which is planned to be launched in 2012. Gaia will survey about one million stars and a few hundred thousand asteroids by measuring their positions, motions, distances, and spectra. Investigations undertaken by ELSA fellows concern both methods to derive the astronomical information (by processing the raw data transmitted from the satellite to the ground) and the subsequent astrophysical interpretation of the results. Many of the results obtained in the network have an important and direct impact on the development of data processing methods for Gaia, including improved algorithms to solve extremely large systems of equations and detailed physical modelling of the damage caused by cosmic radiation on the optical detectors in Gaia. Other results will help to maximise the scientific return from the Gaia data, for example though improved modelling of stellar properties and the distribution of stars in our galaxy.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
ELSA brings together world-leading expertise in space astrometry - the use of space platforms for mapping the three-dimensional structure of our Galaxy - with specialists on numerical algorithms and software engineering for the double purpose of (1) preparing for the scientific exploitation of data from the European Space Agency's astrometric mission Gaia, scheduled for launch in 2011, and (2) training the next generation of researchers in this uniquely European specialty to maintain and extend European leadership in space astrometry.Gaia will perform a stereoscopic census of our Galaxy by measuring accurate distances, motions and astrophysical data for a billion stars. The results will greatly affect nearly all areas of astrophysical research. The scientific management of the mission, including the complex data analysis, requires a mix of specialist skills in space astrometry, software engineering, numerical methods and instrument modelling. This combination is rarely found at a single institute and never in current PhD programmes. It exists however on the European level thanks to the ongoing preparation effort for Gaia and past experience from Hipparcos (launched by ESA, 1989).The RTN will enhance collaboration between key institutes in the field and transmit the expertise acquired to the next generation of researchers. The research programme has challenging but tangible goals whose outcome will be a key contribution to the Gaia preparations. The data analysis problem is penetrated through novel research, numerical simulations, and GRID computing, leading to new and improved methods for its solution.The appointment of ESRs and ERs is used to achieve a balanced mix of competence, e.g. between astronomy and software engineering, and to ensure a lively exchange of results through meetings and secondments. The network will attract young research talents to an innovative field and provide excellent training in the context of a high-ranking scientific project.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- LUNDS UNIVERSITET · LUNDCoordinatorSweden
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) · PARISFrance
- DUTCH SPACE BV · LEIDENCity levelNetherlands
- HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO · HELSINKIFinland
- ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA · ROMAItaly
- NATIONAL AND KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS+A348 · ATHENSCity levelGreece
- OBSERVATOIRE DE PARIS · PARISFrance
- RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG · HEIDELBERGGermany
- UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA · BARCELONASpain
- UNIVERSITE DE GENEVE · GENEVE 4Switzerland
- UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLES · BRUXELLESBelgium
- UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN · LEIDENNetherlands
- UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI · LJUBLJANASlovenia
- University of Cambridge · CambridgeUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union