Signature of the study contract with EADS Astrium in Bremen, Germany, for the Advanced Reentry Vehicle (ARV). The contract was signed on 7 July by Simonetta Di Pippo, ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight, and Dr Michael Menking, Senior Vice-President and Head of Orbital Systems and Exploration at EADS Astrium, in the presence of ESA’s Director General, Jean-Jacques Dordain, CEO of EADS Astrium Space Transportation, Alain Charmeau, Chairman of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Prof. Dr Johann-Dietrich Wörner and the Mayor of Bremen, Jens Böhrnsen.