Europe expects busy year in space

[Rick]

Europe will launch two flagship space telescopes this year, and three satellites that will acquire key data about ice, gravity and soils on Earth.

European Space Agency boss Jean-Jacques Dordain set out his priorities for 2009 at a Paris briefing on Wednesday.

He said 2008's successes, which saw the Columbus science lab attached to the space station, were "exceptional".

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7829668.stm