The principles of the design of spacecraft are well known and it is not the intention of this paper to review them. Rather it is the intention to review the possibilities of special purpose and multi-purpose designs in relation to the boundary conditions established for the creation of the European Space Research Organisation. These boundary conditions are contained in the Convention and the Protocols for the Organisation, which came into force in March 1964, after signature in June 1962.

The Convention states that: “The purpose of the Organisation shall be to provide for, and to promote, collaboration among European States in space research and technology, exclusively for peaceful purposes.” In addition, it states that: “In order to fulfil its purpose the Organisation shall carry out a programme of scientific research and related technological activities” and some of these are listed in the Convention.