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Big budget boost for ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) received its largest budget increase ever, 20%, from its 22 member nations at a high level meeting yesterday.

The meeting also included commitments to remain a partner in ISS to 2030 and increase participation in Lunar Gateway. From the press release:

With worldwide partners, Europe will take its place at the heart of space exploration going farther than we have ever gone before – we continue our commitment to the International Space Station until 2030 as well as contributing vital transportation and habitation modules for the Gateway, the first space station to orbit the Moon. ESA’s astronauts recruited in 2009 will continue to receive flight assignments until all of them have been to space for a second time, and we will also begin the process of recruiting a new class to continue European exploration in low Earth orbit and beyond. European astronauts will fly to the Moon for the first time. Member States have confirmed European support for a ground-breaking Mars Sample Return mission, in cooperation with NASA.

ESA will help develop the commercial benefits of space for innovators and governments across the Member States, boosting competitiveness in the NewSpace environment. We will develop the first fully flexible satellite systems to be integrated with 5G networks, as well as next-generation optical technology for a fibre-like ‘network in the sky’, marking a transformation in the satellite communication industry. Satellite communications will join forces with navigation to begin satnav for the Moon, while closer to home commercial companies can access funding for new applications of navigation technologies through the NAVISP programme. ESA Ministers have secured a smooth transition to the next generation of launchers: Ariane 6 and Vega-C, and have given the green light to Space Rider, ESA’s new reusable spaceship.

Isn’t competition wonderful? ESA’s budget has been stagnant for years. Then SpaceX comes along and threatens its commercial market share while generating a new political will in the U.S. to renew its own space effort, and suddenly the European nations that make up ESA decide they need to do the same.

Much of the proposed program for ESA is very likely to happen, especially the commitments to a variety of astronomical and planetary missions. The agency’s commercial effort is also likely to happen, but whether it can happen fast enough to be competitive is questionable. As a government agency ESA’s track record in its effort to compete in the launch market has not been impressive. It took them far too long to accept the idea of reuseable rockets or the need to cut their costs drastically.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
 

"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News

8 comments

  • Edward

    This is the first time in a while that I have heard of Europe’s proposed Moon village, as mentioned in Robert’s second link. I was beginning to think that they had abandoned the idea.

    I am not surprised that ESA has been approved for a larger budget. Space News had some articles, earlier in November, describing ESA’s leadership’s plans for the future. They were not just asking for additional cash, but they presented plans to ensure that Europe’s space agency and commercial space companies stay relevant. Europe is taking space seriously.

    Robert’s second link also mentions one of the proposed four pillars of programs: 1. Science and exploration, 2. Applications (e.g. Earth science), 3. Enabling and support (e.g. launch vehicles), and 4. Space safety (e.g. planetary defense and orbital debris).
    https://spacenews.com/esa-ministerial-preview-building-the-pillars-for-europes-future-in-space/

    Not only did ESA ask for very little for the fourth pillar, 1/4 of what they asked for each of the other three (7% rather than 30%), but it seems from Robert’s second link that ESA’s 22 member states have granted even less to that forth pillar. Apparently, if they are to be less serious about some aspect of space then safety is the one to be less serious about.

    Robert’s third link mentions commercial benefits. ESA has plans to help keep Europe’s companies relevant.
    https://spacenews.com/four-technology-goals-esa-favors-for-honing-europes-competitive-edge/

    Ariane wants to improve its new rocket even after its first flight. They, too, are trying to remain relevant.
    https://spacenews.com/five-upgrades-arianegroup-wants-europe-to-consider-for-ariane-6/

    So, yes. SpaceX and other U.S. companies have put pressure on Europe’s space industry. It seems that Europe hopes to put some pressure back on the U.S. and its companies. Make Europe-space Great Again!

    Are “MEGA” hats available yet?

  • Lee S

    I was actually expecting a slamming from you Bob…. Very little that happens this side of the pond meets you, or the readers approval ;-)
    But you nailed this one… ESA has been very late to the game, and unwise in not learning from our partners over there.
    Regardless.. it is hart warming that the interest in all things space has increased to the point where a budget increase on this scale hardly makes the news over here .. it’s just accepted as needed.
    Enjoy your turkey, my colonial friends… I’ll be eating mine in the 25th in true English style…
    Happy Thanksgiving!

  • wayne

    Lee–
    (totally tangential)
    You might like this…..

    Ambassador John Adams meets King George III of Britain
    https://youtu.be/82H5Rqnx3rw?t=254

  • Lee S

    @wayne…. Nice one! You could cut off slices of the tension! ( Which I’m pretty sure you could have during the real meeting!)

  • wayne

    Lee–
    …here ya’ go– compare & contrast:

    Neil Young & Crazy Horse:
    God Save The Queen / America [My Country Tis of Thee] medley
    2012
    https://youtu.be/y-nPsrX05Rk?t=103

  • wayne

    Washington receives the British surrender at Yorktown
    from “Turn: Washington’s Spies” 2017
    https://youtu.be/iaFRnSmat3o
    2:49

  • Lee S

    Ok….. I get the point…. We let you keep your little colony over the Atlantic…. I’ve even been told it’s not too bad a place to live in if your not a socialist…. ;-)
    Seriously… The world would be a much different, and I don’t mind saying, a darker place if the USA hadn’t spit from the UK.. It is not a chunk of history I am well read upon, ( ancient Greek and Roman is my thing )
    Even given the dodgy leaders you guys and myself have had over the last 20 or 30 years we all seem to be doing ok….. There are no signs of western civilization falling into ruins just yet….

  • wayne

    Lee–
    slight correction– you didn’t let us keep our little colony, we kicked you out!

    Grapes of Wrath
    last scene
    https://youtu.be/KTW3ABcSZ88

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