Ministers approve ESA spending plans
Posted: Thu, Nov 27, 2008, 11:44 AM ET (1644 GMT)
Ministers of member nations of the European Space Agency (ESA) approved Wednesday a €10-billion (US$13-billion) spending plan for the agency that includes support for new spacecraft and improvements to the Ariane 5 launch vehicle. The programs approved at the two-day ministerial meeting in The Hague include new Earth science and meteorological spacecraft, the former being part of a joint program with the European Union called Copernicus. Ministers also agreed to build three more ATV cargo spacecraft for the ISS and start initial studies of a new version of the ATV that could return cargo to Earth. ESA won funding to develop Vinci, a new upper stage engine for the Ariane 5, that will increase that rocket's payload capacity. The planned ExoMars rover mission to the Red Planet also got funding at the meeting, although ESA will have to seek partnerships with the US, Russia, or other nations to fully fund the mission. In addition, ESA will establish a new research center in the UK that will focus on climate change research and space robotics.
Ministers of member nations of the European Space Agency (ESA) approved Wednesday a €10-billion (US$13-billion) spending plan for the agency that includes support for new spacecraft and improvements to the Ariane 5 launch vehicle. The programs approved at the two-day ministerial meeting in The Hague include new Earth science and meteorological spacecraft, the former being part of a joint program with the European Union called Copernicus. Ministers also agreed to build three more ATV cargo spacecraft for the ISS and start initial studies of a new version of the ATV that could return cargo to Earth. ESA won funding to develop Vinci, a new upper stage engine for the Ariane 5, that will increase that rocket's payload capacity. The planned ExoMars rover mission to the Red Planet also got funding at the meeting, although ESA will have to seek partnerships with the US, Russia, or other nations to fully fund the mission. In addition, ESA will establish a new research center in the UK that will focus on climate change research and space robotics.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, November 13
Firefly Aerospace identifies cause of Alpha test anomaly
NasaSpaceFlight.com — 4:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Firefly Plans Alpha Pad Return For Lockheed Martin Demo By Early 2026
Aviation Week — 4:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Alpha launch expectations lift Firefly despite Q3 losses
Austin (TX) American-Statesman — 4:11 am ET (0911 GMT) The Bright Side: Scientists witness supernova's early stages for the first time
France 24 — 4:09 am ET (0909 GMT) France steps into the space race
Defence24 — 4:06 am ET (0906 GMT) |
