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
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 30
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser Spaceplane Successfully Passes NASA Testing Milestone in Preparation for Launch
Sierra Space — 5:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Dream Chaser Clears Key Pre-Space Mission Test Hurdle
Aviation Week — 5:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Texas Space Commission approves $21.5 million in grants
San Antonio Express-News — 5:23 am ET (1023 GMT) Britain takes stake in SpaceX rival Orbex to boost space ambitions
CNBC — 5:20 am ET (1020 GMT) Scandinavian Airlines partners with SpaceX for free in-flight Starlink services
Teslarati — 5:20 am ET (1020 GMT) |
