spacetoday.net: space news from around the webin association with SpaceNews


Ministers approve ESA spending plans
Posted: Thu, Nov 27, 2008, 11:44 AM ET (1644 GMT)
ESA 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.
<<previous article   next article>>
news in brief
EU moves forward with satellite broadband constellation
Posted: Sun, Nov 3 10:02 AM ET (1502 GMT)

Russia launches military satellite
Posted: Sun, Nov 3 9:59 AM ET (1459 GMT)

Lockheed Martin completes acquisition of Terran Orbital
Posted: Sun, Nov 3 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT)

news links
Monday, November 4
Firms may not deal with Defence after JP9102 axe, says SIAA
Space Connect (Australia) — 6:20 am ET (1120 GMT)
Defence confirms JP9102 cancellation
Australian Defence Magazine — 6:20 am ET (1120 GMT)


about spacetoday.net   ·   info@spacetoday.net   ·   mailing list