Europe’s future in space
The European Space Agency (ESA) and its 23 member states are holding talks today in Bremen regarding future investment levels. Germany is the major contributor to the ESA.
Bremen (dpa/d.de) - What role should Europe play in the space travel of the future? This is the key issue for debate when the European Space Agency( ESA) and its 23 member states start their talks on the next ESA budget in Bremen today. The Space Agency believes it needs more money than before in order to keep pace. Independence and Europe as a business location are major factors in this.
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher sees the conference as a crucial moment in terms of investment in space travel over the coming years. It is Europe’s “unique opportunity to choose ambition over hesitation and leadership over restraint”. He accordingly feels that a higher three-year budget is required. Aschbacher’s proposal: 22 billion euros and thus, even adjusted for inflation, once again more than the previous 17 billion euros.
Germany is traditionally one of the countries that contributes the most money – its contribution to the last ESA budget was 3.5 billion euros. The exact amount to be paid this time will be negotiated at the conference. The federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Bremen, with the six most prominent space locations in Germany, are calling for six billion euros.
