ESA approves €10 billion space programme

The European Space Agency met with European Ministers to approve the allocation of €10 billion for the future of Europe’s space programme at a 20-21 Nov. summit in Naples, Italy.

Twenty ESA member states, Canada, and eight observer states (Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, the Slovak Republic and Malta) attended the meeting, approving the continued development of the Ariane 5 launcher, and also the new Ariane 6 launcher slated for take off in 2021.

Ministers also agreed to provide the service module for NASA’s Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle, assuring further cooperation between the two space agencies.

The Council will convene again in spring 2014.