The European space programme is being asked to do some serious soul searching about its future, with the launch of a public consultation paper by the Europe Commission (EC) on Monday.
The Green Paper on European Space Policy asks some fundamental questions, such as whether Europe should continue developing its own launch vehicles, such as the troubled Ariane 5 rocket, to maintain independent access to space.
It also asks whether 鈥渢he results eventually expected form the experimental programme aboard the International Space Station correspond to the level of investment and the running costs?鈥�
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This echoes international concern about the spiralling cost of the ISS, although Europe currently only contributes eight per cent of total ISS expenditure 鈥� $300m a year.
Bigger role
However, the paper also asks if Europe is capable of playing a bigger role in the global space industry, 鈥渋ntervening on a par with its partners and playing a strategic role鈥�. This could include Europe鈥檚 global positioning satellite constellation Galileo and weather forecasting projects.
Currently, the paper notes, Europe spends only $15 per head of population on space activities, while the US spends $110 per head.
Another ambitious question is whether Europe should proceed with a 鈥渟atellite-based defence and security capability鈥�, as recommended by the EC鈥檚 Strategic Aerospace Review for the 21st century report in June 2002.
Overall the consultation paper lays out the importance of the space industry to European citizens, for example through communication and Earth-monitoring satellites. But it says European member states ought to consider their space strategy in light of tough economic conditions. 鈥淭he current situation and the prospects for the future of the European space sector are worrying,鈥� it says.
James Oberg, a space analyst and veteran of the US space program, agrees that the consultation comes at a key time for Europe鈥檚 space programme. 鈥淭here are stormier seas out there and it could well be time for a fundamental reassessment of some of the key underpinnings of the policy,鈥� he told New 杏吧原创. 鈥淭his year is one when a lot of fundamental space policy questions will be asked.鈥�
Attracting talent
The public consultation will last until 30 May. An action plan will then be drawn up from the results of the consultation and will be published at an unspecified date later in 2003.
The EC consultation comes shortly after the announcement on Wednesday of the UK Government鈥檚 space strategy for the next three years. This draft strategy revealed plans to continue with a relatively conservative space program, focusing on research likely to have an immediate economic and research benefit, rather than putting astronauts in space.
The strategy has been criticised by organisations that would like to see the UK foster greater public interest in space through more exciting and ambitious projects. The EC paper also warns of a dwindling number of European space scientists and engineers and recommends efforts to attract new talent to the field.