Space

4.1 Secure strategic independence and common assets for common actions

4.1.1.Guarantee independent access to space

Sustained and affordable access to space

The strategic pre-requisite to implement any space policy in the Union is that the EU must have and maintain independent access to space.

This independence must be sustained on an affordable basis, investments in this field having long lead times. An essential counterpart to public funding is that European manufacturers of launchers must operate competitively and profitably in commercial markets, not least because of the limited volume of institutional launches and the need for a sufficient rate to maintain reliable levels of performance.

Europes Ariane family of launchers has a good record in operating competitively and successfully in favourable market conditions. However, the lack of institutional demand and the recent, severe downturn in commercial demand, coupled with extremely aggressive pricing by competitors, has put the Ariane system under enormous strain, highlighting in the process its very high dependence on purely commercial business.

US competitors, by contrast, have been consistently supported by a large institutional market and a strict preferential policy of flying government missions only on US-made launchers. This difference of approach is a concern for European authorities.

The European Guaranteed Access to Space (EGAS) programme 2005-2009 recently adopted by ESA Member States in May 2003, is an exceptional measure to provide both a short term recovery for Arianespace and medium term support, in order for the European launcher industry to be competitive by the end of the programme. It highlights the conditions to be met for the long-term stability of this European strategic asset.

In order to assure Europes long-term independent access to space, sustained government commitment and funding are needed for:

• Launcher design and development

ESA is the lead agency for launch vehicle and infrastructure development with national space agencies providing technical support. The heavy-lift Ariane-5 launcher, capable of the most demanding institutional and commercial missions and relying on European technology, is the platform for maintaining Europes independence as regards access to space.

Launcher development is never static and the business is a risky one. To remain a competitive presence on global launcher markets, Ariane-5 needs constant improvement in performance, reliability and cost through a steady process of new development and technical upgrading. This effort is also vital for retaining critical levels of expertise in the industry.

Europes range of launcher products is being strengthened by the development of the small-class Vega launcher and by a recent agreement that will bring the medium-class Russian-built Soyuz to the Guyana Space Centre (CSG) from 2006. Both will add greater flexibility and responsiveness to Europes launch services, in particular for smaller institutional missions.

• Infrastructure maintenance and upkeep

As explained above in chapter 3.5, the European launch base in French Guyana has been set up and maintained jointly by ESA and the French government. As the launching state France also assumes the relevant international responsibilities.

While the ESA-CNES range complex has been consistently funded since the early days of the Ariane programme, financial support for the dedicated Ariane-5 launch facilities has been more irregular. The EGAS programme represents an effort to maintain key Ariane-5 assets both in French Guyana and in continental Europe through selected fixed costs funding over the medium-term (2005-2009). This form of government commitment to carrying fixed costs has been used in the US and Russia for no less than four decades and is likely to continue.

Maintenance and upkeep of both the Ariane-5 production facility and the Guyana Space Centre are critical to assured European access to space. These infrastructures must be considered as projects of common European interest and funded accordingly.

• Launcher technology research and development

The ESA Future Launchers Preparatory Programme prepares for mid-term evolutions of existing launch systems and for a decision around 2010 on the next generation of European launchers. It does not, however, cover basic launcher, reusable launch vehicle and propulsion technology research, which remains dispersed among national and ESA programmes and not properly funded. Establishing an integrated European approach and restoring an adequate level of effort in the preparation of a new generation launch vehicle is the most promising and affordable way to ensure the long-term competitiveness and reliability of European access to space.

Recommended Actions

• EU to express a firm commitment to independent, reliable and affordable access to space and establish guidelines encouraging the use of European launchers by European institutional customers;
• EU to develop and negotiate a worldwide harmonised regulatory framework governing procurement and competition;
• ESA to remain the lead agency for launcher development while the EU should commit funding for sustaining operational ground infrastructure as an area of common European interest complementing a coherent European launcher initiative (notably in view of a strategic partnership with Russia).

4.1.2.Enhance space technology to meet future needs

Europe needs to be better equipped

Europe needs a broad technological base if it is to be capable of acting independently in space and sustain a space industry that is competitive in global markets. Public support for R&D in space technologies is imperative because of the high costs and risks involved, and the comparatively low returns from commercial and institutional markets.

Thanks to the investments of Member States through ESA, the EU and national agencies and research organisations, Europe has access to a solid technological and industrial base, mastering most of the critical technologies.

However, the mechanisms driving the technology in support of short-term competitiveness are different from those driving technology for strategic independence and longer-term preparation. Europe is not as well equipped for this as it needs to be:

• Europe depends on others for some critical space components (e.g. radiation-hardened components, etc.). It is at the mercy of stringent US export-control regulations;
• There are gaps in its development of future technologies mainly caused by inadequate funding. A number of technological breakthroughs must be targeted, such as new propulsion techniques - which could induce radical changes for space transportation systems - and nanotechnologies;
• Europes limited commitment to defence-related space activities leads to technological deficiencies due to insufficient investments in some areas.

Technology dependence may limit the capabilities of European industry to respond to the challenges inherent in supporting EU policies and competing in commercial markets, in particular in the field of security and defence.

Autonomy and independence can be served by a joint effort between the EU, ESA, national agencies and industry. In their definition and development, space technologies have to anticipate future needs if they are to deliver applications and services in a timely fashion for the Union and for the market.

Timely delivery requires continuous dialogue and co-ordination between technology providers and users and the full exploitation of the dual-use nature of space technology through joint civil and defence technology R&D, to the benefit of an expanding institutional market.

In order to address the challenges and to ensure the coherence of continued investment, Europe has recently established a set of technology foresight and harmonisation processes for co-ordinating all players - ESA, the EU and national agencies and research organisations as well as industry.

These activities are organised in the framework of the European Space Technology Master Plan (ESTMP). They identify next-generation space technology requirements, the corresponding gaps and unwanted overlaps in current assets, establish priorities for the actions that are needed and lines up the players committed to developing these technologies.

ESTMP will also allow new EU Member States to plan and develop their competencies and to participate, with institutional support, in joint research activities.

European resources can be used more efficiently and synergies maximised across the whole value chain if this process is opened up to international co-operation, expanded to both civil and defence related R&D, and if links to applications and services are included. Promotion of technology transfer will further leverage the investment made in space R&D.

But this alone will not be a sufficient response to the increasing budgets other space nations are allocating nor to rising competitive pressures.

Recommended Actions

• EU should reinforce total public spending on technology in accordance with the European Space Technology Master Plan with special attention to applications and multiple-use technologies;
• The Commission and ESA should promote transfers of technologies;
• New EU Member States should be associated with the overall harmonisation actions.

4.1.3.Promote space exploration

Exploration of the solar system: What scenario?

Solar system exploration and human spaceflight catch the public eye. Astronauts are subjects of admiration and fascination because they are courageous symbols of mankinds deeply rooted desire to extend the boundaries of knowledge and experience.

Human spaceflight and space exploration emerged as a special issue from the consultation process on the Green Paper. The European Parliaments report on the Green Paper was also broadly positive. There are balanced arguments as to whether Europe should contribute to exploration of the solar system with its own human spaceflight capability or whether it should concentrate more on automated exploration.

The Commission and the Member States need to take the initiative in organising a consultation at high level with key actors of different disciplines to develop a scenario able to stimulate the public opinions interest. The Aurora long-term vision as currently under definition by ESA for solar-system exploration will have to be taken into account and properly supported.

The role of the International Space Station

Europe has been sending astronauts into space for some years, but not on its own launchers. There is a body of work and achievement upon which it could build if it opted for a spaceflight programme. Europe has its own Astronaut Corps, created by ESA, and several of its members have travelled to the International Space Station (ISS), which is an orbital outpost.

The ISS is the first major cooperative undertaking(involving the US, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan) since the cold war, based on operating joint scientific programmes and sharing technologies. Even though the project is behind schedule and has not yet fully lived up to expectations, Europe is strategically committed to the ISS following a decision of the ESA Ministerial Council in 1995.

Contributing to the ISS permits the development of system engineering and mission control capabilities in space while also offering experience of long stays in space and the opportunities to counter their debilitating effect on humans. As such, the ISS is also a precursor to the future exploration of our solar system, possibly to the Moon and Mars. This is an asset for Europe, in particular the European Columbus laboratory module, the utilisation of which should be opened to all European countries.

However, Europe is critically dependent on the US and Russia for the full exploitation and utilisation of the ISS, and particularly for transporting astronauts to and from the Station. In the field of human spaceflight, the future European Space Centre-based Soyuz launcher could give a potential additional capacity to Europeans. Over the next 10 years a series of European-designed and built automated transfer vehicles will be launched on Ariane 5 to carry materials to the ISS.

Recommended Actions

• The Commission to solicit a wise men group to deliver within 12 months a vision for space exploration as a basis for ESA to examine the potential feasibility, costs and opportunity for Europe to participate in the exploration of the solar system by mankind;
• Consistent with the outcome of the previous recommendation, the European Union with ESA to assess and ensure the availability of core capabilities and know-how in Europe which are indispensable for the preparation of human spaceflights activities and exploration. Continue the exploitation of the ISS as a common infrastructure, were possible, also in the context of the 6thFramework Programme.

4.1.4.Encourage more science and technology careers

Young talents needed

The right sort of human capital is critical for achieving Europes ambitions in space. But its supply is far from assured given the declining interest in scientific studies across the continent which, in the space sector, is resulting in an ageing community of scientists and a lack of young talents. The highly motivated generation that started its career in space during the 60s is now retiring, while the number of under-30s in Europes space science and technical community is sharply decreasing. There is now a serious risk of losing precious competencies and know-how. The US is encountering similar problems, and this has led NASA to spend about $160M a year on educational programs.

Shortages of researchers in science and technology pose a serious challenge for the Union. In recent Communications, the Commission has underlined the need to increase recruitment into technical and scientific training as an important element of its strategy for building a European Research Area (ERA).

By its very nature, space offers an international working environment and needs a mobile workforce to ensure its supply of scientists and engineers. In its ERA implementation strategy, the EU has proposed a wide range of measures aimed at facilitating the mobility of researchers and at raising the extra attractiveness of scientific careers that need to be applied across a broad range of policies at both European and national levels.

Recommended Actions

The European Commission, with the technical support of ESA, should build up an education and promotion action for young Europeans and students to be composed of:

• actions to include space themes in school- and university studies;
• an overall promotion of careers in space science;
• measures to make the best use of mobility programmes (i.e. Marie Curie);
• targeted media campaigns to improve peoples understanding of space.