Space

Space Green Paper

1. European Space in a changing global context

The Green Paper is based on an assumption and a premise:

• space must, by nature, be considered at the global level;
• the effectiveness of Europe in space can drive the success of certain of its policies.

1.1 Fundamental elements

The existence of European capabilities in a number of fields is essential so that Europe and the various players involved can continue to provide the basis for such success, either in competition and or in co-operation with the other world space powers.

The leading power, the United States, uses space systems as an instrument for guaranteeing strategic, political, scientific and economic leadership combining the concepts of "space dominance" and "information dominance".

This political will is reflected in a level of investment without equal: American expenditure for and in space accounts for some 80% of world spending in this area (civil + defence).

Russia, which is likewise a pioneer of space development, has succeeded in maintaining a very important scientific, technological and operational base. As things stand, it has developed more institutional links and industrial co-operation with the United States than with European partners. Ukraine, moreover, has developed considerable technological know?how, in particular in the launcher sector.

Finally, the activities of the new space powers which have emerged more recently (Japan, China, India, Brazil) are very much dictated by strategic considerations.

Europe for its part has followed an original path, which has so far shown a number of specific characteristics (cf. Figure 1):

• political ambition: gaining and maintaining independent access to space by developing its own launch vehicles and satellites;
• a sustained effort to develop, scientific knowledge, applications and associated infrastructures.;
• an industrial policy aimed at the development of a competitive and innovative industrial base and a geographic spread of activities;
• priority given to civil and commercial aspects, particularly in the field of launch services and satellites;
• opting for international co-operation with the leading space powers for major instruments and encompassing missions, including manned flight.

Fig. 1: Split of public and private European investment on space activities
(year 2000)
[source: Euroconsult, ESA]