Space

Space Green Paper

1.1.6. Manned space flight

Manned flights are among the most emblematic aspects of the space sector and consume an important part of the budget of ESA, which has created a European Astronaut Corps. Forty years after the first mission in orbit, manned space flights now always take place in the co-operative framework of the international space station (ISS).

The ISS combines, under US responsibility, contributions from the five main participants: the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe. It is the most ambitious and the most costly civil research infrastructure ever built (about €30 billion in development costs).

Europe's contribution via ESA to the ISS remains modest. Compared with earlier forms of co-operation with Americans and Russians in the area of manned flight (Spacelab, access to the Mir space station), it has nevertheless increased considerably in terms of both the technological and industrial dimension of the developments and enhanced possibilities for experiments offered to the European scientific community.

The level of European effort in the field of manned space flight – principally Spacelab and ISS – has sometimes been questioned, notably concerning the scientific interest, the actual possibilities for onboard experimentation and access for European astronauts.

Moreover, American decisions concerning the financing of the ISS, the onboard experimental programme, astronaut visits and access to the station must be considered in the light of Europe’s objectives.

Q4: From a European point of view, do the results eventually expected from the experimental programme on board the ISS correspond to the level of investment and the running costs? How should Europe develop its participation and its objectives?