Europe's space ministers have urged efforts to maintain the competitiveness of the European Ariane 5 launcher.
They are also concerned that allowing launches of Russian Soyuz boosters from Arianespace's Kourou base will harm Arianeand Vega low-Earth-orbit launch vehicle commercial interests.
The European Space Agency (ESA), however, is keen to further these Russian links as they may result in co-operation in engine technology, an area in which Europe is eager to keep up with the USA.
Possible joint projects with Russia include the development of a liquid hydrocarbon-liquid oxygen propulsion system and a reusable fly-back booster.
Europe's space ministers also recommend that the European launch vehicle industry needs to be streamlined, and a potential combined construction, marketing and launcher operations organisation established. This reflectsc oncern over the increasing costs of the cryogenic upper stage of the Ariane 5 and operating the Kourou launch site.
Meanwhile, ESA is expected to provide almost half the funds to develop the International Space Station's (ISS) six-person Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) spaceplane.
The move would help cash-strapped NASA, which has already completed a number of glide flights of the X-38 CRV prototype. ESA's decision would ensure European astronauts receive regular access to the ISS to operate in the European Columbus laboratory.
A final decision on an additional $97 million CRV funding is expected to be made by the ESA Council next month. The total ESA investment of $540 million would represent 40% of the CRV support and includes $151million already contributed by ESA to the X-38.
The remaining $390 million will be raised through the cancellation of the $217 million final planned flight of the ESA Automatic Transfer Vehicle to the ISS in 2016, and from an Italian contribution of $75 million.
Source: Flight International
