Julian Moxon/PARIS
The European Space Agency (ESA) is embarking on a more flexible system for programme funding designed to speed up the process of directing money to programmes where it is most needed.
There will be no major change, however, to the system of "just returns", under which the financial contribution of each member state has to be balanced by industrial contracts reflecting its input. Some 90% of the ESA budget is returned to the states under the system, which is criticised as preventing the agency allowing potential suppliers to compete for contracts.
ESA director general, Antonio Rodota, wants to introduce a funding system based around "programme envelopes" allowing funding for a broader range of programmes without having to pass through the cumbersome ESA approval process, which can take up to 18 months. "It means we can decide more easily how much we want to invest in a particular programme", says the agency. The idea would end, for example, the long delays in funding critical items, such as Europe's contribution to the international space station which, although approved, was late in receiving money.
Meanwhile, ESA as presented its budget for 1999, which is a few per cent larger than that of the previous year, at 2.65 billion euros ($2.2 billion) against 2,595 million euros in 1998. Spending on launchers is down 4% to 18.4%, while that for manned space flight and telecommunications are up respectively by 2.1% and 1.4%.
Rodota continues to express fears over the gradual rundown in the science budget since 1995, with programmes such as the Mars Express facing cancellation if ESA space ministers fail at their meeting in May to approve a plan to allow savings in other budgets to be passed into the science sector.
Source: Flight International
