Calls made for flexibility and reduced political interference in space contracts
European space industry leaders expect the European Union will adopt European Space Agency “geographic return” contract rules for its new space programme, to be agreed at a third and final space council with ESA later this month.
While the EU is committed to a single market and competitive tenders, contracts on ESA programmes are awarded to companies from the nations providing the funding. The Vega launcher programme, for example, is 70% funded by Italy and its companies have gained the largest contracts.
A cultural clash between the EU and ESA had been expected by industry ever since the announcement of the joint space programme.
“What is needed is flexibility, a kind of map that reflects specialisation and capability, and geographic return is done through this map. Geographic return we can’t completely escape,” said EADS Space chief executive Francois Auque, speaking at a conference in Paris on 24-25 October organised by trade association ASD-Eurospace.
An example of the reality facing industry is the joint EU/ESA Galileo satellite navigation programme.
This was meant to involve a competitive tender for the concession to operate the 30-satellite constellation, but political interference has led the two competing consortia to merge their bids (Flight International, 21-28 June).
ROB COPPINGER/PARIS
Source: Flight International
