EMMA KELLY / LONDON
Launch vehicle and satellite navigation system will benefit
Europe's space ministers have backed their support for further development of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle and the Galileo satellite navigation system with funding. The European Space Agency's council of ministers, meeting last week in Edinburgh, Scotland, agreed to provide the Ariane 5 Plus programme with €700 million ($620 million), while the design development and validation phase of Galileo will benefit to the tune of €528 million.
Ministers from the 15 ESA member states and Canada approved a science budget up to 2006 of €1.87 billion, just under the €1.95 billion requested by the agency, and a general budget of €825 million (€919 million requested).
The Ariane 5 Research and Technology Accompaniment programme, which will maintain the reliability of the vehicle, is assured through to 2006, with €303 million approved of the requested €340 million. The €699 million approved for Ariane 5 Plus - compared with €671 million requested - will allow work to continue on the Vinci engine and the Ariane 5 EC-B version, including the first launch of the 12t capacity vehicle in 2006.
Space ministers made a "firm declaration of support" for Galileo, says ESA, in the form of €528 million - less than the €547 million requested. The United Kingdom and Denmark did not commit funding as they have yet to decide on supporting Galileo, which is a joint ESA/European Commission programme to provide the continent with an independent 30-satellite navigation system by 2008.
The future of the €2.7 billion project is by no means assured, however. The European Union (EU) Transport Council will meet on 7 December to decide on matching ESA's contribution. Some EU members still have concerns about the management structure and private-public partnership.
Source: Flight International