French space agency CNES is expected to announce changes to its programmes and funding after the December failure of the first uprated Ariane 5 ECA booster, which sparked a radical government rethink in space policy and organisation. The French government also says a merger between the space units of EADS and Alcatel is being "seriously studied".
CNES is likely to be a major casualty of the shake-up. France's funding for the European Space Agency is expected to be increased and responsibility for launch vehicles transferred from the French space agency to ESA. CNES will also transfer to ESA its national Mars exploration plans, including a sample return mission.
Launch-vehicle funding will concentrate on the Ariane 5 recovery effort, including extended operation of the basic Ariane 5G, and development of a pad at the Kourou, French Guiana, launch site for the Russian Soyuz booster. CNES funding for commercial launch services company Arianespace may also be withdrawn, forcing the organisation to find new sources of capital.
The merger of EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space - possibly to be joined by Italy's Alenia Aerospazio - could create a single European space company. More than 350 jobs would be lost at Alcatel in France and its space operations in Denmark and Norway would be sold, possibly resulting in 230 more job losses. The company is also considering closing its Swiss operation, shedding 70 more jobs, bringing the total layoffs to 650 - almost 11% of the workforce.
The European Space Agency has appointed FiatAvio's Antonio Fabrizi as director of launchers, replacing Jean-Jacques Dordain, who becomes ESA director-general in July.Source: Flight International
