TIM FURNISS / LONDON
Europe is holding back more than half of the budget approved earlier this month until concerns about NASA are resolved
Europe's space ministers have blocked until 2003 release of 60% of the budget they approved earlier this month for the International Space Station (ISS) due to concerns about NASA's management of the programme and its plans.
At the same time, European Space Agency (ESA) members agreed to Arianespace's request for more backing for Ariane launch vehicles to allow them to compete with US boosters.
At their meeting in Edinburgh in mid-November, Europe's space ministers approved €847 million ($742 million) for the continuation of the ISS exploitation programme, designed to develop European operational capabilities in key areas for long-term human space exploration and to support ISS use by Europe.
Around 60% of the ISS funding is blocked, however. Although Europe remains committed to its ISS obligations, it wants to see how NASA will resolve ongoing ISS budget and management problems, says ESA. No money was approved for the ISS commercialisation programme, with ministers to discuss that project in March when the future of the space station is clearer.
The ISS budget was part of a €7.84 billion five-year programme approved - below the €10 billion requested by the agency. Included in this is €1.55 billion - slightly less than the €1.67 billion requested - for the Ariane 5 Research and Technology Accompaniment programme, Ariane 5 infrastructure and future development of the launch vehicle.
Jean-Marie Luton, chairman of Arianespace, says the support of European states is necessary to guarantee Ariane boosters "fair conditions of competition". Arianespace has always criticised as unfair the fact that new US launchers are part-funded by the US Air Force and then enter the commercial market. Ariane boosters were, however, funded initially by European governments.
Ministers agreed to reduce the charges for Ariane launches at the Kourou launch site to bring fees closer to those charged by the US Air Force for the use of Cape Canaveral for commercial Delta and Atlas launches. They also agreed to streamline the Ariane programme with the goal of appointing a single industrial prime contractor by the end of 2002. Ministers also agreed that further studies are needed before a decision can be made on the launch of Russian Soyuz boosters from Kourou.
In a surprise move, France agreed to invest in the Italian-led Vega low Earth-orbit launcher after having withdrawn from the proposed project in 1999.
Major decisions about the agency's Future Launcher Preparatory Programme have been deferred until June, but ministers did agree to start a three-year programme to address technologies for experimental vehicles.
In addition, €83 million was allocated for a Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme; the science programme received €1.86 billion - less than requested, with the result that a Cornerstone mission may be cancelled; and the Earth observation budget at €926 million is less than requested which will result in cuts to the EarthWatch programme.
Some €40 million goes to a new Aurora planetary, technology and manned spaceflight research programme and €133 million has been allocated for developing a larger, more powerful communications satellite bus.
Source: Flight International
