Esa Governments Reach Accord On Multiyear Space Spending Program

摘要

European governments Nov. 26 approved about 10 billion euros ($12.6billibn) innewfinancing for the 18-nation European Space Agency (ESA) in the coming years, with major new funding for Earth observation and meteorological satellites, early work on a more-powerful version of the Ariane 5 rocket and an increase in annual spending on space science.rnMeeting here Nov. 25-26, ESA governments also committed the money needed for Europe to maintain its right of access to the international space station, mainly by providing four more unmanned Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo carriers, as is required under ESA's barter agreement with NASA, the station's general manager. (See related story, page 4).rnESA's three biggest contributors-Germany, France and Italy-stressed that spending on space-based technology represents an investment in the future that should be reinforced, not cut back, at a time of economic recession.