Europe Needs a Framework for Earth Observation

摘要

Setting space funding priorities is a problem on both sides of the Atlantic. While the United States struggles with whether to keep operating two of the most extraordinary space missions ever undertaken — Voyager and Hubble — Europe is reaching a turning point in 2005 with a key ESA ministerial conference and the definition of the European Union's 2007-2013 financial package. It is easy to identify what Europe's priorities have been in the past. In financial volume, the top priority has been access to space, i.e. launchers and space infrastructure centered on the international space station, which accounted for about 42 percent of the ESA's 2005 budget. Meanwhile, the satellite sector has been weakened, with many programs canceled or delayed in Earth observation, science and telecommunications-all assets in direct service to the citizen.