The Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, announced it during the International Aeronautical Congress which is being held in Paris until Thursday 22 September.
Article written by
Posted
Reading time : 1 min.
This envelope of nine billion euros for space research and industry includes some credits already voted and is part of an overall strategy defined by the State.
>> Weather: European satellites to better predict and understand extreme phenomena
The main objective is to maintain – with all European countries – our independent access to space. On the program: support for the new generation Ariane 6 launcher, defense of industrial competitiveness, strengthening of exploration, but also favoring the climate, ensuring our defense and our sovereignty… In short, the objectives are multiple.
The envelope includes the credits for the space component provided for in the France 2030 investment plan (1.5 billion euros), those of the programming law for research voted until 2030, the means allocated to the National Center for space studies (CNES) and the five billion euros under the Military Programming Law 2019-2025… To this must be added the next French contribution to the budget of the European Space Agency (ESA) which will be determined next November.
Can we speak of an effort on the part of the State in this space policy, knowing that budgets change each year? According to the president of CNES, Philippe Baptiste, this envelope confirmed by the Prime Minister represents nearly 25% additional investment compared to the last three years. It must be understood that these nine billion euros budgeted will not be allocated only to the major space industrialists but to the entire ecosystem, including SMEs, the scientific community, etc.
On this first day of the International Astronautical Congress, ArianeGroup unveiled its fully reusable rocket upper stage project. This module, called Susie, will be able to carry out manned missions with five astronauts, a first for Europe in space.