So far, it has been a difficult year for the European Space Agency (ESA). Problems with the launch of the Rosetta scientific mission as well as continuing questions over the future of the Galileo satellite navigation project have made things far from easy for ESA. The delay of the Rosetta mission, which had been expected after the dramatic launch failure of the Ariane 5 rocket in December, has been particularly costly for ESA. Rosetta can no longer rendezvous with its original target, Comet Wirtanen.

ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft is to be the first to undertake the long-term exploration of a comet at close quarters. ESA will now have to find alternative targets for the space probe to explore.

The delay has also had a significant impact in terms of additional costs. Antonio Rodota, director general of ESA, told Interspace: “The cost of the delay of Rosetta really depends on which comet we will choose because this will change the time we have to stall the spacecraft and also what are the implications of the re-assessment of the mission. The costs could be in the range of 50 to 100 million euros ($54.2 to $108.4 million), which are almost 10 per cent of the overall value of the complete mission. This is not a minor cost, but at the same time, we felt it was worthwhile doing this rather than risk losing the complete mission.”

In terms of finding an alternative comet, Rodota said: “We have to find a comet where we can land. One of the main elements of this mission is a lander that lands on the comet, and then it gives back information on the comet. We have to find a comet of a reasonable size. We will have indications on the selection of a new target comet by our Science Policy Committee by May this year.”

Resolving critical Galileo issues will also be a key this year for ESA. Galileo will be Europe’s own global navigation satellite system, providing the first satellite navigation system under civilian control. Yet, disputes among European Union member states about their respective roles and financial responsibilities are holding back the project.

Both Germany and Italy have been arguing about which country should take the lead role in building the navigation system to compete against the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russian GLONASS system. Spain wants to increase its stake from 9 to 11 per cent in the project. An ESA meeting in December failed to resolve the issues despite the fact that most of Europe’s member states reached a compromise agreement. According to reports, Germany offered to reduce its 25 per cent stake in the project, but its alternate proposal has so far been rejected by Italy.

Galileo is due to launch commercial services in 2008. The 30-satellite project, which is being jointly funded by ESA and member states, will cost around 3.5 billion euros ($3.76 billion).

Rodota said these disputes, and consequent delays, are potentially very damaging. “Firstly, the degree of difference of views between the countries [pales in comparison] to the amount of work these companies are losing, because Europe is not taking any decisions. The fact [that Europe has] been stuck in the blocks for six months or more [means that European companies] are suffering more than the small percentage [the member states] are fighting for. I think they should be reasonable enough to understand this.”

Rodota continued: “If we lose additional time in this decision process, this programme could be lost forever. This has to be understood by the industry as well as the member states. I am a little bit concerned that the member states are not able to follow us in this effort.”

Rodota warned that Europe is in danger of falling behind the United States, and the ESA’s space programme could need significant reshaping. “In Europe, we have been paying a lot of attention to the commercial sector and we are now suffering as a result of the downturn in the broadband market on the telecoms side,” he said.

“The U.S. is in a better position to face a crisis situation while Europe is not. That is the reason why we have some weaknesses that are more evident than ever. The market was reduced to a handful of satellite orders. The public sector is unable to compensate for the significant changes in the commercial market. What we have to do is ask the industry to reshape their [Galileo] configuration in order to safeguard the core [satellite manufacturing] competence they have.” –Mark Holmes

(Contact: Franco Bonacina, ESA, e-mail: [email protected])