Europeans To Double Space-Related Spending

The European Space Agency and European Union member states have agreed to double spending on space-related activities, from a current level of 6 billion euros (US$6.9 billion) to 12 billion euros (US$13.8 billion, according to ESA official Franco Bonacina. He could not provide a timetable as to when the funding would double. The two bodies Tuesday ended consultations on the Green Paper on European Space Policy, issued in January as part of an effort to expand Europe’s activities in space.

“The paper can only have beneficial consequences for the commercial satellite industry in Europe,” said Bonacina. “Space is being raised to a higher level of interest. Many more funding sources should be available for the development of space activities,” he added.

A white paper, implementing policy changes recommended in the green paper, is scheduled to be ready in October.

For more on the green paper, check out the July 2 issue of Interspace. For more info on subscribing to PBI Media’s satellite newsletters, check out our Web site at http://www.telecomweb.com/catalog.