Europe to prioritise homegrown satellite launchers

gameboy

European ministers meeting at a two-day conference of the European Space Agency (ESA) have agreed to prioritise European satellite launchers over cheaper options in other countries, sources close to the talks told AFP. The “European preference” will mean that the 17 member countries of ESA give priority to launchers developed by the agency, such as the large Ariane 5 and its smaller cousin Vega, which is expected to make its first flight at the end of 2007.

Russia’s Soyuz launcher is to be used as a medium-sized option when launched from the ESA centre in French Guyana from 2008-2009. The European Space Agency had been seeking to persuade member states to give preference to Europe-produced launchers, rather than cheaper alternatives in Russia and India, in order to support technology developed on the continent. European operators will have recourse to non-European satellite launchers only if the price in Europe is more than 25 percent more expensive than an alternative elsewhere, or if their technical needs cannot be met in Europe, according to the principle accepted by ministers, the sources said.

Source: afp

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Only he who does nothing, does nothing wrong.

rolfw

I guess that they decided against the Luxembourg option, due to the difficulty in supplying the requisite size of milk bottle and stick.

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Topper

You mean they are using milk bottles now?, what happened to the wine bottles?...... Ah they were too tall and kept falling over during the launch

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War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left!

Formerly toppervte33h
whose six pack has turned into a keg

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