European Space Agency sets budget for next five years

Nature : The 20 member nations of the European Space Agency have agreed to provide €10.1 billion ($13 billion) in funding over the next five years, which is €2 billion less than the requested amount. The reduction will force the agency to adjust many of its programs. The budget provides funding for the development of both an upgrade to the Ariane 5 rocket and an entirely new Ariane 6. Instead of pursuing development of its own manned space capsule, the agency will contribute technology from their Automated Transfer Vehicle to the development of NASA’s Orion capsule. Although plans for a robotic lunar lander were not funded, two missions to Mars in 2016 and 2018 were approved in partnership with Russia’s Roscosmos. Significant cuts to the agency’s environmental observation programs were also made. The details have not been determined, but it is likely at least one mission will be delayed.