Europe seeks autonomous exploration role, backs alternate to new U.S. launch system

In any event, a decision on taking part in Clipper won't be necessary before 2008, when ESA's Columbus module should be in place and its ATV cargo vehicles in operation, he says.

http://www.aviationnow.com/media/images/awst_images/large/AW_10_10_2005_1432_L.jpg  ESA and JAXA are exploring participation in Russia's proposed Clipper spaceship. A full-scale mockup of the vessel was shown at the Moscow air show in August.

EUROPE COULD also play a part in the planned Soyuz 2.3 booster upgrade, the baseline launch vehicle for the Clipper. ESA has already had a hand in several Soyuz upgrades, including the 2.1b which will operate from the new Soyuz launchpad being constructed at the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The 2.3 would be equipped with more powerful engines to loft the 13-ton spaceship from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The Model 2.1 could do the job from Kourou, but, Favier hastened to add, the possibility has not yet been broached. Furthermore, the ramifications of such a move have yet to be explored, he cautioned. For example, the 2.3 could end up competing with the Kourou-launched Soyuz variant.

Sacotte noted that the interest in Clipper underscores ESA's intention to insist on ground rules different from those used on the ISS before embarking on a cooperative exploration effort. "It's not necessary to change everything," he said, pointing out that a lot of things have worked well. "But we want less complex interfaces that will give us an alternative path in the event U.S. priorities change, and that are geared to our own agenda."

For one thing, Sacotte remarked, Europe intends to pursue a niche policy on the Moon, where it possesses specific capabilities in rendezvous, environmental control and other applications, and already has a small probe in orbit. That would be in keeping with the role NASA foresees for its international partners in lunar exploration (AW&ST Sept. 26, p. 22). At least two European contractors are on U.S. lunar surface concept teams. On Oct. 21, ESA will begin reviewing proposals from the scientific community on recommended concepts and technologies. A small budget line, largely geared to possible terrestrial spinoffs, will be requested at the Berlin summit.

But Europe's primary exploration focus will be on Mars, not the Moon (AW&ST May 16, p. 69). For broader exploration goals, such as a future Mars Sample Return mission and a planned precursor, dubbed ExoMars, ESA will continue to endeavor to work with NASA and other existing ISS partners, like Japan. But it will also be open to collaboration with rising space powers, such as China and India. "NASA's decision to concentrate on the Moon opens up new opportunities for us," said Favier.

INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS have already begun, and are expected to continue in the margins of the International Space Congress in Fukuoka, Japan, next week. Official talks cannot begin until after the formal launch of ESA's Aurora exploration program, expected at the Berlin summit. Although ESA may not get all the funds it is hoping for, Sacotte admitted, Germany's July decision to join Aurora, coupled with strong interest from the U.K., is expected to assure approval of what he terms "a prudent but robust proposal."

In addition to its potential for supporting Europe's exploration aims, Clipper could also serve as an alternative for ISS crewing and supply missions, if the U.S. says it cannot fully meet its obligations under existing international treaties. "Europe considers the ISS vital," said Favier, "not only as a testbed for exploration, but for science. Moreover, it is the only possible framework for European manned missions."

CLIPPER COULD FLY by 2010-12, when the U.S. Crew Exploration Vehicle is planned to be ready. However, Favier cautioned that the interest in Clipper doesn't mean Europe is ready to let Washington off the hook with respect to its ISS treaty obligations (see p. 31). On the contrary, he said, "a failure by the U.S. to respect its obligations could diminish Europe's desire to participate [in the U.S. initiative]."

While Europe's exploration plans focus on Mars, Japan sees the Moon as its next big step in space. The Japanese space agency has published its "JAXA 2025" vision document, which calls for building on the Selene lunar orbiter project already underway toward the eventual creation of an "international human lunar base."

Among the advanced technologies Japanese space officials want to develop for future lunar activities are robotics and a solar energy supply system. But Kiwao Shibukawa, director of JAXA's Washington office, stresses that the vision document "is only a hope, and not authorized by the [Japanese] government."

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) also is willing to go along with NASA's plan to give international partners specific roles on the Moon while maintaining an all-U.S. end-to-end lunar transportation capability. But, like the other space agencies, CSA must await political endorsement. Drawing on its current space policy, the agency would work to develop state-of-the-art robotics gear, mining and drilling hardware, and perhaps remote-sensing instruments or spacecraft for an international lunar exploration venture (AW&ST Oct. 3, p. 25).

"There are specific niches in which we could provide capability to the NASA program," says Hugues Gilbert, director general, policy planning and relations at CSA. "It remains to be seen if we can have this cooperation, and if we can secure funding."

Alexey Komarov contributed to this report from Moscow.