German lunar orbiter

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dreada5

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UK are considering a lunar mission as well.<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6246513.stm<br /><br />Personally I think its a good thing. It is better to have memberstates taking an increased interest in space such that they occasionally strive to carry out their own missions, than to have memberstates not showing any serious interest in ESA which leads to a lukewarm capability because of limited funding.<br /><br />If EU nations carry out their own lunar missions then this will develop their own national expertise/interest and hence they'll have more to bring to the table when ESA sits down to plan a competent CSTS / Aurora programme.
 
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ckikilwai

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From the article about the Germans:<br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>A high-ranking official in the economy ministry, Helge Engelhard, said Berlin was "not negatively disposed" towards a moon mission.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />The UK wants to go to the moon too, a French parliamant group also.<br />I just pray those 3 countries don't change their minds and that they will approve CSTS in 2008!
 
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dreada5

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The UK is currently reviewing its national space policy. At best the gov't will decide for the first time in british history to fund manned spaceflight, at worst things will remain pretty much as is. <br /><br />My bet is that it'll end up somewhere in the middle, with increased funding for space science (robotic) missions to moon (and maybe piggyback missions to mars/asteriods), which isn't a bad thing, but may not help much towards giving a green light to CSTS in 08. But we can but hope.
 
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holmec

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Well, its about time.<br />But we will see if the German pride will prevail. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>
 
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no_way

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<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The UK is currently reviewing its national space policy. At best the gov't will decide for the first time in british history to fund manned spaceflight, at worst things will remain pretty much as is.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />I think there is an even better alternative. Just provide peachy regulatory environment for would-be commercial space operators. <br />Maybe drop in a few decent prizes and other incentives for local space related tech developments, general rocketry prizes ala lunar lander challenge, guaranteed purchase orders for first british orbital launchers of any size.<br />In ten years, this will yield more return of investment than the socialistic state-run approach pursued by other national space establishments.
 
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dreada5

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Yes I think you're right. UK and other EU states should focus on growing industry expertise and capability through prizes, awards and carefully placed, thought-out contracts to help nurture/encourage the industry. <br /><br />In fact it would seem that's what UK government ministers are just as keen to see happen as they have spoken of how the economy will benefit from attracting space expertise/business.
 
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