A True European Space Program

Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic, is certainly not a man to think small. A recent story in the BBC suggests that President Sarkozy intends to use the current French Presidency of the European Union to revamp the European Space Agency.

What Sarkozy seems to have in mind is an ESA that is more like the American NASA, with clearly delineated goals set by politicians. The BBC story suggests that Sarkozy has in mind a European effort to the Moon and/or Mars, either in conjunction with the United States, or independently.

What the other countries that comprise the European Union will think of this scheme is as yet unknown. Certainly the reform of the ESA that Sarkozy has in mind will require a far greater expenditure of Euros than the EU has hitherto been willing to spend on space. Also, having to be responsive to not just one but several national governments, tends to make the ESA far more prone to political shifts of power than does NASA.

Still, the idea of Europe joining the new race to the Moon is an intriguing one. Many people, when warned of the prospect of China beating the United States back to the Moon, tend to yawn. The idea of the French beating the Americans is yet another matter.

Interesting enough, Nicolas Sarkozy, who is very keen to bring capitalism and free markets to France, seems to be silent on the idea of encouraging commercial space efforts. This is despite the fact that France, through the EU, pioneered the practice of commercial space launches through the family of the Ariane launcher. Commercial space is an area in which France could shine for not a whole lot of money.

Ariane remains a kind of European monopoly, subsidized by European countries. Sarkozy could do well to encourage competition to the Ariane through tax, regulatory, and core market incentives. He should consider opening up the space port in French Guiana to other commercial launchers. The Russian Soyuz launcher already launches from the French Guiana port alongside the Arianes. France and Europe could also contract out some space experiments to private companies, such as Bigelow Aerospace, who propose building private space stations. Private investment in the European portion of the International Space Station could also be encouraged.

France could also initiate X Prize competitions similar to the US X Prizes and NASA's Centennial Challenges. Such a new program could stimulate creativity and outside the box thinking that Europe sorely lacks and sorely needs.

France could use its influence to help jump start ideas to amend the Outer Space Treaty or form a new treaty defining and protecting private property rights in space, especially on celestial bodies. That would help to ensure that some of the companies that will eventually help to develop space economically will be European.

With interest rising in both publicly funded space programs, such as NASA's return to the Moon, and commercial space, Europe has a great opportunity. If Europe follows Sarkozy's lead and pays attention to the opportunities commercial space provides, the EU could become a true space faring power, with all that implies..

Source: France plans revolution in space, Mike McGrath, BBC, June 1,2008