MOSCOW, June 5 The European Space Agency (ESA) intends to develop a spacecraft to take astronauts to the moon in the next decade, according to the Financial Times.
«The European Space Agency is preparing proposals to develop spacecraft over the next decade that could take ESA astronauts into orbit and to the moon,» the newspaper said, citing agency CEO Josef Aschbacher.
The newspaper, referring to Aschbacher, also notes that the project is of crucial importance for Europe, as it is necessary to catch up in the global race in the space sector. The newspaper, citing a report commissioned by the ESA, adds that national space agencies as well as private companies have announced more than 100 lunar missions by 2030, with Europe leading only two of them.
At the same time, according to the mentioned report, Europe did not have its own capabilities to launch people, and it relied on non-European partners in this matter. Currently, ESA is a junior partner of the US space agency NASA on lunar exploration projects, the newspaper writes. ://ria.ru/20230530/luna-1875182340.html» data-title='Roskosmos announces launch date for the first domestic mission to the Moon in 50 years'>