In an official manifesto presented at the 2022 European Space Summit, dozens of astronauts endorsed the need for a crewed spaceship to build Europe’s space industry and talent. Europe has seven active-duty astronauts and has launched many more, but only on capsules and space shuttles from the United States and Russia.
Amy Foster, associate professor of history, spoke to The Galaxy Reporters about the geopolitical and historical context of the call for an independent European spaceship.
“It certainly doesn’t surprise me, given the tensions with Russia over Ukraine, and the rise of the private space industry around the world,” says Foster. “Europe has had to play third wheel in terms of their crewed launches, along with Japan, so maybe it does make sense that this is the right time to stretch their own legs.”
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