The European Space Agency's (ESA) Human and Robotic Exploration (HRE) program faced budgetary challenges at the recent ministerial meeting. Member nations pledged 2.66 billion euros ($3.08 billion), approximately 70% of the requested 3.77 billion euros. Despite this shortfall, ESA set its overall budget at 22.1 billion euros, a significant increase from the €16.9 billion approved in 2022.
“ We raised the bar very high,” said Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, immediately after the budget announcement. “We took a risk, because we are convinced that Europe has to make a step to increase exploration. And this was also a message.”
The outcome suggests a possible shift in European strategic priorities towards areas like secure communications and dual-use technologies. Another reason is the evolving risk assessment of NASA’s exploration programs, like the cancellation of Mars Sample Return (MSR) and the re-evaluation of Gateway, which influence European ministerial decisions on fund allocation. France, for example, contributed 200 million euros to HRE, significantly less than Germany (871 million euros) and Italy (834 million euros).
Neuenschwander emphasized the security of core capabilities for autonomy across destinations. “We confirmed the Cargo Return Service for LEO, Argonaut for the moon, and Rosalind Franklin for Mars,” he said. The 600 million euro budget for Argonaut was also approved. “Argonaut Mission 1 is confirmed and we now need to select the payloads, which will be selected in due time.” ESA’s Cargo Return Service is designed to develop European commercial capabilities for transport to and from low Earth orbit. Argonaut is ESA’s lunar lander, aiming for the Moon by 2030. Rosalind Franklin is the ExoMars program’s European rover, planned for launch in 2028.
The effects of the 30% budget gap on the HRE portfolio remain uncertain. Europe’s contribution to MSR is a likely candidate for reassessment. Neuenschwander confirmed that the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO), ESA’s main contribution to MSR, will be repurposed as ZefERO, a European Mars geology mission planned for 2032. “I’m very happy that the member states supported us in the concept of reorienting ERO towards ZefERO,” Neuenschwander said.
The fate of other missions remains unclear. “We are just collecting the elements. And what we will do is go back to our member states and discuss the different options,” Neuenschwander said. “The step increase has not been achieved, but count on us to come back.”