The head of ESA’s science programs, Carole Mundell, is seeking a “very modest” budget increase for future missions at the upcoming ministerial meeting. In an online town hall meeting, she highlighted the need for additional funding, specifically mentioning a flagship mission to Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus.
Mundell emphasized the agency's efficiency but noted that further funding is crucial for ESA’s “Vision 2050” strategy. She described the requested increase as a mere 1% of the overall budget, stating, “The uplift that we’re asking for is actually very modest. Because we’ve created these efficiencies, you will get a lot of bang for your buck when you invest.” This follows a 13% increase in science funding approved in 2022, but inflation and the war in Ukraine impacted purchasing power, necessitating further efficiencies.
Mundell gave an example of releasing reserve funding for the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission to extend 10 other science missions. However, she stressed that efficiency alone is insufficient. The planned Enceladus mission, with a 2043 launch date, requires significant technology development, necessitating investment in 2025. “We have to land on Enceladus in 2052 because that’s when the south pole is illuminated by the sun, which means we launch in 2043, which means we adopt the mission in 2034,” she explained. “We need the investment to flow in 2025 because we have a lot of technology development in order to get that mission ready to be successful.”
The budget proposal includes funding for the Enceladus mission and other Vision 2050 projects, along with a “significant international collaboration wedge” for missions with NASA and JAXA. It also supports ongoing missions. Mundell highlighted the “mandatory” nature of ESA science funding, requiring unanimous support from all 23 member states. She has engaged with 22 member states already and plans to visit Slovenia soon.
Mundell concluded by encouraging scientists to advocate for the program, stating, “If you are in touch with any interlocutor, whether that’s your neighbor, whether you’re in an elevator with a minister, speak up for the program, because we all build this together.”