The World : Europe’s Space Budget Cut

The European Space Agency trimmed part of its ambitious long-term space exploration program in a cost-saving move aimed at overcoming differences among its 13 members. Ministers of member countries began two days of talks in The Hague to vote on two programs aimed at launching West European astronauts into orbit by the year 2000 and a third project for a new generation Ariane launch rocket. Cost estimates of $12 billion to $13 billion were presented for Ariane 5, a Hermes mini-space shuttle and a Columbus space module for a U.S. international space station. A fourth element of the Columbus project, an unmanned scientific space lab, was scrapped.