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The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a contract with the Arian group to study the possibility of traveling to the moon before 2025, a precedent for Europe, announced Monday (21 January 2019) the director General of the space industry group.
Andre Obert Russell also confirmed the date of the first flight of the future European missile Ariane 6 in 2020, when it will replace the current Ariane 5.
"This is the first contract announced symbolically during a day during which a lunar eclipse has been achieved, which is an important station for the Arian group," Russell said in an address. to journalists.
"I am convinced that the invasion of space is necessary for the future of humanity in general, Europe must retain its place in this area," added the new chairman of the group, who took office on 1 January.
"This study is part of an overall plan of the agency to make Europe a key partner in space exploration over the next decade," said David Parker, Director of Human Exploration and Robotics at the European Space Agency.
"The use of space resources can be the key to a permanent exploration of the moon."
The head of the European Space Agency, Jan Werner, proposed in 2015 to replace the International Space Station (ISS) in Earth orbit with a "permanent lunar village".
The timing of this announcement in 2019 is symbolic as the world celebrates this year the fiftieth anniversary of the first lunar descent of man in 1969.
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