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Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 November 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 December 2011. It was answered by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Monday, 5 December 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Space Technology

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support he plans to provide to space exploration in each of the next two years; what recent reports he has received of assistance given to space exploration by the Government of (a) the US, (b) the Russian Federation and (c) each EU member state; and if he will make a statement.
Answer

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, provides funding to the United Kingdom Space Agency for space activities. The one exploration project currently being funded through the European Space Agency (ESA) is ExoMars/Aurora. This is a mission to explore the atmosphere and surface of Mars and is scheduled to be launched in two phases in 2016 and 2018. It is funded by the UK at an average of €14 million per year. In addition there is a nationally funded UK activity of £5.5 million per year to provide instruments for the ExoMars mission and to exploit the science and technology of this and other Mars exploration missions.The United States was scheduled to be a major partner in ExoMars, but the latest report indicates that they are reconsidering their support with a view to a decision in February 2012. I have also been advised that the Russian Federation are also considering whether they can offer support and a position may be known by early 2012.ESA member states have agreed to support the ESA ExoMars programme as shown in the following table. Most countries also have a national programme to support instruments. Through ESA, member states are studying options for a Mars mission to follow ExoMars with the ultimate goal of returning samples of material from Mars for study in terrestrial laboratories. Germany, Spain and Portugal are also funding studies with ESA of a proposed robotic lunar lander mission to be launched around 2018.

Participating states ExoMars % ExoMars M€ - 2008 ec
Austria 1.25 12.5
Belgium 2.61 26.1
Denmark 0.55 5.5
France 12.9 129.0
Germany 8.96 89.6
Italy 27.82 278.2
The Netherlands 1.24 12.4
Norway 0.26 2.6
Portugal 0.21 2.1
Spain 5.83 58.3
Sweden 0.62 6.2
Switzerland 4.38 43.8
United Kingdom 16.5 165.0
Canada 1.91 19.1
Total subscribed 85.04 850.4

ExoMars is in a critical position, with European support remaining solid, but with the USA reconsidering its role. Once the USA and Russian Federation views are known, ESA will determine the way forward by agreement of its member states.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
84554; 537 c167-9W
Session
2010-12
Subjects
Spaceflight
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk