Presenting draft roadmaps

A one-day Space Exploration Technologies Workshop at ESTEC on 13 April 2012, co-organised with industry body Eurospace, gathered together representatives from leading European aerospace companies to give their own reactions to draft technology roadmaps for exploration.
Technology roadmaps covering ten major technology areas and the current ESA wide plans for space exploration covering missions and activities in LEO, to the Moon and Mars were presented and discussed.
These technology roadmaps intend to combine ESA-led research with that undertaken by national agencies and additional sources of funding such as among others the European Commission’s series of Framework Programmes, regional funding to better exploit synergies.
Based on the comments provided by industrialists the ESA roadmaps will be consolidated and used in support to the preparation ofESA’s upcoming Ministerial Council and will form the basis for the preparation of an ESA co-ordinated procurement plan for the technologies necessary for a sustainable European Exploration programme.