Financial Times June 6, 2017 by: Peggy Hollinger and Clive Cookson
Tim Peake’s second flight to space has been called into question because of haggling over how much money the UK should contribute to the European Space Agency.
It was announced by the government in January that the UK-born astronaut would follow up his widely acclaimed six-month mission to the International Space Station last year with a second space flight.
But members of the ESA, an intergovernmental organisation that is not under the auspices of the EU, are demanding that the UK significantly increases its current contribution of €41m over three years. This would help to fund a shortfall in the budget to send astronauts to the ISS after 2019.
People with knowledge of both the UK and ESA positions confirmed that an initial demand had been rejected by London.
One official said that the UK felt it was already contributing its fair share, and preferred to fund activities that delivered a commercial or scientific return, such as developing satellite technologies and sending unmanned probes to Mars.
But another person said that, compared to other ISS funders, “the UK got a very good deal [for Major Peake’s first flight] and so . . . ESA will want more money. There are certainly discussions to be had.” Major Peake could not be reached for comment.
The UK funds 7.9 per cent of the ESA’s €5.75bn spending in 2017, far less than France and Germany, at 22.7 per cent each, and Italy at 14.6 per cent.
More:
https://www.ft.com/content/cfbea554-4904-11e7-a3f4-c742b9791d43
