ESA Director General Proposes €10 Billion Plan for Independent European Crewed Spaceflight

Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), has outlined a proposal for Europe to develop its own crewed launch vehicle and recovery system, estimated to cost approximately €10 billion over the next decade. This initiative aims to reduce Europe's reliance on foreign providers for sending its astronauts into space. The plan, detailed in an interview with Euronews, is currently a political proposal and requires approval from ESA member states.