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

The European Space Agency's Director General, Josef Aschbacher, has outlined a €10 billion, 10-year plan aimed at enabling Europe to independently launch its own astronauts into orbit without relying on foreign providers. This proposal, detailed in an interview with Euronews, seeks to develop the necessary hardware, including a crewed vehicle and a recovery system, to achieve sovereign spaceflight capabilities. The plan requires political approval from ESA member states.