Uncertainties over US space policy reignite debate on European autonomy

What role will Europeans play in the return to the Moon? No one knows yet, until the US Congress passes the federal budget in the fall, and Donald Trump signs the bill into law.

While the Artemis program is being conducted under the auspices of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) is actively involved in the design and construction of hardware for future missions. The Europeans are expected to provide six service modules for the Orion spacecraft (which provides propulsion, electricity, and life support for the crew), with an option for three more missions, according to the memorandum of understanding signed in October 2020 between ESA and NASA.

At the same time, Europe is to provide two of the five modules that will make up the Gateway, the future space station that is to remain in lunar orbit for at least fifteen years: the I-Hab habitation module and the Esprit module (which will provide communications, propellant storage, and docking ports). However, the Office of Management and Budget, the White House office that oversees the federal budget, has requested the cancellation of Orion after three flights and of the Gateway.

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