NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/sci/space/10609

Internet Message Format | 1992-07-21 | 3.4 KB

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From: [e-mail] (Philippos A. Peleties)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: ESA Future
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 21 Jul 92 21:14:53 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Lines: 64

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Matthew DeLuca) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Philippos A. Peleties) writes:
>>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Matthew DeLuca) writes:
>
>>The point is this: ex-Soviet (Russian/Ukranian) technology most likely
>>will be used in some rather substantial capacity and some combination
>>of the above countries will become ESA members whether they are geographically
>>located in Europe or not.
>
>>It makes sense economically, politically and any other way there is to
>>measure things.
>
>I think the real point here is that you completely ignored what I wrote and
>simply poted what you would *like* to see.
>
>In principle, it would be good for the former Soviet states to cooperate
>with the ESA and contribute their storehouse of experience and knowhow.
>
>In practice, it's extremely unlikely.  Funding for the ESA comes from contri-
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I admire your confidence ;-) Am I the only one to be accused for wishful
thinking? :-)

>butions by the member nations, and there is no way the ex-Soviet states can
>afford it.  The only way they could even consider it is if they completely
>scrapped their current space program and subordinate themselves to the ESA,
>which is unlikely, to say the least.

Yes, I'm aware of the funding mechanism inside ESA. And, yes, the ex-Soviet
states will not contribute money, but it's not money that ESA want's them
to contribute anyway. The most likely short-term arrangement they will
have for the time being is ESA putting the money and ex-Soviets putting the
knowhow and facilities as you so nicely put it. It is still a cost-effective
measure for ESA. The long-term arrangement will most likely be that of a
member state. There's nothing new here.

>
>I think what we are going to see happen is a fairly signifigant scaleback in
>Russian space activity for several years, followed by a gradual resumption to
>former levels around the turn of the century, when their economy starts to
>function again.  As for the ESA, God only knows what is going to happen to
>them...probably bicker themselves to death.
>

Don't count on it. Standard politics in Europe. There will be a period of
minimal expenditure since Germany politically cannot afford not to scale back
as far as ESA funding is concerned... which points even more to the above
mentioned short and long-term approach.


>--
>Matthew DeLuca                      "I'd hire the Dorsai, if I knew their
>Georgia Institute of Technology      P.O. box."
>Office of Information Technology                - Zebediah Carter,
>Internet: [e-mail]              _The Number of the Beast_

Philip Peleties


--


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