Updates Advanced Reentry Vehicle (ESA)

[Orbinaut Pete]

Aviation Week: "Debate Grows On ESA Starting ARV".

 

[N_Molson]

They talk about returning science experiments (which is great already), not crew members. But I guess that, after several successful unmanned reentries, a crewed version wouldn't be so hard to build...

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Aviation Week: "Fiscal Realities Complicate ARV Decision".

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Aviation Week: "Europe Eyes ATV Upgrade".

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Aviation Week: "Plan Will Focus On Best Use Of ISS, Ariane 5".

The strategic plan also downplays the question of spinoffs from Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)—notably a reentry capsule intended to lay the groundwork for a European space transportation capability—and simply recommends that Germany work with ESA and other ISS partners to develop a common approach. Woerner says Berlin is willing to follow a less ambitious ATV development path, but will block any attempt to offer cash (instead of additional ATVs) to cover five additional years of ISS utility and transportation services.

 

[Urwumpe]

Wörner also signed a cooperation treaty with NASA lately about joint robotics missions to the moon... despite the German government again reducing a moon program of Germany into pure promises.

I would not expect too much from Germany, as long as the current government is in place. And another German government is not likely to invest, but it is at least not impossible then.