ESA analyzes with its member countries the impact of NASA’s presupposed reduction

Drafting Science, May 5 (EFE) .- The European space Agency (ESA) is evaluating with its member countries the impact of the reduction of NASA funds provided by the administration of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, in its budget proposal by 2026, although “it remains open to cooperation”.

The General Director of the ESA, Josef Aschbacher, said today in a statement that NASA has informed that about that budget proposal and, “although there are still some questions about all repercussions, monitoring meetings are already being held” with the US space agency.

ESA “is still open to NASA cooperation in programs for a reduction or termination”, but is evaluating with its member states the impact, in the face of the Council that the European Agency will celebrate in June.

At that meeting and depending on the evolution of the situation, it will evaluate with its members, “the possible actions and alternative scenarios for the programs of the affected and the European industry.”

ESA will celebrate at the end of the year its council at the ministerial level and is “determined to increase the potential of Europe in space, for the ultimate benefit of Europe, the ESA Member States and its citizens.”

Aschbacher recalled in the note that ESA and NASA have a long history of fruitful collaboration, especially in exploration -a very visible example of international cooperation -where they have “with numerous joint activities that have forged decades of strong ties between American and European colleagues”.

Space exploration is “a company in which the group can go much further than the individual” and therefore the ESA maintains solid associations with space agencies around the world and “has committed to being not only a reliable partner, but a strong and desirable partner.”

Last day 2, the White House Management and Budget Office published a “simplified” version of the president’s budgetary request (PBR) for fiscal year 2026 and the most detailed version of the application is expected to be published between the end of May and the beginning of June.