American Astronautical Society, 2015 Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium, http://astronautical.org/goddard/2015

1. ESA UNCLASSIFIED – For Official UseESA UNCLASSIFIED – For public release
53rd Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium
10 - 12 March 2015, Greenbelt, Maryland
ESA’S SPACE EXPLORATION STRATEGY
B. HUFENBACH,
ESA DIRECTORATE FOR HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT AND OPERATIONS
HEAD OF STRATEGIC PLANNING OFFICE

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o ESA’s Space Exploration Strategy
o Considerations on ISECG/ GER
o Some concluding reflections
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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• ESA-wide, developed with inputs from
Directorates for Human Spaceflight and
Operations, Science and Robotic
Exploration, Technology and Launchers
• Iterated throughout 2014 with ESA
Member States
• Basis for resolution adopted at ESA
Council meeting at Ministerial level in
December 2014
ESA EXPLORATION STRATEGY
Public version of resolution available at
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/Final_resolutions_1_2_3_from_CM_2014_Releasable_to_the_public.pdf

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• For the benefit of society at large
• Structured around ESA’s Exploration Destinations
• Promotes human-robotic partnership
• Focuses investments with a view to exploiting synergies
• Implemented through engagement in international
missions of interest and long-term strategic partnerships
 Sustained and user-driven exploitation of LEO
infrastructures
 Participation in international Moon and Mars
sample return missions
 Participation in human exploration
KEY ELEMENTS OF STRATEGY

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WHY EXPLORE
FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOCIETY AT LARGE
SCIENCE
Strengthen European excellence in scientific research
ECONOMICS
Contribute to competitiveness and growth of European
industrial sector
COOPERATION
Establish global cooperative framework
INSPIRATION
Attract society to expand knowledge and capabilities, study of
natural sciences and engineering, value of global cooperation,
preparation of sustainable human presence in solar system

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WHERE EXPLORE
• History of solar system
• Cosmic context of
understanding origin
of life on Earth
• Resources
• Stepping Stone
• User-driven research
and science
• Exploration
preparation
• Partnership with
private sector
• Search for life
• Planetary evolution
• In-dependence from
Earth

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HOW TO EXPLORE
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Human
Transportation
• Global/ multi-lateral cooperation, building on ISS partnership and opening
perspectives for new partners
• Incremental long-term partnerships
• Partner of choice through demonstration of excellence in focus areas
• Robust cooperation through occupying critical path roles
EXAMPLES
Lunar robotic
Exploration

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HOW TO EXPLORE
HUMAN-ROBOTIC PARTNERSHIP
• Human and robots as integral elements of mission
architecture
• Robotic mission as precursors for human missions
• Leverage on transportation infrastructure
developed for human exploration to accomplish
broader space exploration goals

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MISSION ROADMAP

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SYNERGIES

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EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTIONS
ESA FOCUS AREAS
Habitation Transport & Navigation
Operations,
including Astronauts
User-driven ResearchRobotics & Sample
Acquisition, Return &
Handling

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A common
• Vision
• Long-term plan for implementing the vision
• Approach for articulating the value
VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION

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• ESA is pursuing an independent strategic planning and is implementing
programmes through international cooperation
 ESA’s strategy is fully consistent with the ISECG GER
• Significant efforts have been invested in strategic planning and
coordination throughout the last years
 ESA’s strategy will guide future programmatic decisions
 The GER provides a strong basis for implementing the next
common steps through bi and multi-lateral cooperation
• Next years open a significant opportunity to build upon the momentum and
prepare a smooth transition from ISS to post-ISS era
CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS

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THANK YOU !