NASA and the European Space Agency agree to explore the Moon together

The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA stressed their cooperation this Wednesday, in full tension with Russia, and signed two agreements to cooperate in global climate change mitigation and lunar explorationand promise to promote the landing of the first European astronaut on the moon.

After several meetings in the Netherlands over the past two days, both agencies have discussed the possibility of the first European astronaut landing on the moon, cooperation on a telecommunications satellite for lunar exploitation, and a mission to return samples of precious rocks from Mars. , explained ESA Council President Anna Rathsman.

The European agency invited Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, to the meeting to underline the strong role of Europe in the multiple projects that strengthen the lasting partnership between these agencies, a cooperation that allows Europe to build autonomy while being a partner. reliable, stressed ESA director Josef Aschbacher.

“NASA has collaboration with ESA to promote moon exploration with the Artemis program. The European service module is the nerve center of the Orion spacecraft, providing our astronauts with space maneuvering capabilities, life support and power that will safely transport our astronauts to the moon and back to Earth, ”Nelson noted.

ESA is already providing service modules as part of its contribution to the International Space Station program, and there is now an agreement to bring three ESA astronauts aboard Orion to the Gateway, the outpost in space under construction by the international partners.

This partnership, ESA points out, also paves the way for the first European astronaut to reach the surface of the moon.

two chords

NASA and ESA will join forces in the future so that the American transports the lunar explorer – the first commercial lunar telecommunications satellite available to global users under construction by a British company – and the European company will provide NASA with access to lunar telecommunications.

In addition, in a unique collaboration between ESA and NASA, tests will be carried out using satellite navigation signals and laser beams “to demonstrate for the first time a positioning fix for satellite navigation in lunar orbit,” says the European agency.

ESA and NASA have also signed an agreement for a partnership in Earth system science, and plan a global response to climate changethrough the monitoring of the Earth and its environment with efforts of observation, research and application of science, in support of measures for adaptation and mitigation of the climate crisis.

“When it comes to global challenges such as the climate crisis, each of us has a role to play, but only by joining forces can we achieve more,” added Aschbacher, who sees this as a “historic opportunity” for both. space agencies. an integral part ”of climate change mitigation.

EFE