THE RISE, FALL AND RISE OF THE EUROPEAN SPACE PROGRAM

Europe has always, for centuries, wished to explore the stars, with the continent having a significant impact on the discovery of the planets and the inner workings of our solar system. For example, Nicolaus Copernicus famously proved that the Earth moved around the sun in the 16th century, and Galellio used telescopes to help shape our understanding of the planets in our solar system. Finally, Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity–perhaps the greatest discovery of all–greatly influenced astronomy. This can help explain why Europe has been, and still is today, so determined to explore our planets, solar Systems, and beyond.

The European Space Agency, which was founded in 1975, has made significant progress since then in allowing Europe to compete with other world-leading space agencies such as NASA and the Chinese space agency. For this agency, its history can be split into two key eras: the era of European space development, which brought about the foundations for the European space industry, and the new era of European competition that is uniting Europe even closer in the quest to explore the stars and beyond.

The Era of European Space Development:

Some key milestones of this development would be in 2003, when the first fully European-made mission to Mars was completed and brought great success to the industry. Furthermore, other key milestones include 2005, when the Huygens Probe–a European creation–landed on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, for the first time and became the first human spacecraft in human history to do so. Finally, the countless missions that the ESA has undertaken in continued support and development of the international space station have further cemented Europe's ongoing success and commitment to space exploration and development.

The Decade of Stagnation for the European Space Industry:

On the other hand, in recent years since 2010, it can be argued that the Chinese space agency has unfortunately surpassed the European Space Agency’s capabilities. China has been able to establish satellite probes on the Moon, and its use of reusable rockets has also propelled it past us. It has been confirmed that China plans to build a Chinese space station in an attempt to dominate the space industry. This last decade, between the years 2010 and 2020, can without a doubt be seen as a serious decline in European space power dominance.

The New European Space Competition:

The latest plans being drawn up for 2040 and the EU potentially granting the space industry €16 billion have thrust Europe into a new age of competition and growth. Consequently, this new generation is swiftly becoming inspired to help bring about an even brighter and more effective European space industry than ever before. Moreover, this budget aims to invest in programs like Horizon Europe, which develop key research and innovations that can be used not only to boost Europe's competitiveness, but also to use space technology to assist in the continued battle against climate change.

In conclusion, Europe has always wished to be a leader in space travel, from as early as the 16th century to the present day. With this new budget and the continued development of flagship programs such as Galileo and Copernicus, it is safe to say that as long as Europe uses its resources strategically, the space industry in Europe is starting to look incredibly bright.