COPERNICUS

Copernicus Climate Change Service
The ever growing use of Copernicus across Europe’s regions

SPACE TRANSPORT

There is not yet alternative to rocket Space launching of either manned or unmanned load. It is expensive, not very safe (approximately 90% success rate) and stressful. Alternatives are investigated the best known are:
Swiss Space System project (bankrupt due to mismanagement of funds), concept: aircraft + space shuttle
 Virgin Gallactic, concept:  aircraft + space shuttle
Dream  Chaser (Sierra Nevada Corporation), concept:  rocket launched space shuttle
Skylon – Aerospace Technology, concept: aircraft powered by rocket engines with intake of Oxygen from atmosphere (Skylon – The future of space?, Skylon – The Key To Economic Access To Space?, Skylon Spaceplane )

SCIENCE

Long-term planning of the ESA SCIENCE PROGRAMME