American Marconi Wireless News - Macron urges Europe to develop 'crewed spaceflight' programme

Macron made the call during an international space summit held in Paris this week, which was shown the cold shoulder by several US companies including SpaceX and Blue Origin.

"We want Europe to assert its ambition in crewed spaceflight," he said.

"Our European space programme remains fragile and we must step up our efforts."

The French president laid out a series of milestones he wants Europe to reach over the next decade.

"In two years' time, I want to see the first European cargo capsule, Nyx, dock with the International Space Station; in five years' time, the first European lunar lander, Argonaut, land on the Moon's surface," he said.

"And in 10 years' time, the first European manned capsule take off from Kourou with European astronauts and those from other nations on board," he added, referring to Europe's spaceport in French Guiana.

Europe has in recent years sought greater independence in space but has never sent a manned mission, instead relying on the rockets and capsules of Russia and the United States.

Last year, the European Space Agency secured a record budget of 22.1 billion euros to fund its programmes for the next three years.

M.Fischer--AMWN