Macron urges Europe to develop ‘crewed spaceflight’ programme

French President Emmanuel Macron urged European nations to develop their own crewed spaceflight program during an international summit in Paris. He emphasized the need to strengthen Europe's fragile space sector, stating that the continent should assert its ambition in crewed spaceflight. Macron outlined several milestones for Europe to achieve within the next decade.

By the end of the next two years, he wants Europe to have a cargo capsule named Nyx docked with the International Space Station. In five years, he hopes to see the first European lunar lander, Argonaut, touch down on the Moon's surface. Ten years from now, Macron envisions a European manned capsule launching from the agency's spaceport in French Guiana, carrying astronauts from Europe and other nations.

This ambitious plan comes after Europe has increasingly sought greater independence in space exploration, though it has yet to send a manned mission, relying instead on Russian and American rockets and capsules. In 2022, the European Space Agency secured a record €22.1 billion budget for its programs over the next three years.