What Directions for Cooperation in Space Exploration?

摘要

Human space exploration has recently become an important focal point in major space agencies' plans. The catalyst for this recent movement is President George W. Bush's bold redirection of the U.S. civilian space program to pursue exploration to the Moon, Mars and the "worlds beyond." However, the United States is not the only spacefaring country developing exploration visions and programs focusing on the Moon and Mars. Europe, through the European Space Agency (ESA), initiated its space exploration initiative, the Aurora program, in 2001 and is scheduled to take several major decisions at the next ESA Ministerial Conference in December, and to take further decisions for space exploration by 2008. But Russia, Japan, India, China and others also are establishing their own exploration plans for missions beyond Earth orbit.