Space

European Space Agency Talks Future Missions, Chance of Building Manned Spacecraft

The agency hopes to send at least two more astronauts to the International Space Station before 2030.
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European Space Agency Talks Future Missions, Chance of Building Manned Spacecraft
The European Space Agency's Ariane 6 rocket carrying two Galileo satellites for the the EU's Global Navigation Satellite System launches at the Guiana Space Centre on Dec. 17, 2025. Ronan Lietar/AFP via Getty Images
T.J. Muscaro
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When French astronaut Sophie Adenot lifts off to the International Space Station with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission, she will continue the European Space Agency’s tradition of essentially hitching a ride to space.

Since its initial founding in 1975, the European Space Agency has continued to opt out of building and flying its own manned spacecraft.

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T.J. Muscaro
T.J. Muscaro
Author
T.J. Muscaro is an award-winning reporter and NASA Correspondent for The Epoch Times, covering the Artemis program, Space Force, and other public and private ambitions within the growing space industry. Based in Tampa, Florida, he also covers stories of extreme weather and disaster relief, as well as various matters of national and international politics.