Advisory group backs European human spaceflight program using commercial approaches

WASHINGTON — An advisory committee called on the European Space Agency to develop a comprehensive human spaceflight program using a more commercial approach.

The report by the High-Level Advisory Group, released by ESA March 23, called on the agency to develop autonomy in human spaceflight, including crewed spacecraft and a commercial space station as well as the ability to conduct a human lunar landing within a decade, but offered little guidance on budgets for doing so.

“Europe should establish autonomy in Earth orbit, on the Moon and beyond with human and robotic…