UK sinks to fifth in ESA funding league behind Spain
(2025/12/02)
- Reference: 1764675907
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/12/02/esa_ministerials/
- Source link:
Nearly ten years after Brit astronaut Tim Peake visited the International Space Station (ISS), the UK has slipped behind Spain in European Space Agency funding rankings.
At the latest ESA Ministerial meeting, where contributions and projects are discussed, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said it had secured €22.1 billion (£19.41 billion/ $25.69 billion) in commitments, close to the €22.25 billion target. The slight shortfall was due to substantial oversubscriptions in some areas and undersubscriptions in others.
However, the UK's contribution fell from €1.876 billion (11.24 percent of the budget) in 2022 to €1.706 billion (7.78 percent). Spain more than doubled its commitment, joining Germany, France, and Italy as top contributors. Germany led with €5.067 billion, up from €3.476 billion.
[1]
The Space Transportation sector won big in the latest budget, attracting €4.439 billion against a proposed €3.895 billion. Human and Robotic Exploration – astronaut activities and missions to Mars – underperformed, securing €2.976 billion in funding commitments versus the requested €3.773 billion. The figure is still a slight increase, just not the jump ESA had proposed.
[2]
[3]
The shift perhaps raises questions about the UK's next astronaut assignment. Rosemary Coogan remains the only career UK astronaut in ESA's corps, alongside reserve Meganne Christian and John McFall, who was hired for specific projects. The UK Space Agency confirmed ESA's Director General has stated all five career astronauts from the 2022 class, including Coogan, will fly by 2030.
The first career astronaut from 2022's intake assigned a mission is Sophie Adenot, who is due to visit the ISS in 2026. A project astronaut from the same intake, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, was launched to the ISS in June 2025 on Axiom Mission 4 for a short stint aboard the outpost.
[4]
The UK put on a brave face on proceedings. Space minister Liz Lloyd said: "Our space sector is a key driver of our economic growth and national security, and also supports our allies in Europe and beyond.
[5]Rosalind Franklin rover catches a break as NASA reaffirms commitment
[6]Canada ups its European Space Agency bet 10x with $376M
[7]UK space sector 'lacks strategic direction,' Lords warn
[8]ESA tests bacterial powder to feed Moon and Mars crews
"After these negotiations in Bremen, during what remains a challenging time for economies across Europe, we have secured backing for our priority ESA programmes, which will support thousands of jobs, greater resilience, and cutting-edge science and technology across the UK."
The UK Space Agency told The Register that it deliberately focused on areas that can yield "maximum value" for Britain.
"The funding of these multilateral, multi-year programmes is complex – so when combined with the continuation of previous CM22 commitments, the UK's annual ESA budget is higher than ever."
ESA also announced that the first European astronaut to go to the Moon will be a German, either Alexander Gerst, who has served two stints on board the ISS, or Matthias Maurer, who has done one. However, the Artemis program's delays may require younger candidates from the 2022 reserve roster.
[9]
Countries commit to five-year funding cycles at these ministerial meetings, locking in support levels through the next planning period. ®
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[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/27/nasa_support_exomars/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/19/canada_european_space_agency/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/06/uk_risks_being_adrift_in/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/03/esa_launches_study_phase_of/
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[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
At the latest ESA Ministerial meeting, where contributions and projects are discussed, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said it had secured €22.1 billion (£19.41 billion/ $25.69 billion) in commitments, close to the €22.25 billion target. The slight shortfall was due to substantial oversubscriptions in some areas and undersubscriptions in others.
However, the UK's contribution fell from €1.876 billion (11.24 percent of the budget) in 2022 to €1.706 billion (7.78 percent). Spain more than doubled its commitment, joining Germany, France, and Italy as top contributors. Germany led with €5.067 billion, up from €3.476 billion.
[1]
The Space Transportation sector won big in the latest budget, attracting €4.439 billion against a proposed €3.895 billion. Human and Robotic Exploration – astronaut activities and missions to Mars – underperformed, securing €2.976 billion in funding commitments versus the requested €3.773 billion. The figure is still a slight increase, just not the jump ESA had proposed.
[2]
[3]
The shift perhaps raises questions about the UK's next astronaut assignment. Rosemary Coogan remains the only career UK astronaut in ESA's corps, alongside reserve Meganne Christian and John McFall, who was hired for specific projects. The UK Space Agency confirmed ESA's Director General has stated all five career astronauts from the 2022 class, including Coogan, will fly by 2030.
The first career astronaut from 2022's intake assigned a mission is Sophie Adenot, who is due to visit the ISS in 2026. A project astronaut from the same intake, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, was launched to the ISS in June 2025 on Axiom Mission 4 for a short stint aboard the outpost.
[4]
The UK put on a brave face on proceedings. Space minister Liz Lloyd said: "Our space sector is a key driver of our economic growth and national security, and also supports our allies in Europe and beyond.
[5]Rosalind Franklin rover catches a break as NASA reaffirms commitment
[6]Canada ups its European Space Agency bet 10x with $376M
[7]UK space sector 'lacks strategic direction,' Lords warn
[8]ESA tests bacterial powder to feed Moon and Mars crews
"After these negotiations in Bremen, during what remains a challenging time for economies across Europe, we have secured backing for our priority ESA programmes, which will support thousands of jobs, greater resilience, and cutting-edge science and technology across the UK."
The UK Space Agency told The Register that it deliberately focused on areas that can yield "maximum value" for Britain.
"The funding of these multilateral, multi-year programmes is complex – so when combined with the continuation of previous CM22 commitments, the UK's annual ESA budget is higher than ever."
ESA also announced that the first European astronaut to go to the Moon will be a German, either Alexander Gerst, who has served two stints on board the ISS, or Matthias Maurer, who has done one. However, the Artemis program's delays may require younger candidates from the 2022 reserve roster.
[9]
Countries commit to five-year funding cycles at these ministerial meetings, locking in support levels through the next planning period. ®
Get our [10]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aS8bLYRBn8Uq5xDo8ocI0QAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/27/nasa_support_exomars/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/19/canada_european_space_agency/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/06/uk_risks_being_adrift_in/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/03/esa_launches_study_phase_of/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aS8bLYRBn8Uq5xDo8ocI0QAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Anonymous Coward
But, "The funding of these multilateral, multi-year programmes is complex – so when combined with the continuation of previous CM22 commitments, the UK's annual ESA budget is higher than ever ."
seven of five
Ok, so it is "creative maths".
Ok
codejunky
The UK finances aint in great shape so why not reduce spending a bit? Shiny toys are great when you can afford them but with our 20bn black hole (/sarc) we might not be able to afford it
Re: Ok
Anonymous Coward
The only £20bn black hole appears to have been in the press. Privately the OBR warned the chancellor that she had from -£3bn to £4.2bn buffer, the tax rises she announced bring it back up to the usual £20bn buffer.
"Our space sector is a key driver of our economic growth and national security, and also supports our allies in Europe and beyond."
Words.
"the UK's contribution fell from €1.876 billion (11.24 percent of the budget) in 2022 to €1.706 billion (7.78 percent)"
Deeds.
You do the maths.