WASHINGTON — Space agencies involved in the NASA-led Artemis lunar exploration campaign are committed to continuing their contributions despite the current budget uncertainties surrounding NASA. This commitment was highlighted during the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) 2025, held this week in New Delhi by the International Astronautical Federation. A major concern discussed in plenary sessions was the future of Artemis, especially following a budget proposal released by the White House on May 2, which suggested canceling the lunar Gateway and terminating the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion programs after the Artemis 3 mission.
If enacted, these proposed changes would significantly impact international space agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which are contributing to the Orion and Gateway programs, as well as providing long-term support to Artemis through landers and rovers. “Artemis is one of our most important topics,” stated Walther Pelzer, director general of the German Space Agency, emphasizing Germany's role in producing the European service module for Orion. He expressed concerns regarding the proposed shift from SLS and Orion to commercial systems post-Artemis 3, questioning the feasibility of achieving development milestones for SpaceX’s Starship.
Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in the United Arab Emirates, echoed similar sentiments. He noted the UAE's commitment to providing the airlock module for Gateway while remaining adaptable to the ongoing budget discussions in Congress. “We have to be quite nimble,” Al Marri remarked, indicating the necessity of adjusting to any program changes to maintain collaboration.
Officials from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency also affirmed their dedication to proceeding with their Artemis contributions as the budget debate unfolds. “We will commit on our side to contribute what we have promised,” said Josef Aschbacher, director general of ESA. “We have always been a reliable partner and we will continue to do so.”
Jill Smyth, director of space exploration planning at the Canadian Space Agency, noted their continued work on Canadarm3, emphasizing their optimism despite the budgetary challenges. “I’m an optimist,” Pelzer added, recalling instances where proposed budget cuts did not materialize as Congress often intervenes to maintain funding for critical programs.
It is worth noting that NASA was notably absent from GLEX 2025, having curtailed travel in line with an executive order. Some attendees mentioned that NASA leadership had previously met with the represented agencies at the Space Symposium in Colorado. Discussions at GLEX suggested that there is a pressing need to rethink existing structures for international cooperation, similar to the partnerships established for the International Space Station.
Caroline Laurent, director of orbital systems and applications at the French space agency CNES, emphasized the importance of fostering new cooperative frameworks among the participating nations. “We should plan more missions with one another in the future,” she suggested, advocating for a collaborative approach among agencies such as ISRO, the Emirates, Canada, and JAXA.
On the sidelines of GLEX, ESA and the Indian space agency ISRO signed a statement of intent on May 7 to enhance cooperation. This collaboration aims to ensure interoperability of docking systems on their spacecraft and improve astronaut training. ESA may also utilize ISRO's POEM missions to conduct experiments in low Earth orbit, potentially paving the way for European missions to India's proposed space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, which is slated for launch by the mid-2030s.
Aschbacher remarked on the necessity of international collaboration in space exploration, stating, “The complexities and costs of space missions often surpass the capabilities of just one nation.” He highlighted that ESA’s partnership with organizations like ISRO showcases the potential of shared expertise and resources in overcoming challenges in space exploration.
