SCIENCE AND WEAPONS DAILY REVIEW

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0000962876
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2009
• Case Number: F-2003-00569
• Publication Date: July 28, 1983

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 CONTENTS
FRANCE: AMBITIOUS SPACE PROGRAM PROPOSED
Officials of the French space agency, CNES, have
proposed a program that places emphasis on
manned low-Earth-orbit operations and commercial
materials processing.
28 JULY 1983
SW SWDR 83-242
 OSWR
Science and Weapons
Daily Review.
Officials of the French space agency CNES have proposed
an. expanded space program that places emphasis on manned
low-Earth-orbit operations and commercial materials
processing. Elements of the CNES proposal include:
FRANCE: AMBITIOUS SPACE PROGRAM PROPOSED
-- Development of the Ariane-5 heavy booster. The
Ariane-5 will be able to place 15,000 kg into
low-Earth orbit or 7,800 kg into a geosynchronous
transfer orbit.
-- Development of a small spaceplane capable of
carrying two pilots and either three passengers
or 3,000.kg of cargo into a low-Earth orbit.
-- Establishment of a permanent materials processing
platform in Earth orbit. This platform would be
an outgrowth of the European Space Agency (ESA)
Eureca project.
To fund these programs, CNES has proposed doubling the
current French space budget. The 1984 CNES budget would
be 520 million dollars, compared to the average budget of
250 million dollars through 1982. CNES also has called
for an annual spending increase of 21.67 million dollars
from 1984 through 1990. The 1990 space budget would be
650 million dollars, over two and one-half times the 1982
28 JULY 1983
1 SW SWDR 83-242
 ESA, although no funds have been committed for either
system. A European permanent orbital materials
processing center, serviced by a European spaceplane,
would mollify the West Germans, who favor manned space
projects and have entered into bilateral agreements frith
Comment:.
Although we believe' the French will not be able to
finance the expansion of their space program without a
major improvement in the national economy, they are still
.committed to making the space program a major priority.
More than likely, these proposals are trial balloons for
a comprehensive program to be presented-to the ESA at
their next budget hearing. Both the Ariane-5 and the
spaceplane projects have been considered favorably by the
28 JULY 1983
SW SWOR 83-242