|  | Providing a forum to discuss the principles and the opportunities for interested nations to coordinate their plans | |
Welcome statement Mrs Di Pippo and Mr Sacotte
Thank you for visiting these web pages. They are meant to give visibility to the reflection, and provide a repository for the resulting material, that major space agencies worldwide are conducting collectively on the issue of space exploration from a global and international cooperation perspective.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), through the undersigned, have been at the forefront on the reflection and the discussion to establish an international framework for space exploration and the underlying strategy.
Space exploration is regarded as a very long-term and ambitious endeavour that no nation alone can embark on. The objectives, implications and results of space exploration activities are such that go beyond national boundaries and thus we envisage an international participation as large as possible.
Aurora Programme
ESA’s Aurora Exploration Programme, since its inception in 2001 and under the main contribution of Italy, devised a roadmap of space exploration along those very principles. Today, as the Aurora Programme progresses and develops its activities, international cooperation and coordination are still key elements of its strategy.
This is why in 2005 ESA’s Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration (D/HME) and ASI’s Osservazione dell’Universo decided to organise a forum where to discuss the principles and the opportunities for interested nations to coordinate their space exploration plans and create the conditions for future cooperation at various level.
Knowledge-based society
The choice where to hold these discussions fell on a restored abbey from XI century in the Tuscan country side: the Spineto Abbey provided with an ideal place to conduct our discussions in a relaxed yet focussed atmosphere and an undeniable source of reflection on the role that inspirational activities had in the humankind development.
It is our belief that space exploration holds a great potential not only to answer key scientific questions, foster innovation and support a high-value industrial base but will eventually provide a great source of inspiration that is needed to fully achieve a true knowledge-based society.
Building on achievements
Europeans have an unsurpassed record of sea and land exploration that have shaped the world as we know it today. Europe has also a successful track-record in scientific missions to other planets and is an important partner in the first space outpost like the International Space Station.
We are now laying the foundations for a second phase in the exploration and exploitation of outer space. Building on the achievements and experience from the past we have the ambition to position Europe as a significant player in the journey to explore, understand and eventually utilise the resource from extra-terrestrial bodies like the Moon and Mars.
International cooperation
We both believe in the value of international cooperation in all human activities, to reach ambitious goals and solve global issues. Space, and space exploration in particular, is something that can best be achieved through cooperation.
Our efforts are geared towards achieving effective cooperation aimed at carrying out far fetching projects to improve our knowledge, our technologies and ultimately contribute to better our societies.
We hope this web site will become a contribution to the goals above and possibly a forum to facilitate mutual understanding and cooperation among space agencies worldwide to push our physical and intellectual frontiers always further.
Thank you for your visit
Last update: 23 February 2007 | 
