Europe looks at space amid global economic turmoil

European ministers discussed on Tuesday the future of a range of costly space missions, from Mars exploration to a satellite system for monitoring climate change, against a backdrop of the global economic crisis and rising competition from Asia.

The European Space Agency has projects worth euro10.4 billion ($13.28 billion) planned for the coming years to stay competitive in the space race.

Key projects include a global satellite navigation network called Galileo and another satellite system for tracking the environment and climate change. It is also developing a new version of its successful Ariane launch rocket and robotic explorers to be sent to Mars.

Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Maria van der Hoeven told other ministers from the agency's 18 member countries that the agency must make important investments "despite - or maybe even because of - the current turmoil in global financial markets."

The meeting comes as emerging Asian powers have begun ramping up their own space ambitions. Last month, India launched its first unmanned moon shot. China and Japan also have sent unmanned missions to the moon in the last 13 months.

Van der Hoeven urged close links with the European Union to allow the space agency to press ahead.

"If we want to remain global players in space - and I am convinced we do - we need strong partnerships between the EU and ESA. And ESA needs to prepare itself for the future," she said.

The agency has asked for euro10.4 billion, but expects less from the member states. "If we get euro9.3 billion ($12 billion) we are happy," said spokesman Franco Bonacina.

Galileo funding is not being discussed at the two-day meeting, because it is now being funded by the EU.

The system is touted as a technologically superior rival to the United States' GPS system. However its launch has been beset with problems and so far only two preliminary satellites have been launched out of a planned 30.

Late last year, European Union governments had to agree to a taxpayer bailout after a consortium of private companies from France, Germany, Spain, Britain and Italy walked away from the project in a financing dispute.