en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European Space Agency (ESA) is evaluating whether its flagship heavy-lift rocket, the Ariane 6, is capable of sending astronauts into orbit, aiming to advance Europe's autonomous development in space.

The Ariane 6 rocket has been used to deploy spacecraft for two years but has not yet been certified for crewed missions. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher stated at the ILA Berlin Air Show that the agency is studying this possibility and is optimistic about the prospects, believing the likelihood of achieving the goal is quite high, while acknowledging that modifications to the rocket are needed.

The topic of crewed spaceflight is gaining momentum on Europe's political agenda. France plans to host a space summit in September, while ESA intends to hold a ministerial meeting on crewed space exploration in December.

To reduce dependence on the United States and Russia, ESA is collaborating with Thales Alenia Space and The Exploration Company to develop cargo return capsules, which could eventually evolve into crewed vehicles. Aschbacher noted that SpaceX's Crew Dragon was initially a cargo vehicle and only received approval to transport astronauts after several years. ESA hopes to demonstrate the operational capability of at least one of these systems in low Earth orbit in the near term, though it remains unclear whether the tests will involve visits to the International Space Station (ISS).

Achieving full autonomy for Europe also requires improving other elements, including upgrading the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Aschbacher stated that even if a political decision to pursue crewed spaceflight is made this year, preparations will take time. This is a long-term investment, and now is a good time to reflect and decide on Europe's future direction.

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