Launchers and propulsion forms are the keys to space research, according to Leopold Eiharts.

2000/01/09 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Astronautika

Biarritz's astronaut has been in MIR and is now in a NASA center

"The development of a new technology for the launchers would reduce the costs of spacing the satellites, which would favor the commercial exploitation of the space. The development of revolutionary systems for the propulsion of space spaces and, consequently, the reduction of the duration of space travel will be the key to the exploration of the planets", said Eiharts in the interview published by the magazine Elhuyar in its latest issue.

A few months or years ago it takes to reach the "near" planets, but astronaut Biarritz believes that in the future it will be enough weeks or days. But for this purpose “international cooperation in the future will be necessary”, according to Eiharts, “taking into account the high cost of space research and low commercial profitability”.

The United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan work together to move the International Space Station (ISS) forward. The international station will replace the MIR, which will be destroyed by the Russians after thirteen years in space. Russia will destroy the MIR in spring. A boat named Progress brings it to the ground and falls into the sea.

The place of residence of the International Space Station (Russian module Zvezda) already needed to be launched, but it was delayed. However, "today he is willing to launch in Kazakhstan," said Leopold Eiharts, adding that the last delays are due to Americans. "This often happens in international projects; the problems of some participants affect other participants and in the end everything is delayed," said the astronaut.

Europe below the media

"Europe is very competitive in the field of launcher spaces, commercial satellites and space sciences," according to the astronaut. "As for space flights, however, it is not up to its technological and economic possibilities." He says that Europe cannot make guided flights and has no choice but to cooperate with the United States or Russia. This is known as an obvious weakness for Eiharts to advance in the exploration of planets and space research through humans. However, he highly appreciated Europe's membership in the international station.