Cosmic Vision 2015-2025

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As the successor to the Horizon 2000 and Horizon 2000 Plus programs , Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 is the currently valid framework program of the European Space Agency ESA for projects in the field of space science . In the structure of ESA, this area deals with questions of astronomy and astrophysics, exploration of the solar system and fundamentals of physics. The definition of the successor program Voyage 2050 began in 2019 .

Emergence

The topics for a cosmic vision , introduced by the scientific community in 2004 and discussed at a conference in Paris, were summarized in an overall plan of ESA in 2005. The overarching questions identified therein are:

  • What are the conditions for the formation of planets and the appearance of life?
  • How does the solar system work?
  • What are the basic physical laws of the universe?
  • How did the universe come about and what is it made of?

These issues were to be addressed through a series of space missions starting around 2015–2025, with medium-sized (M, costs directly to ESA approx. 500 million euros) and large (L, approx. 900 million euros) missions. In 2012 small missions (S, 50 million euros) were added. There is also the possibility of using opportunities to participate in missions of other space agencies in Missions of Opportunity .

Missions

The missions are defined gradually. Upon request, a few of the proposals submitted are examined in more detail for about two years, from which the mission to be realized is then selected. This process went through until 2018:

Small (S missions)

Medium (M missions)

Large (L missions)

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