29/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – Arianespace welcomed the good financial allocation obtained by the European Space Agency at the end of the ministerial meeting on Thursday 28 November (see EUROPE 12379/2). The fact that the Agency’s member countries (which are not the same as those of the Union – editor’s note) have underwritten around €1.8 billion makes it possible to maintain the current course towards the new Ariane 6 launcher so that it will be fully operational by 2023. In addition, the company believes that the level of funding for the next 3 years will allow the development of the Prometheus engine, the upper stage in ultra-light Icarus carbon and the reusable Themis stage. (PH)