Space programs

In many cases, the development of space programmes is still a government affair. The Netherlands is no exception. To contribute to Europe's launch capacity, scientific space missions or a European navigation or earth-observation system or develop space instruments, the Netherlands collaborates with space organisations such as ESA and NASA, as well as other EU member states. The goal is always to contribute to institutional programmes using the Netherlands's unique expertise in a manner that does justice to the country's user needs.To that end, the team is responsible for representing the Netherlands on ESA committees and programme councils and on EU committees on space activities. Furthermore, the team oversees the execution of several national regulations, such as the User Support programme for scientists and the Partnerships for Space Instruments & Applications Preparatory Programme, which is designed to stimulate the development of the Netherlands’s unique expertise.