European nations recently met together to discuss space exploration and the International Space Station (ISS) at a time when the global economy continues to suffer.  Due to the economic crisis, countries are buckling down, which made the recent meeting even more important for future space endeavors.

All eighteen members of the European Space Agency (ESA) met in The Hague to discuss a budget of 10.3 billion euros for future space missions.  Officials agreed upon the 10 billion euro budget, which will cover up to thirty space missions, including climate satellites, missions aboard the ISS, and a Martian rover.

A topic that temporarily became heated was that of ExoMars, a Red Planet rover mission that would have it drill a feet below the surface to take soil samples.  Led by Italy and funded by other ESA nations, the cost of the project has doubled yet again, with the ESA placing a 1 billion euro cap on the project.

ExoMars is scheduled to launch in 2016.

The nations meet together every three years, and this meeting has a stronger focus on funding future space endeavors.  The ESA hopes to be able to better catch up to China, India and Japan, as each nation continues to see new levels of success with their space programs.

Each nation will contribute a different amount towards the overall 10 billion euro budget for missions.  Members from the Canada Space Agency (CSA) announced they will contribute about 10 million euros ($15.8 million USD) towards space missions it can contribute technology towards.

The ESA member meeting coincides with the continued slump of the global economic crisis, with the ESA trying to create additional high-tech jobs while also becoming more accountable with its funding.