欧媒幻想：新一轮登月竞赛，德国人有没有可能先登月？

Core Viewpoint - Europe aims to become an independent participant in the lunar exploration race, seeking to send European astronauts to the Moon, while still heavily relying on the U.S. Artemis program for its lunar ambitions [1][5]. Group 1: European Space Agency (ESA) Involvement - ESA is expected to play a key role in NASA's Artemis program, potentially sending European astronauts aboard U.S. spacecraft to the Moon [1][5]. - ESA's Director General, Aschbacher, indicated that the first European astronauts for the lunar missions are likely to come from Germany, France, and Italy, with four German candidates being the most promising [3][5]. - ESA has received nearly €22.1 billion from its member states for operations from 2026 to 2028, aiming to enhance Europe's independent access to space [5]. Group 2: Funding and Investment - Germany is the largest contributor to ESA, providing €5.1 billion, and emphasizes the need for increased investment in space as a contribution to European sovereignty and security [5]. - Despite budget constraints, Germany's Federal Minister for Research, Technology, and Space, Dorothee Bär, advocates for more funding in the space sector [5]. Group 3: Global Lunar Exploration Context - The U.S. Artemis program, initiated in 2017, aims for a manned lunar landing, with Artemis 3 now delayed to mid-2027 due to development challenges [6]. - China is progressing steadily with its lunar exploration plans, aiming for its first manned lunar landing by 2030, having already conducted multiple lunar missions [6].