The European Space Agency (ESA) was already making plans to go back to the moon before President Trump announced he wants to land an American there before his (hypothetical) second term is over. ESA earlier had plans for a moon base, but now it's more or less latching on to the plans NASA is forging. Together with other agencies, they're now working on the Lunar Gateway project.

The European plan to go to the moon

Philippe Schoonejans is project manager at ESA, and works on the communications module of Lunar Gateway. If all goes according to schedule, 2024 will be the year in which the first American woman will take her first steps on the lunar surface. We talk to him about the steps ESA will need to take to get her there - and what future European contributions might look like. Maybe the first European on the moon?

Space Cowboys is a BNR podcast hosted by Thijs Roes and Joeri Nortier brought to you by Yeah Science.