New Mars Forums

Just how does the ESA work ?
How do multiple countries decide what projects to spend their money on and how much money to give. Do larger contributors have more influence in the decsions ?

The reason I'm asking is because I have always dreamed that having one single international space agency to pool humanity's resources would greatly increase our pace of advancement in space, and allow for more ambitiouis programs.
I often hear of multiple countries working on similar projects that have the same goals. If all countries could agree to form such an agency then costs could be reduced.
Also it seems better to me to have the best minds on the planet working together to solve problems then to compete.
The thing I have trouble with is how such a system would work to satisfy every country.
I envision little control by the contributing countries, I would like them to give their share of the money and resources and leave the decisions to "ISA"(International Space Agency).
Naturally the contributing countries would still maintain a smaller more specialized space agency to concentrate on launching commercial & military satalites and any program that is not being worked on by the ISA.
The the ISA could work on manned missions to mars and the moon. Developments of new space telescopes capable of detecting earth like planets, deep space probes, radio telescopes, etc.
I don't really see fighting between countries because all the capable scientist will be working for the ISA, so if there is debate it will be within the ISA. Not a debate between countries.

I'm interested in how such a system could work, so please critique this as much as possilbe to make as workable a system as possible. Your suggestion and idea's are wanted !