AbstractManned spaceflight has played a rather limited role in Europe's space programme. Unmanned activities have focused on space science, Earth observation, telecommunication and microgravity research. The European Space Agency tends to favour the use of robots rather than astronauts in most cases, but acknowledges that human intervention is sometimes necessary. Overall the ESA's long-term plan is intended to be balanced, promoting each field to an acceptable level and making each gain from the advances of the others.