Decisions about the future of the Europe’s space programme will be made at the ESA Ministerial Council meeting on 1-2 December.Ministers from the 22 ESA member states and Canada will gather in Lucerne, Switzerland to agree on future spending priorities. As well as funding a core programme, ESA members can subscribe to optional programmes. These range from future astronomy missions to the development of new satellite communications systems.Before the meeting, each ESA directorate has drawn-up a list of priorities to be considered by ministers