The European Space Agency is preparing for the future through a range of activities and programmes, which work together for efficient results. They can be divided into activities allowing for development of new activities and programmes in the short- to medium-terms as well as others which will not be complete until farther into the future.

Article 1 Section 8 : To promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts by Securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the Exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.

The United States Constitution