Since 1950, both the United States and Russia have competed to be first in the space race. After the end of the Cold War, this competition became a policy of cooperation and collaboration, which the European Union would also end up joining. The United States took the lead thanks in part to the use of its space shuttles. With his retirement at the beginning of the 21st century, a great mystery opened up among all the main actors. How to replace them in a situation of global economic crisis?

At first each superpower opted for individual solutions. Russia was going to continue with its Soyuz capsules, old but functional. The European Space Agency, ESA, with an unmanned autonomous freighter and NASA invested in the titanic ARES rockets, which it finally rejected due to its exorbitant cost. The continuity of the space race was in danger and with it the progress of humanity. The solution came after a special summit held in New York between the United States and the European Union in October 2007. It was concluded that the only way to ensure the continuity of the leadership of the space race by the West was complete and complete union of his forces. To achieve this, it was decided to build a new aerospace center in which the resources of Europe and the United States would be combined in the development of a new generation of space shuttles.

The location of this new center was highly disputed by the candidate countries, but in the end it was Spain that managed to win, thanks to the support of the United States and the passionate defense of the candidacy of the newly elected Spanish president, Manuel Alonso. After officially inaugurating the European Aerospace Center in Seville in April 2010, the Hermes project began to take its first steps. This is what it had been decided to call this ambitious initiative to design and develop a new generation of ferries. A goal that has managed to bring together the most brilliant minds in the world, scientists, engineers, all under one roof and objective. After more than two years working at an incredible pace, the Hermes project is getting closer to moving from theory to reality.

RUMORS

Outside the walls of the European Aerospace Center in Seville, few know the exact details of the mysterious Hermes project. The secrecy is total and the security measures, with NATO troops, are impenetrable. It was recently announced that a small group of university students will be chosen to participate in the Hermes project. Without a doubt, these young people will be the first outside the EAC to see first-hand what this enigmatic and ambitious project really is.