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A Conversation with Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency

What does it mean for the European Space Agency to be operating during this period of geopolitical change?

It is an opportunity. Space has always been driven by geopolitics — sometimes more, sometimes less.  I would like to remind that the creation of ESA was rooted in geopolitical circumstances. In 1963, Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Élysée Treaty, which laid the foundation for Franco-German cooperation, also covering science and technology. This partnership led to preliminary studies for a joint telecommunications satellite project, later called Symphonie. At that time, Europe did not have its own launcher, and the United States accepted to launch the satellite only under strict conditions: it could be used solely for experimental purposes, not for commercial or security applications. This episode was a geopolitical lesson. European leaders realized that it was unacceptable for Europe to depend on others for access to space. They concluded that Europe must develop its own independent launcher — which became Ariane 1. And with the launcher came the need for an organization to coordinate and manage such efforts, leading to the creation of the European Space Agency.

The geopolitical drive — the desire for autonomy and independent access to space — was at the very origin of ESA fifty years ago. 

Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation, where the need to strengthen Europe’s independence has again become a major driver in space policy.

Alongside the traditional commercial and socio-economic arguments that have long supported space activities, the geopolitical dimension has become particularly significant. On the one hand, there is the conflict and war in Ukraine; on the other, the United States is calling on Europe to take on a greater role in defending itself. Defence is, of course, closely linked to space.

Therefore, space is now part of the broader effort by European leaders to enhance autonomy — an effort once again triggered by geopolitical situations.

Don’t you have the sense that today we face far greater and more complex risks than fifty years ago? 

Europe has not invested in space at a level that matches its economic strength. If you add up the GDP of ESA member states, including the UK, Norway, and Switzerland, Europe represents more than 20% of global GDP. Yet in the space sector, our public investment accounts for only about 10% of the global total. The United States invests roughly 60%, and China around 15%.

This imbalance shows that for many years Europe has not invested in space proportionally to its economic weight. The consequences are now visible: commercial players in the United States have become extremely powerful, while Europe does not provide comparable conditions for its private sector. In other words, public funding in Europe has not created the same ground for commercial innovation and growth to flourish as strongly as in the US.

Do you think European private actors should also start to compete for access to space? 

First of all, we have to increase European investment on the public side.

Why do you think the current approach is not a good long term strategy?

Space is strategic. Without space, our quality of life and the security of our countries simply cannot be sustained. Space technology is used everywhere, every day.

When you wake up in the morning, you’ve already relied on space. You check the weather forecast — that’s space. You drive somewhere — you use navigation satellites. When you pay a bill in a restaurant or a shop, satellite communication is used to synchronize banking systems. Even as you eat breakfast, farmers are using satellite data to manage their fields, predict yields, and access the information they need.

Space, in short, underpins almost every aspect of daily life. And if a society, a continent — in this case, Europe — does not maintain its own independent sources of data, information, and technology, it will inevitably lose out.

That’s why space is not only strategic, but deeply embedded in the economic sector. I often say this to make people realize how essential it is: if I asked you today whether you need the Internet, the answer would be straightforward. 

Twenty years ago, if I would have asked you, do you need the Internet? You would probably have said «What do you mean?» 

Space sometimes causes a similar reaction. When I ask people today whether they need it, they usually see it solely in relation to the stars, exploring the universe, astronauts flying up there — not as a direct concern.

People don’t realize how much they rely on space technology every day. And twenty years from now, it will be even more deeply integrated into daily life and society. The comparison isn’t perfect, but it helps make the point: space will become an essential part of how we live in the future — those that do not take this into account and do not use space for their activities may go out of business by 2030.

Could you offer a few concrete examples of how space might influence future activities? 

For example, pharmaceutical companies can use zero gravity for research, develop new medicines, and explore treatments. These are emerging areas of innovation and investment that will shape the future. 

We can also see future opportunities such as in-orbit servicing and manufacturing as opportunities for industry, something we are already pioneering in a joint mission with industry called RISE. Space is also still seeking answers to fundamental questions – if we find out whether there is other life in our Solar System or elsewhere in the Universe, it will surely change how we think about ourselves and our planet. 

Another example is monitoring our own planet Earth from space. The Copernicus Earth observation system is world leading and tells us not only about events on the ground but also about emissions into the atmosphere and particulate matter (pollution) that can threaten human health. These services have now been running for more than two decades and provide a solid reliable data source that is freely available worldwide. At ESA, we also pioneer new technologies for Earth observation from space through the Earth Explorers programme – once these new sensors and techniques are proven in space they can become part of long-term monitoring systems. 

International cooperation already exists for disasters – for example through the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters. But it has become clear that more frequent images with better spatial resolution would enhance our capabilities in preventing and managing natural and manmade crises. 

Space is completely integrated in our lives already and will become more so in the coming years. Most of the applications on your smartphone won’t work without navigation services from space, while weather forecasting has improved dramatically because of observations from space, combined with enhanced computer power on the ground. Quick and reliable imagery of emerging disasters such as wildfires, floods and droughts can help emergency managers to mitigate the impact. While this is convenient for all of us, it’s fundamental to life and prosperity in areas such as agriculture and fisheries. Secure connectivity is vital given how connected our infrastructure and individual devices are. 

Space for safety and security is an area that will grow a great deal. For this reason, we are proposing a new optional programme for ESA Member States called European Resilience from Space, aligned with the European Commission’s Earth Observation Governmental Service. The goal is to increase the observation frequency of imaging satellites based on existing national assets under sovereign control as well as European assets. In navigation, we will make signals from medium Earth orbit more robust and less subject to degradation over distance by adding positioning, navigation and timing signals from low Earth orbit. Secure connections between satellites and between satellites and the ground will also be essential. To make the system more robust, we need to look to emerging technologies such as edge computing. 

We are also working on Digital Twin Earth (DTE) to simulate the impact of climate change on the population in Europe and other countries. 

That’s why I say: if Europe misses these opportunities — both the strategic geopolitical dimension and the economic potential of the space sector — Europe will face serious challenges in its development and global positioning. 

Space is not the only tool, but it is one of the key instruments that can make Europe stronger, more prosperous, and ensure that the quality of life of Europeans is guaranteed.

Have you noticed a change in Europeans’ and European institutions’ relation to space?

This year marks our 50th anniversary, and over these five decades we’ve succeeded in building a truly European vision — in creating projects that bring people to work together. ESA has proved its capability of developing European dreams and unity at a moment when there are very few organizations in Europe today that manage to achieve that. 

The Ariane 6 rocket is a symbol of Europeans working together. Around 13,000 people across the continent contributed to its development. The project has been led by the European Space Agency, but in close partnership with CNES and French industry, in particular ArianeGroup and ArianeSpace. In addition of course with other European industries from Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and other countries.

Ariane 6 is a very symbolic piece of technology –  it lifts Europe into the sky. It embodies not only our capability, but our unity. Europeans working together toward a common vision.

What narrative do you want to develop around these examples?

The story I’m telling is how space unites Europe and makes its people proud. It creates a European vision and is therefore inspiring, too.

What are the main obstacles to a more coherent, strategic and stronger European space?

The main obstacle is achieving consensus. 

At ESA, with twenty-three countries involved, defining a common project takes time and careful coordination. ESA’s great advantage, however, is what we call flexible geometry. Not every country has to participate in every project. Some programs involve all member states, others only ten, or even just one or two. This flexibility allows us to move forward.

Still, I need to put together an overall package that appeals to all member states. The goal is always to find a consensus, to design a program that matches each country’s interests and feels meaningful to all.

This takes effort and diplomatic skills. It involves constant negotiation: understanding what each government considers a priority, and making sure our proposals align with those priorities. ESA is, after all, an intergovernmental organization.

That complexity can be demanding. And here, geopolitics comes back into play. When our member states agree on a program, it becomes extremely solid and stable.

Even as governments change, the commitments made at ESA endure. France has just appointed a new government, the Netherlands are heading into elections at the end of this month, the UK has new ministers, Germany changed its coalition a few months ago… yet ESA’s mechanism is stable. Once a decision is taken at a Ministerial Council — for example, to develop the Ariane 6 launcher — that commitment remains in place for the entire duration of the project.

I’ve also seen this in our cooperation with NASA. At ESA, when we commit to a joint mission, we deliver. I have seen other countries around the globe where shifts in administration or budget priorities can alter or delay programs.

Coordinating twenty-three countries provides strength, stability, reliability and continuity. This enables ESA to fulfil its commitments and deliver on what has been agreed. Ultimately, it’s a remarkably efficient organisation for something as complex as Europe.

Do you feel that there is space for reform in this new geopolitical cycle, in regards to the governance of ESA ?

There is always room for improvement. I’m currently leading a large transformation process within ESA, and the next step will be to work with our member states to simplify our governance structures and bureaucracy — to make them leaner.

The key message, I would say, is this: yes, there is a clear need to accelerate and simplify certain procedures. But we must never compromise on the quality of our output or on financial accountability. We are funded by taxpayers’ money. Every euro we spend must be justified and traceable, and I can assure you that our system of checks and balances is extremely robust. Still, within these two guiding pillars — accountability and quality — there is room to simplify and accelerate processes.

That’s precisely what we’re doing, we are accelerating across the board. We’re simplifying how projects are defined and implemented, so that we can move faster. One indicator we use is the time to contract — the time between launching a call for tenders, receiving and evaluating industry proposals, negotiating, and signing the contract. We’ve managed to reduce that timeline by 50%.

The same applies to recruitment. ESA currently has an annual turnover of around 300 to 400 staff members. We’ve reduced our time to hire by half, which means we can bring in new employees much faster when someone retires or leaves.

How do you develop cooperation with international partners?

Some two years ago I asked my teams to strengthen our cooperation with several international partners because I anticipated that ESA would need to reinforce its network of partnerships while also building greater autonomy. 

The first priority is to develop technologies that enhance our independence. In recent years, we have found ourselves somewhat exposed in certain partnerships where circumstances could change unexpectedly. That’s why it is essential for Europe to strengthen its own capabilities. 

The second priority is to broaden our international cooperation.

ESA is a steadfast, reliable partner. This is of course true for our partnership with the United States, with whom we will continue our collaboration on landmark missions. But I have reinforced cooperation with other partners.

I have signed a joint statement with the Japanese Space Agency in November of last year, setting the framework for a major new phase of collaboration. The first of these projects, already in preparation, is RAMSES — a joint mission that will study an asteroid approaching Earth in 2029.

In May, I also signed a joint statement with India to expand cooperation in the field of space exploration. India has become particularly active in exploring the Moon. They are also developing a low Earth orbit programme, with their own space station, BAS, planned for completion by 2035 and a crewed lunar mission targeted for 2040. India has a clear strategic path, and we are working closely with them to identify synergies.

Then, during the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, the Australian government announced that it has given a mandate to the Australian Space Agency to negotiate a strengthened cooperation framework with ESA in the coming months. In practice, we are only at the beginning of discussions, so the content still needs to be defined. But this mandate is a clear signal. They have studied carefully the model of cooperation that Canada has with ESA. Canada, as you know, has a special status as a so-called cooperating state that enables it to participate in ESA programmes — the only non-European country with this status.

I have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea, and we are preparing another with New Zealand. In parallel, we are in promising discussions with the United Arab Emirates to strengthen cooperation there as well.

All this is the result of decades of work — of delivering projects that others find attractive. Europe is seen as a strong, trustworthy, and long-term partner, and the European Space Agency is the mechanism that enables this to happen. We have world-leading programmes such as Copernicus, Galileo, and our space science missions — truly among the best in the world. 

Your message is that in this age of disruption, cooperation is still possible? 

It is more than possible. Our first priority, and this will be very visible at the Ministerial Conference in November, is to reinforce Europe’s strength, autonomy, and independence in space technology.

The number one priority is access to space through our own launchers. But beyond that, there are many other areas where we need to develop independent technologies and industrial capacities, in Earth observation, navigation, telecommunication, planetary defence, exploration and space science. That is where our focus lies today — building up this self-reliance.

However, this does not mean that we want to isolate ourselves. Quite the opposite. We aim to strengthen our autonomy while remaining an attractive and open partner for other countries and companies. 

Do you have projects with China?

We have cooperation with China on only a few projects. 

One of them is the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (Smile) — a satellite mission jointly developed by China and Europe, scheduled for launch early next year. Its objective is to study how Earth magnetosphere interacts with the solar wind. 

Monitoring climate change and improving our collective understanding of its impacts through Earth observation is a top priority for the European Union and our Member States. In this area we collaborate closely with international partners, including United States, Japan, India, South Korea and also China. These collaborations serve a shared goal: protecting the planet.

What about the relationship between ESA and the EU?

Our relationship with the European Union is a top priority and is very strong. I have an excellent working relationship with Commissioner Kubilius and we have established several joint working groups — for example, on what the Commission calls Earth Observation Governmental Service and what we refer to as European Resilience from Space. The aim is to use space technology to support security and defence actors and to build critical infrastructure for Europe’s resilience.

This is an important aspect because it connects directly to security and defence — domains in which ESA has already been active. Take Galileo, for example: the PRS (Public Regulated Service) signal was developed at the request of our member states precisely for use by defence and government services.

We are involved in around one hundred projects that touch on security-related applications. Space has always been, and will always remain, a dual-use domain — serving both civilian and defence purposes.

At the request of member states we are preparing a proposal for the build-up of a constellation of very high-resolution imaging satellites dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

The project comprises two main components. The first relates to participation: some European countries already have their own national satellite capabilities. The idea is to make these systems interoperable and encourage pooling and sharing.

This means that France, Germany, Italy, and others could retain full control over their satellites — and that control will never be compromised — while also being able to collaborate through shared access, if they wish to do so. For instance, if one country uses only 50% of its satellite’s capacity, the remaining 50% could be shared with other participating nations, and vice versa.

The second component of this system is equally important. Even if we combine the existing national assets, it would still not be sufficient for many real-time applications. Together, these systems might provide five, ten, perhaps twenty images per day, but that is far from enough. What is required by some users are images every 30 minutes or so, day and night, and of the whole globe, to ensure continuous and highly responsive coverage.

To achieve that level of frequency, we must add capacity: more satellites, and possibly new types of sensors and technologies. This includes integrating artificial intelligence and on-board computing — edge computing — as well as inter-satellite communication links and strong connections to ground stations.

We are at day one of this initiative — a true system of systems, bringing together multiple technologies such as Earth observation, telecommunications, navigation, and radio-frequency monitoring. As you can imagine, this is a highly complex undertaking, and ESA is the only organization in Europe with the technical capability and experience to successfully develop such a complex system.

We have already demonstrated this capability with IRIDE, the Italian national constellation, which we are developing on a smaller scale. It is a project designed for dual use — for both civilian and defence applications — and delivered on a turnkey basis. In just three years and one month after signature, we launched the first of 68 satellites, proving that we can operate with exceptional speed, efficiency, and quality.

What is important to note is that ESA acts as project manager, while industry executes the work. Over 90% of the funding — more than one billion euros — flowed back to Italy through industrial contracts, all awarded competitively. The result is a combination of top-tier quality and unprecedented speed.

I don’t think there is a single European «new space» company capable of achieving the same performance across space, ground, and service segments.