2023-11-10 14:54:59
The sector of space transportation around the world is changing at a rapid pace. While the US, China and Russia already have the capacity to launch humans into space, India will soon follow.
The SpaceX company, with the US government as the main client for human and cargo transportation, to and from the International Space Stationhas established itself as a market leader in commercial space transportation.
At the European meetings on space held in Seville, it has been highlighted that the EU’s space future depends on technological independence and ensuring access
This is the context in which the informal ministerial meeting on Space Competitiveness and the EU-European Space Agency (ESA) working sessionheld between November 6 and 7 in Seville within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The conclusions reached by the ministers and representatives of the 40 delegations that participated in this summit indicate that the European Union’s space future involves reducing technological dependence and ensuring continued access to space.
It also leads to taking advantage of space activities to promote sustainable and green objectives, and to increase the commercial component of the sector’s activity.
“We have a main objective, clear and forceful, to improve the lives of the citizens of the European Union from space,” the acting Minister of Science and Innovation remarked at a press conference. Diana Morant.
Exemplary projects in Europe
To this end, the Union and its member states have expressed the need to promote and develop space systems with which to strengthen strategic autonomy, said the minister, who gave three examples that illustrate the European position on this issue.
One is the European global navigation satellite system Galileo“a success story of the concept of strategic autonomy of Europe”, another the program Earth observation Copernicus, whose satellites make it possible to monitor droughts, fires or the eruption of volcanoes, as in the case of La Palma; and the Iris 2 satellite constellationwhich from 2027 will provide a secure communications infrastructure for EU government bodies and agencies, emergency services and European delegations around the world.
During one of his interventions, astronauts Pablo Álvarez (who continues his training at an ESA center in Germany) and Sara García (in reserve status) have accompanied the minister.
Spanish astronauts Sara García and Pablo Álvarez, during the intervention of the acting Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, at the presentation of Space Week at the Palacio de Congresos (FIBES) in Seville. / EFE/José Manuel Vidal
The crisis of European pitchers
In any case, ESA admits that Europe’s independent access to space is now at a “crisis temporal“.
One of the issues discussed – and most difficult – has been the European launcher crisis. Since the suspension of cooperation between ESA and the Russian agency Roscosmos due to the war in Ukraine, Europe cannot use Russian Soyuz rockets, and, furthermore, Ariane 6 accumulates several delays; A copy of the Vega C was also lost.
The Director General of ESA, Josef Aschbacherhas not hidden in the debates the crisis situation in this matter, but has shown his satisfaction with the agreements adopted yesterday at the ESA summit to try to alleviate the situation, and which represent a “paradigm shift“.
The ministers who participated in this summit endorsed the ESA roadmap to guarantee Europe’s autonomy and access to space, which includes a more competitive next generation of rockets and cargo vehicles capable of getting to and from the space station. To achieve this, there will be a competition for innovative European companies.
A competition of innovative European companies will lead to the next generation of rockets and cargo vehicles capable of getting to and from the space station
Specifically, Aschbacher has proposed a competition between innovative European companies to offer a round-trip cargo – vehicle – service to the International Space Station, between now and 2028. This requires transport capacity, docking at the station and re-entry, something that Europe does not currently have.
The goal is that the service vehicle can later evolve into a manned vehicle and serve other destinations beyond low Earth orbit. Public funding has already been obtained for the initial phase, which will be complemented by private contributions.
Missions to the space station and the Moon
With the support of these proposals, Europe will not only be a stronger partner, but will also be able to exchange astronaut positions for short and medium-term missions to the space station or a future commercial space station and, eventually, to the Moon, they defend. from ESA.
“Seville has been a great success for space,” said this Tuesday the director general of ESA, who admitted to feeling relieved because the negotiation with the 27 has been very tough.
Seville has been a great success for space
Josef Aschbacher (ESA Director General)
For his part, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Bretonhas applauded these ESA decisions, which “are going in the right direction”, but has criticized the current lack of launchers.
At a press conference he stated that as an ESA client he is not happy with what happened. “We had been promised a schedule for the Galileo satellites that has not been respected,” he lamented.
In this sense, he said that he has been forced to make decisions: “Given that the Ariane 6 is not available, ESA has proposed to us to turn to Space rockets from the American private firm.
Advance the ecological transition
The Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU and the German – rotating – presidency of the ESA Council have promoted a joint declaration to advance the ecological transition and the fight against climate change through programs in the space field.
The Executive Director of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher, and the current president, the German Anna Christmann, during the summit in Seville / EFE / José Manuel Vidal
The declaration, open for signature by countries, also focuses on the public-private collaboration and in increasing commercialization in the European space ecosystem, with new, more profitable solutions through the development of public procurement initiatives.
“A strong agency will also help to better use space to address climate change, benefiting everyone on Earth,” said the German. Anna Christmancurrent president of the ESA, who concluded: “Today the Member States have reaffirmed their commitment to a strong ESA, allowing the first steps to be taken towards innovative and competitive policies.”
Furthermore, the European Space Agency has once again vindicated its policy of “zero waste” in space and at the summit he opened the “zero waste charter” for signature to both the public and private sectors.
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