Europe Urged Not To Repeat Tech Underdog Role Ahead of Space Talks

As more than 20 nations assemble in Spain, there is a warning that Europe should not “miss the train” on the burgeoning space industry. The gathering is anticipated to center on financing for the postponed Ariane 6 rocket, climate change, and a potential new role in exploration.

The European Space Agency (ESA), which is comprised of 22 nations, is conducting ministerial meetings in Seville on Monday. On Tuesday, it will host a joint session with the European Union on competition in space, focusing on Elon Musk‘s rival SpaceX, which is located in the United States.

The two-day “Space Summit” is taking place as Europe struggles to maintain its own space program in the wake of delays to the new Ariane 6 rocket. The grounding of the smaller Vega-C, and the disruption of Russia’s Soyuz due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Europe Space Talks

Industry insiders reported that ministers from France, Germany, and Italy—key players in the space sector—aim to alleviate tensions concerning launcher policy, particularly the mid-term funding for Ariane 6. The maiden test launch for Ariane 6 is currently scheduled for 2024, delayed by four years from its initial projection. France, where ArianeGroup operates, seeks additional funding to cover cost overruns. Last week, La Tribune, a French business weekly, approximated the funding gap to be around 350 million euros.

Germany aims to boost its independent launch business, while Italy focuses on protecting the Vega-C project and advancing exploration efforts. Although European ministers are making progress, they face tough financial negotiations. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher warned against past technology mistakes but refrained from specific comments. Aschbacher emphasized the growing space economy and the need for Europe’s strategic participation. Europe leads in space research but hasn’t prioritized human exploration, often supporting missions by Russia or NASA. Ministers plan to discuss an ESA proposal for private financing of a new spaceplane. This could potentially enable future human flight and echoes Europe’s earlier Hermes project, similar to the US Space Shuttle.

Benjamin Appiagyei