The recent International Space Summit in Paris brought together nearly 120 foreign delegations, resulting in close to 50 new partnerships and agreements worth an estimated €20 billion. This contradicts the notion that Europe is withdrawing into self-reliance, instead, it is securing its independence by multiplying its partners. The summit's guest list, which included delegations from the UK, Japan, India, South Korea, Canada, and the UAE, highlights Europe's new allies in space. Notably, SpaceX and Blue Origin pulled out of the summit, reportedly under pressure from the White House.
Europe is pursuing space sovereignty at three levels: institutional, industrial, and individual. At the institutional level, the focus is on pooling resources and avoiding fragmentation, a persistent obstacle in European space efforts. A roundtable discussion with EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and representatives of Isar Aerospace, Avio, and Arianespace emphasized the need for scale and cadence in production. Europe has the technology but needs to master capacity and accelerate its launch cadence across the space value chain.
The industrial level of independence is more counterintuitive, with companies like Amazon entrusting a growing share of its Kuiper launches to Ariane 6. This demonstrates that sovereignty is not incompatible with depending on a market rival for revenue, as long as Europe controls the infrastructure. At the individual level, independence is being built through people, as seen in the International Space Station's (ISS) crew members who have developed trust and worked towards a common goal despite their countries' differing politics.
The ISS serves as a prime example of international cooperation, with a working relationship that has endured despite the collapse of relations between Western nations and Russia. Astronauts on the panel described a friendship built at the operational level that has outlasted the surrounding politics. This cooperation is crucial for building a community sturdy enough to survive shifts in politics. The UAE astronaut on the panel added that for countries without a long history in space, sovereignty is about building capability through partnership and knowledge transfer.
The future of European space efforts looks promising, with Thomas Pesquet set to command the PAM-6 mission to the ISS, accompanied by a Czech astronaut and a Greek astronaut. This marks a significant step towards a genuine European corps of astronauts. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher posed a critical question at the summit: "Will we be passengers, or pilots?" The answer lies in securing Europe's own access to low Earth orbit, which would cost around €1 billion a year over a decade.
The next test of Europe's space sovereignty will be the IRIS² constellation, which aims to provide satellite connectivity. This project will determine whether Europe can set the terms and own the architecture that others have to build around. The question is not whether Europe should partner with others, as it already does, but who sets the terms and owns the architecture. Europe's pursuit of space sovereignty is not about isolation but about strategic partnerships that allow it to control its own destiny.
Ultimately, Europe's space effort is not about achieving sovereignty alone but through collaboration. The partnerships and agreements formed at the summit demonstrate a commitment to securing independence through cooperation. As the space landscape continues to evolve, Europe's ability to adapt and build on its partnerships will be crucial in determining its future in space.
Key points
- Europe is redefining space sovereignty through strategic partnerships, not isolation.
- The continent is pursuing independence at three levels: institutional, industrial, and individual.
- The IRIS² constellation will be a critical test of Europe's ability to set the terms and own the architecture in space.
