ESA chief seeks €10bn for Europe space independence

European Space Agency chief Josef Aschbacher called on Wednesday for Europe to invest 10 billion euros over 10 years to build greater independence in the space sector.

Aschbacher made the appeal during an international space summit in Paris. Several US companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, did not attend the summit.

“Will we be passengers or pilots?” Aschbacher asked European ministers during a closed meeting, according to a copy of his speech given to AFP.

He said space technology was developing rapidly around the world, from satellites to exploration of the Moon and Mars, and that Europe needed its own capabilities to remain an indispensable partner.

Aschbacher estimated that a European push into further space exploration would require about one billion euros a year for the next decade. He said buying flights for European astronauts from foreign providers would cost five billion euros over 10 years, with most of the money going to foreign industry and flights needing permission beyond Europe's control.

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet told AFP earlier at the summit that Europe could not stay on the sidelines in the space industry and needed to take matters into its own hands.

ESA member states could decide how to move forward on Aschbacher's call for greater autonomy at a ministerial meeting in December.