What has happened?
On April 7, European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher introduced ESA Agenda 2025, setting out the Agency’s strategic priorities and goals.
Why this is important?
Whilst Europe has the expertise, knowhow and competitive industrial capacity to fully benefit from space, actions are needed to unlock the full potential, ensure leadership in certain markets and create a true New Space revolution. The global space industry could generate revenue of US $1 trillion in 2040, up from US $350 billion currently.
What is in it for you?
The agenda proposes concrete policy actions including to:
- develop European leadership in the areas of space traffic management, debris mitigation and removal, space weather, planetary defence, space logistics and cyber resilience
- foster the development of commercial European constellations to complement the Copernicus Sentinels
- facilitate access to capital by offering ESA expertise to ventures and business angels
- stimulate public demand by acting as user and first buyer/anchor customer in certain areas
- double spending on game-changing technologies and enhance in-orbit demonstration and validation opportunities
- simplify access to ESA programs and activities by setting open standards and interface to facilitate new entrants’ integration in the supply chains
- provide a procurement forecast for space products and services so that public demand is predictable
- increase the number of European students in STEM fields by 20%.
Next steps
This agenda will be followed by several discussions and initiatives, including a public consultation and a dedicated space summit in spring 2022. New flagship space programs may be announced at that time.