What’s next for Europe in the space race?

Before diving into what the future will bring, it is important to remember that Europe is the second space power in the world, investing last year alone roughly € 9 billion euros.

We have collectively built the best Earth observation system (Copernicus) in the world and the best satellite positioning system (Galileo) in the world. 

This shows that Europe has the expertise, the skills and the drive to launch and develop large and complex infrastructures. 

Galileo has more than 1 billion users worldwide and this number is growing every day. Today Galileo is in our smartphones and their applications. It helps save lives through precise location when activating the 112 Emergency number or the E-call system in cars. We are working for its use in aviation and railway. We just announced the launch of the return link function in the Search and Rescue service.

As for Copernicus, 'Europe's eyes on Earth', it sets global standards by offering the most accurate data of Planet Earth 24/7. Copernicus satellite mapping service has been providing maps of the affected areas in Australia since November 2019.

With Copernicus, the EU has one of the biggest data providers in the world with more than 12 Tera Bytes of high-quality free and open data every day.

But today, the space sector is undergoing massive changes worldwide. It goes through an important industrialisation process, the result of which is that “doing space” is cheaper and more accessible. 

A new reality emerges and the European space sector – whether public or private – must adapt and react to it. 

Space is at the intersection of technological leadership, industrial strategy and geostrategic considerations.

It is imperative that the EU space sector adapts to the new realities, geopolitical, strategic, industrial and technological. 

For instance, space is an enabler of security and defence. This has been a taboo at European level for a long time. However, it is now time to break it. Yes, Galileo has a defence dimension and Copernicus can serve security missions. This trend will be strengthened in the future.

This is why we will progressively launch two new initiatives: 

-       A Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system to avoid collision and debris on key satellites. We should see this project as the precursor of a European Space Traffic Management system. 

-       A Governmental Satellite Communication (GovSatCom) initiative to provide Member States with reliable and secure satellite communication to support police, border protection, diplomatic corps or civil protection during crises.

Space gives indeed an ocean of opportunities, provided we grasp them fast and have the means to our ambitions. We have the know-how, the skills, the experience, and we have the industry. We just need a political common will, backed by credible budgetary means. This is why the Commission has proposed a € 16 billion EU Space Programme for 2021-2027.

One other important thing to consider is the changing European space eco-system. 

A European New Space approach is key

Europe needs a new approach to become a launch pad for space innovative breakthroughs.

Europe should for instance invest massively in quantum technologies. Quantum could have important applications in the space domain: like in encryption or in the mapping from space of the underground landscape.

In the same vein, Europe needs to take the full benefit of the upcoming data waves. Data will change our society and industry. It will change space applications. Already with Copernicus, we are producing large amounts of data, however under used. 

Let us foster a better integration of space assets, with Artificial intelligence (for image analysis and archiving), with cloud solutions (for storage and distribution of data), with High Performance Computing for generating models and simulations of our planet based on Earth Observation.

In front of the fast evolving space landscape, with the emergence of new private actors or new state actors, Europe has everything it takes to lead the technological race and to continue ensuring a strong space leadership.