With the EU space rulebook in preparation, Europeans must already be looking at the next generation of the space programme, including the demand pool for launch pads, and the threat mapping strategy, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said on Tuesday (23 January). .
“2024 (…) will be the year to project the vision we want for Europe on space policy in the next five to 10 years – it is a crucial year – vision, speed and leadership are needed more than ever,” Breton, the space official, also said at the conference. European Space in Brussels.
With the long-awaited upcoming space law, identified by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a priority for 2024 but with no sign of life for at least two years, the EU executive has officially put it on the stage, with Breton saying he wants “to build a single market.” A real space for the European Union,” they called for “a common framework and rules – the only way to Europe.”
The EU countries and their 11 different national space laws make it difficult for Europeans to act with one voice and leverage their influence.
To address this, Breton said European space law “will establish common rules on space activities in three key aspects: safety, flexibility and sustainability, providing legal certainty and stimulating innovation.”
Britton said it would, for example, establish minimum requirements for all space systems, regarding standards for preventing collisions and deorbits of satellites and managing cybersecurity risks.
“It is also a security issue [as] “In the current geopolitical context, protecting our space system from systemic security risks is a must,” Britton added.
The European Commission intends to submit a legislative proposal by March, which will also apply to non-European companies that want to do business in Europe.
Catherine Cavada, responsible for space in the Commission's DEFIS Directorate, added that the EU does not plan to replace member states' laws.
Belgian State Secretary for Space Thomas Dermen said the Commission must ensure it does not add red tape for companies.
Space launcher strategy
As Europe faces a “launch crisis”, losing independent access to space and being unable to send its satellites into orbit, Breton reiterated his ambition to develop “a European launch policy within the framework of the European Union”.
Concretely, the Commission could aggregate demand for launchers, in a move to give the industry clear guidelines ahead of manufacturing, as well as boost competition in a business dominated by a very few big companies like ArianeGroup.
In the same way that American satellites only use American missiles, the Europeans will have to contend with a “clear European preference,” Breton added.
As work begins with member states, Breton “wants to.”[s] the [policy] in place before the start of the next multiannual financial framework [multi-annual financial framework]”, the EU's seven-year budget starting in 2028, which could help boost Mali.
Other priorities mentioned for developing this launch strategy include working on “game-changing innovations,” developing the next generation of launchers and investing in critical infrastructure, including modernization, Britton said, referring to old ideas.
The Commissioner also said that the scheme would thus build “a complete space access component, covering all aspects of the dedicated European launch policy from research and development to deployment, including its security and defense dimension.”
Space awareness and threat response
Given the growing geopolitical tensions in the world, especially in space where there are no rules, and the increasing number of satellites orbiting around them, the EU executive wants to “Protecting space systems and increasing their flexibility.”
Given the Commission's next mandate and priorities starting next fall, the EU “must gradually develop – within the framework of the next space programme – a European space domain awareness system to protect our infrastructure and monitor threats as a fourth infrastructure in space,” Breton said. He said, because the capabilities of member states are not enough.
The “joint autonomous network” would “ensure safety – protection from debris – but also security – detection of potential threats – in space,” the commissioner continued.
According to Timo Pesonen, Director-General of the Commission’s Space Directorate (DEFIS), “… [previous] “The space program was a peacetime space programme,” in contrast to the wartime Europe has faced since the war in Ukraine rocked the continent.
The Commissioner also noted the benefit of the European Defense Fund (EDF) which aims to boost research and development in the defense sector.
[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]
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