The European Space Agency (ESA) is investing extensively in the future of the space sector through a series of strategic initiatives. It is committed to developing advanced and sustainable technologies, as demonstrated by its support for space debris reduction missions and the promotion of international collaborations for space exploration.
Numerous projects are under development and consolidation. They represent a step towards a safer and more sustainable management of space. Together, they will strengthen Europe’s position as a leader in the global space sector.
Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA, explained his view: “Today ESA has further proven its leadership in space for Europe and European citizens. The signature of the low Earth orbit cargo return service contracts shows how ESA has modernized to meet the demands of the next era of the space economy.”
“The signature of the Zero Debris Charter by ten European nations demonstrates that ESA is at the global forefront of creating concrete, useful, and attractive norms for space sustainability, which will constitute the basis for European or even global regulations and legislation. Meanwhile, the Vigil mission will further contribute to sustainability in space,” he added.
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Contract for a cargo return service from LEO
Space agencies, The Exploration Company in Germany, and Thales Alenia Space in Italy have won tenders to develop return cargo transport services for low Earth orbit. These vehicles will be used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station by 2028. Eventually, they could be adapted for future space stations or even to transport crews into space.
During the Ministerial Council, in which ESA’s Member States, Associate States, and Cooperating States met. The importance of modernizing projects was discussed, to promote the commercialization and privatization of space activities. These initiatives aim to create new business opportunities and strengthen international cooperation, contributing to developing cutting-edge technologies.
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The Zero Debris Charter
A significant step towards sustainability in space and on Earth was taken with the announcement, during the meeting in Seville last November, of the signing of the Zero Debris Charter by ten nations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden.
This is the first time that many countries have committed to becoming space debris-neutral by 2030. Signing the charter reinforces Europe’s role as a leader in clean space and demonstrates international acceptance of the initiative. Additionally, over 100 organizations have pledged to join this space community-led initiative in the coming months.
The Zero Debris Charter is a community-led document for the global space community. 40 space sector actors created and drafted the document. It contains high-level guiding principles and specific objectives to achieve a Debris-free status by 2030.
It should be noted that the Zero Debris Charter is neither owned by ESA nor was written by ESA but is the result of a collaborative process. Participation was not restricted but encouraged to European space actors, making it a global endeavor.
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The Vigil Mission
Moreover, Space sustainability will be boosted by ESA’s new Vigil mission. It is designed to protect critical infrastructure on Earth and in space by issuing early warnings of impending solar storms. After the Seville meeting, ESA entered into a contract with Airbus UK for the construction of the spacecraft. The launch is planned for 2031.
Thanks to its location far from Earth, the spacecraft can monitor the Sun and detect activity and dangerous solar radiation before they are visible from our planet, transmitting this information to Earth in near real-time. This warning of impending solar storms will buy precious time to protect essential terrestrial power grids and orbiting spacecraft, on which all modern societies and economies rely.
